This 1920s-era home is nestled in Noe Valley, one of San Francisco’s most beloved and picturesque neighborhoods. “We love how this area combines a family-friendly atmosphere with walkable streets, sweeping city views, and a true sense of community,” says designer Fiona Bronte Burr. “It has a distinctly residential feel, yet it’s still close to the best of what the city has to offer.”

Fiona and her business partner, Johanna Vente Anderson, are the principals and cofounders of the Bay Area design firm Saffron + Poe. They were the top pick for a young family looking to renovate their newly purchased home.

“Our clients are a wonderful family of five, and their top priority was to create a true forever home—one that could grow and evolve with them over time,” Johanna explains. “When they found this house, it was close to perfect—but the main level was divided by a butler’s pantry that disrupted the connection between the kitchen and living spaces. We removed it and introduced graceful arched openings to unify the kitchen, dining, and living areas, creating a soft, architectural flow throughout.”

The family’s must-haves included a spacious central island, a dedicated wet bar for entertaining, and an outdoor space designed for year-round enjoyment and family fun. Their vision also called for all four bedrooms to be on the upper level, keeping the entire family on the same floor.

“This was a full gut renovation of the main level,” Fiona explains. “We reimagined the floor plan to enhance both flow and functionality, redesigned the interiors from top to bottom, and partnered with the landscape architect on the backyard to create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. We also collaborated on custom built-ins, architectural detailing, and furnishings that reflect the clients’ unique style and the way they live.”

One of the biggest challenges, she says, was removing the existing butler’s pantry, which sat at the heart of the main floor and played a key structural role in supporting the house. “We worked closely with the builders and structural engineers to find a solution that preserved the home’s integrity while opening up the space,” Fiona recalls. “The result was a series of thoughtfully designed arched openings that not only maintained structural stability but also added a sculptural, architectural elegance to the flow between the kitchen, dining, and living areas.”

The project took just over a year from design to completion. “The clients were overjoyed,” Johanna says. “They told us the space felt like ‘them’ in every way, and that it exceeded what they had dreamed was possible for their home. Their nanny said that cooking in the kitchen made her feel like she was in a movie—which might be our favorite compliment yet!”