The circular portico entryway.
That’s not to say the home hasn’t had plenty of interest. Chan said he gives tours often. But a lot of the inquiries come from those that want to utilize the space for its immaculate decor, rather than as a family home. Someone wanted to turn it into a TikTok house (“that’s so over,” Chan said) and many have been interested in throwing events there (“brides, bless their hearts for trying”) or shooting editorial spreads for magazines (one was allowed). Film scouts have visited, and an “A-list Hollywood movie” may be filming there this summer.
The living room was designed by Jonathan Rachman and was inspired by Audrey Hepburn.
The nearly 11,000-square-foot home features eight bedrooms, six bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. The expansive kitchen was named House Beautiful’s “Kitchen of the Year” and is larger than most San Francisco studio apartments. There’s also an elevator that services the four floors and a motor court that fits seven cars. The view from the primary bathroom alone would rival any claims of the “best view in San Francisco.” Plus, every inch has been impeccably decorated, with many of the rooms preserved in their Decorator Showcase glory.
Perhaps the most lauded space is the living room, designed by Jonathan Rachman and inspired by the relationship between fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn. It’s decked out in lush fabrics of emerald green and gold, encased in hand-embroidered wallpaper.
The kitchen that was once named House Beautiful’s Kitchen of the Year.
This dressed-up version is what the current owners fell in love with. They bought tickets to the showcase in 2017 and just months later they purchased the property for $16 million.
For the right price, Chan said buyers could even negotiate for all those furnishings to be included in the sale.
The primary bedroom
While renovations and the current design aesthetic are decidedly modern and intriguing, the real charm of the home for many will be found in its original details. You can even glimpse one of the most stunning accents, the marble circular portico at the front entrance, from the street, with its Romanesque columns calling back to an earlier era of San Francisco opulence.
Upon entering, a grand, carved wooden double staircase flows up to the second floor, stealing the show before you even can glance at the rooms around you. An original hearth commands the living room and intricately carved wood built-ins flow into the dining room. And the coffered ceilings. Oh, the ceilings. “For a younger buyer, that’s not going to resonate as much,” Chan said.
The storied home was built in 1904 by father-son architects Samuel and Sydney Newsom, a formidable architecture team who were responsible for many early Pacific Heights living spaces, for Julius Mack and his wife Irene “Nettie” Silverberg Mack. Julius built his wealth in finance, starting the Bank of Bakersfield with Philip N. Lilienthal (another San Franciscan connected to another storied old home). He went on to become the president of Imperial Oil and owned the house until his death.
It was sold soon after and then was owned by William H. Orrick Jr., who was later appointed United States district judge for the Northern District of California by President John F. Kennedy. The Orricks spent nearly 50 years in ownership of the home until it was purchased by the Kunins. Dr. Richard Kunin was a prominent psychiatrist and his wife Matilda founded Young Performers Theater, and they lived there for 37 years, ensuring the property has been owned by very few families in its nearly 120-year existence.
One of six full bathrooms
Chan said he’s had some concerns from those visiting the home that the over-the-top decor is “lipstick on a pig.” That would be some lipstick — 28 of the Bay Area’s most elite interior designers each took on a room for the showcase — but he said the home was retrofitted in the last decade and the home is in solid shape. He said it’s nothing like 3800 Washington — another Decorator Showcase house that was modeled after Le Petit Trianon in Versailles, France — which went on the market for $30 million in April 2019, and then quietly relisted for $23.8 million in November 2019, then underwent three more big price cuts. It finally sold in March 2022 for $12.7 million.
“The market is mellowing,” Chan said. “We’re at a weird inflection point and people are still unsure. We’ll see what happens.”
Another secondary bedroom
The upper level view penthouse has a wet bar and a wraparound view patio.
The upper level view penthouse has a wet bar and a wraparound view patio.
Article source: https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/SF-mansion-gets-price-cut-17216280.php
