Perched on the Noe Valley hillside, this home transforms everyday living into a front-row seat to the San Francisco skyline. Quietly set along a serene street, and surrounded by thoughtfully refreshed neighbors, it balances clean, modern lines with subtle washes of the city’s iconic purples and blues.
“Our client came to us with her sister in tow, both with an appreciation for refined Scandinavian design and a deep respect for quality,” says interior designer Adrian Dagli. “The sister, a frequent visitor to San Francisco for her fix of restaurants, shops and urban walks, naturally became a co-pilot in the process, while our primary client steered the vision of her home with confidence. The sisters shared a desire for the home to be a quiet sanctuary nestled in a vibrant city neighborhood.”
As founder of Interior Wanderer, Adrian was tasked with translating that shared vision into a cohesive, livable design. From the outset, the sisters had their hearts set on swapping an awkward kitchen window for a large slider window. “That decision inspired a rework of the kitchen layout, with added cabinetry wrapping underneath to frame the view,” she recalls.
Beyond the kitchen, this was a comprehensive, full home remodel. “We reimagined the residence from a traditional San Francisco home, complete with original plaster moldings and ornate detailing, into something quieter and more refined,” Adrian explains. “Key spaces like the bathrooms, kitchen, and primary suite (which had previously been an in-law unit with its own kitchenette) were completely reconfigured, and nearly every window and door was replaced with stain-grade profiles to bring through Scandinavian sensibility.”
Each space was personalized through custom furnishings, deeply considered bespoke millwork, or a thoughtful combination of both. “They wanted the home to feel warm but minimal, using stain-grade wood and the kind of refined millwork you find in Scandinavian homes,” the designer explains. “We knew that blonde oak floors were a must. They also had a soft spot for purple, but they were still keen to keep an overall tonal palette. These preferences became the design language that flowed through the home as we reimagined each space.”
There’s a quiet current of ease that travels throughout the home. “The mood is soft, calm, and intentional as one space and palette effortlessly connect to another,” Adrian reflects. “While rooted in Scandinavian-inspired themes, it’s the interplay of tonal layering and color joy that brings a quiet energy to the home, keeping it both lively and grounded in calm.”
It was about a year and a half in total. The project culminated in a reveal that captured everything the sisters had envisioned. “While they’d seen the hard installs come to life piece by piece, this was the first time seeing it with all site protection removed and fully furnished, and their reactions said it all,” Adrian shares. “Gasps, ooohs, and ahhs filled the air as we turned every corner. That reveal moment is always priceless, but we also love reconnecting once clients have had time to truly live in their home.”
The homeowner said it best: “You can see Adrian’s considered eye in everything, the improved floor plan, restful color palette, and thoughtfully designed cabinetry. It all flows harmoniously from room to room. Adrian had a vision, and my sister and I are so glad we put our trust in her. The restful retreat she achieved is better than anything we could have imagined.”
