This San Francisco Home's Design Pays Homage to Its Lovely Architectural Bones

After 10 years in the industry, interior designer Kristina Braun of Braun + Adams says that this San Francisco four-bed, four-bath home in a waterfront neighborhood is her most beloved project of the decade. "Everyone that walked into the house would comment on what an amazing space it was. More so than any project we've worked on to date," she tells Martha Stewart Living.

When we asked her what inspired the home's fresh, comfortable design, she says that, along with a few key inspiration images from her client, she and her team took their style cues from house's bones. "The house already had such great details and architecture—we wanted to play with that, but not get too literal and give it its own personality," Braun says. The designer also incorporated her own signature style—mixing modern and traditional motifs with a touch of the bohemian—throughout the space, using statement-making rugs and bold wallpaper to drive the rest of the color palette. Among her favorite details? "The arched windows were killer here. Also, the staircase that was original to the house. Both tied in with the beautiful arches and curves throughout the space," she adds.

Still, every project presents its challenges—and this inspired home was no exception. "The family room was very low on natural light. We wanted it to still feel bright and cheerful so we made sure to bring that in with the color palette," she says of the problem-solving process. Ahead, take a full tour of the stunning space, complete with a custom dining table, original fireplace, and local furnishes.

"I'm absolutely in love with every single detail in [this room], but my favorite may be the one thing we didn't have a hand in—and that is the original fireplace," Braun shares. The built-in seating nooks, topped with cozy cushions, on either side of the mantel provide even more architectural interest.

A woven stair runner lends an organic touch; the textile also appears on the home's second staircase. Herringbone wood floors are another simple, but striking design detail.

Since Braun kept the design of the kitchen simple, she painted the island Farrow & Ball's "Down Pipe" (from $110, farrow-ball.com) as a way to ground the space. Her favorite detail of this room? "The barstools. They're a great combination of comfortable, cool, and practical."

This dining room was brought to life with a thoughtful mix of motifs: marble, velvet, and wood blend seamlessly. A chandelier makes a statement from above. "We removed green silk wallpaper from the walls, which was lovely but made the room feel awkward and dark," explains Braun of the space's re-design. "We wanted to incorporate that same green, but in a way that felt light and fresh—so we found the perfect heavy-duty velvet [for the chairs]. That same green is subtly worked into the artwork; the artist was sent a fabric swatch to match."

A cheerful family room pulls double duty as an eat-in area. "The breakfast nook was an add-on that took an unused corner and gave it life. It ended up as one of the most used spaces," notes Braun.

"The family room, in general, was a big focus, given it's where most of [the client's] time is spent. It was designed around the blue leather John Pomp chair that the client fell in love with," Braun explains. The vintage textile sourced for the custom ottoman inspired the rest of the room's color palette.

Braun designed the tranquil master bedroom around the client's existing bed frame—a request made by the husband. Luxurious drapes and a cozy rug underfoot elevates the entire space.

The vintage Spanish chair perched in a quiet corner of the master was a local Los Angeles find, and remains Braun's favorite detail of the whole room.

The Elizabeth Eakins window shade in the spa-like master bath was thoughtfully selected to tie in with the adjacent bedroom; its motif is subtly repeated there in the rug.

Braun created a playful, but elevated guest room, complete with statement wallpaper and luxurious details. Painting the ceiling a deep, rich gray anchored the rest of the colorful space.

The neutral covered outdoor patio—a sea of whites and ivories—offers the client a place of respite in nature; they retreat here with a good book and glass of wine.