How One Designer Squeezed Major Charm (and Extra Square Footage) Out of This Builder-Grade Condo (2024)

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When the owners of a San Francisco condo moved into their simple, builder-grade home, they knew the interiors were completely devoid of charm but full of potential. So they enlisted Linda Hayslett of LH.Designs to infuse the two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence with the character and functionality they craved—and after their contractor ghosted them at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, put the finishing touches on it themselves.

Built in 2016, the 970-square-foot condo located in the Bayview neighborhood was practically bare thanks to a lack of architectural details, lighting, and storage. "It was very vanilla, and nothing stood out," Hayslett says. She explains: "The clients are originally from Brooklyn, so they loved some of those details that you get in brownstones and the history that you see in old homes. But they didn't want anything too ornate and did want some modern elements to make it seem timeless yet unique."

Apart from the unremarkable design, an inefficient open floor plan made it impossible to place furniture without blocking the flow of traffic. "The dining table was directly in front of the entryway, so it made a barrier and felt like it took up a lot of space in the walkway," the designer says. "The island in the kitchen was in a different direction, so the chairs were always in the walkway area."

To make the condo work harder for its residents, Hayslett devised a new layout with custom elements throughout. In the dining area, a built-in banquette now offers cozy seating and drawers for storage while better defining the zone. A custom kitchen island runs parallel to the longest wall of cabinetry, which was revamped with new hardware. Recessed lighting and sconces were installed throughout for practical use and to set the mood. And everything was custom painted or stained, from the bathroom vanity and interior doors, to evoke warmth. That aura is furthered by a neutral color palette with pops of rich red, burnt orange, coral, deep green, and navy.

Near the end of the project, the contractor went MIA. The wife jumped into action, using what she'd learned from the contractor and guidance from Hayslett to add moldings, install door handles, and even apply a concrete finish to the primary bedroom walls herself.

The resulting interiors have an obvious allure. Distinct zones exist without sacrificing good flow between the dining area, kitchen, and living room. The original blank slate turned out to be the perfect foundation for a design that balances an airy, contemporary look with traditional flair.

Entryway

Previously dominated by the dining table, the entry now features a refinished vintage cabinet that provides extra storage.

Mirror: CB2. Sconce: Corbett Lighting.

Living Area

Hayslett calls the living area the home's "icing on the cake." An orange sofa, modern sconces, new wainscoting, a sleek fireplace, and custom marble floating shelves work together to give the space a fresh yet cozy feel. "The pops of color juxtaposed with neutrals makes me love how hanging in this space makes watching TV or movies an experience now," she adds.

Wall paint: Chantilly Lace, Benjamin Moore. Sconce: ED Ellen DeGeneres for Visual Comfort. Bar cabinet: Coco Republic. Sofa: custom.

Kitchen

Along with a custom island, the kitchen was upgraded with new cabinetry hardware and a porcelain slab backsplash. The latter replaced original tile that "seemed like an exterior tile and out of place," according to Hayslett.

Barstools: Arhaus.

Dining Area

"The luxe built-in we did for extra seating helped give more space to the dining room and defined it better," Hayslett says. "I love how it feels like an intimate moment."

Table and chairs: Ballard Designs. Ceiling light: 1stDibs. Banquette: custom, in Kravet fabric. Paint: Farrow & Ball (door), Color Atelier (walls). Art: Denni Kopelan.

Primary Bedroom

While the custom bed in Pindler performance velvet fabric takes up most of the room's square footage, "it makes you feel like you want to fall into the bed and get engulfed in it," Hayslett says. "The curves of the headboard help make it feel like a cocoon that you just want to get wrapped in."

Sconces: Arhaus. Shades: The Shade Store. Wall paint: custom, Color Atelier.

Bathroom

Fine details—from the reeded glass door to the custom vanity—create a sense of pure bliss in the bathroom. All of the plumbing fixtures were upgraded. A towel rack, floating shelves, and a wall niche were added to boost practicality and storage. Gold accents amplify the room's warmth and elegance. "The tile in the shower also got an upgrade to white subway tile as the beige tile in there was giving a granny-type feel," the designer says. "We added a custom glass to the shower and a niche in there to make it feel like a grander space than it was."

Plumbing fixtures: Phylrich. Wall paint: custom, Color Atelier. Mirror: Kate & Laurel. Sconces: Visual Comfort. Cabinet hardware: Rejuvenation.

Office

"The moody office with the custom wallpaper I created with S. Harris and the Black Artists + Designers Guild on the ceiling is just so cozy and gives a fall-winter vibe that makes me want to sit and read in there all day,” the designer says.

Desk: RH. Chair: The Inside, in Shelia Bridges Design fabric. Sofa: One Kings Lane. Shades: The Shade Store. Wall paint: Velvet Noir, Color Atelier. Sconce: Birch Lane.

Q&A

House Beautiful: What was the inspiration for the new design?

Linda Hayslett: The inspiration for the new design was to make it feel more interesting, warm, and soft with a traditional yet contemporary flair.

HB: Where did the majority of the budget go?

LH: The majority of the budget went toward new lighting and electrical and then custom cabinetry. We started with a layout and then did a new lighting and electrical plan for the home. There wasn't a lot of general lighting or any mood lighting, so we added new recessed lights throughout the entire space along with new wall sconces in the living room, bedroom, office, and bathroom. Then the budget went toward custom cabinetry as we did a new built-in for the banquette seating area, a custom-designed island for the kitchen, and a custom vanity for the bathroom. Each piece had details that made the cost more than normal. Plus, each item was either custom painted or stained.

HB: How did you save money/DIY/get crafty?

We saved money by the client being able to learn from her contractor and finishing out her own project. She was able to cut mitered corners on molding trim and painted the concrete paint in the primary bedroom herself. People don't realize that there's a lot of skill involved when doing a renovation or build. You can't just wing it or figure it out on YouTube and become a professional DIY'er immediately. My client really took time to pay attention and ask her contractor things and learned on the job, so she was able to do some of her own handiwork. This helped so much in not only cost but time. As time is money when remodeling or in construction, you don't get to use that space until it's finished.

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