See The Thoughtful Refresh Of A Midcentury Gem In California

Interior designer Brad Krefman is quick to explain that there were two clients on this project: the homeowners and the house itself. Built in Sausalito in 1960 by George T. Rockrise, a distinguished architect known for his interdisciplinary approach to design, the residence is doubly notable because of its gardens, which were conceived by the equally revered landscape architect Lawrence Halprin. The remarkably preserved abode stood as a master class in Bay Area modernism, and the goal was to remodel it with respect.

In some time capsule homes, the original layouts have not aged well. That was not the case here. “This house flowed nicely for today,” says residential designer Jared Polsky, who worked with project architect Elizabeth Raar. The front door opens to a central staircase that leads visitors to the main floor, and there the views are revealed: stunning outlooks on the San Francisco Bay, Angel Island and Alcatraz seen through sliding glass doors and glass deck railings. “It’s nothing short of spectacular,” Polsky notes.

The designer was equally enamored with the existing structure. “I was so excited when I entered and found it was largely intact,” says Krefman, who was introduced to the homeowners by his husband, the couple’s real estate agent. “It was all so special; Rockrise brought a Zen factor with his proportions, volumes and wood details, and it made for a comfortable, livable house.” The project became about “embracing the good,” he explains, and honoring the original while updating what needed a refresh. The team approached the task with such reverence, their moves are, at times, imperceptible.

Cladding nearly the entirety of the interior are old-growth redwood panels, which were in fair shape, but Krefman reconditioned them to “bring back their luster,” he says. The wood acts as a dark neutral backdrop that amplifies the couple’s art collection, composed largely of California landscapes, and new furnishings selected by the designer. “We chose a bright, rich palette of teal, mustard and Golden Gate red,” he says.

In the living room, which faces the Bay but also opens to the greenery of the backyard, Krefman played up a refined yet casual spirit with an L-shaped sofa and swivel chairs. At night, the original travertine fireplace warms the room, its crackles and pops audible in the adjacent dining room. There, the designer paired a Saarinen table with contemporary chairs, adding a round wall mirror to reflect the San Francisco skyline.

With the help of general contractor Norman Charles, Krefman and Polsky reworked the ground floor guest rooms to give each an en suite, though the most impactful architectural change happened in the kitchen. By incorporating two small adjoining rooms, the once too-tiny space is now airy, complete with a breakfast nook. “The kitchen feels current but also blurs old and new,” Krefman says. Wood paneling references Rockrise’s original design, while blue cabinetry adds a contemporary note. Also on the main floor is the couple’s bedroom, where the team lifted the dropped ceiling for a more modern scale and turned a dresser alcove into a window seat. “The room—this whole project—was like restoring a boat: you do it piece by piece and gently,” Krefman notes.

Outside, landscape designer Katharine Webster took a similar honor-but-update approach to Halprin’s design. At the front, she modified a water feature (a later addition) in a more Halprin style, adding a stone bench as well as shrubs and small pines to balance softer and more textural plants. At the back, she rebuilt rock walls that protect the old cork oak and tree ferns that give the garden a “romantic, sequestered effect,” she says. “Nature is fundamental to the design of this house.”

When the owners first spotted the dwelling, they weren’t aware of its pedigree; they simply liked the way it looked. But as they learned more about it, appreciation morphed into stewardship. “Their care for this home’s history allowed us to pay attention to craft,” Krefman says. “Today, there’s a real warmth to the house, and you can feel its handmade quality—I’m confident that’s how it was when it was first built.”