Kristin Hildebrand is the Founder and Creative Director of KH Interiors—but her story doesn’t begin with design. She is a Stanford graduate, played professional volleyball, and lived abroad for nine years. She later earned her design accreditation from the Academy of Interior Design of Los Angeles before launching her eponymous firm.
When some of her close friends—old classmates from Stanford—were ready to renovate their San Francisco beachfront home, the designer was thrilled to take it on. “They were hoping to update their space while making sure it remained a cozy and comfortable environment for their family to live and play in,” she tells us.
The designer’s scope of work included the kitchen, dining area, and primary bathroom. “We did our best to preserve the home’s original architectural elements such as the wave crown molding in the kitchen and dining area, which brings so much character to the space,” she says. They relocated and centered the range and moved the sink to the island for better flow. “Then, we tore down an awkward wall that prior to renovating separated the kitchen from a small butler’s pantry,” the designer explains. “Doing that simplified everything and really opened up the space.” Stahl + Band pendant lighting hangs above, while honed soapstone countertops contrast with Zellige tile. The primary bath has a similar—yet more colorful approach—also featuring Zellige tile and unlacquered brass plumbing fixtures.
In the dining room, they added in a built-in banquette bench with a kid-proof leather cushion and updated the dining set. The space embodies California casual design, with Old World warmth and an enviable view.
As most of the renovation happened right in the middle of the lockdowns, Kristin and her team designed the space without ever seeing it in person. “We relied on our client (heavily!) for all of the measurements that we needed for the CAD floor plans and elevations, and she was also so helpful receiving everything and updating us so we could track inventory during the construction phase,” she recalls. “We also had a lot of phone calls with the builder to ensure there weren’t any hiccups as he brought all of our designs to life!”
It was completed in two phases (kitchen and dining first, and bathroom next). “When our clients saw it, they were ecstatic and shared that we made their space infinitely more beautiful, warm, and more “home” in every sense.”
