Everyday Elevated: Open-Plan Living, Integrated Design, and Spring Inspiration in the Bay Area
In this issue, we look at how thoughtful design makes everyday life richer, from a Piedmont estate transformed into an open, light-filled family home to a Marin renovation featured in San Francisco Magazine. We also share a few things worth seeing this spring, from a waterwise garden tour to the newly opened Eames Institute in Richmond.
We believe in clean, clear architectural expressions that feel effortless, so that the richness of everyday life becomes evident. Spaces are enlivened by the people who live within them, and by the changing of seasons and the patina of time. As spring arrives, we are reminded of how our integrated design approach and close client collaboration result in spaces that are genuinely memorable.
Living Large: Open-Plan Renovation at the Piedmont Residence
Photographed by Adam Potts
A recent project in Piedmont shows what is possible when a historic estate is rethought for the way a large family actually lives. Several small, disconnected rooms were converted into one generous open great room, bringing the kitchen, dining area, and sitting area together under a wash of natural light with views out to the city beyond.
A new terrace with a heated gathering space and doors that disappear into the walls extends daily life outdoors, creating a casual and comfortable setting for family activities in every season. The refined modern style was calibrated to honor the scale and elegance of the original home, with timeless materials, stately light fixtures, and details considered down to the last inch.
San Francisco Magazine Featuring the Marin Renovation
Marin Renovation Featured in San Francisco Magazine
Our Marin County project received further recognition in February when it was featured in the Modern Luxury section of San Francisco Magazine. This project is near and dear to our hearts because it represents what becomes possible when architecture, interiors, and landscape are conceived together from the start, creating a true harmony between life and home. Written by Michael McCarthy and photographed by Bess Friday.
MARIN RENOVATION
SF MAGAZINE ARTICLE
Things Worth Seeing This Spring
The Ruth Bancroft Garden — Waterwise Garden Tour, April 27 The Ruth Bancroft Garden and local water districts are hosting a Waterwise Garden Tour on April 27, featuring eighteen private gardens and three botanical gardens with drought-tolerant plants, many of which appear regularly in Tierney Conner projects. Widely considered one of the finest dry gardens in the world, the Ruth Bancroft Garden and Nursery is an East Bay nonprofit that holds lectures, workshops, and events throughout the year.
Eames Institute — Now Open in Richmond The Eames Institute has unveiled its new Richmond headquarters and opened its archives to the public. The influence of Charles and Ray Eames on designers everywhere is difficult to overstate, and the institute's ranch in Sonoma County further explores the role of nature in their creative thinking. A visit is long overdue.
AIA East Bay Home Tour — May 4 The AIA East Bay home tour on May 4 highlights five family homes by local architects. We are always looking to support and learn from our peers, and events like this one remind us that thoughtful projects benefit the entire community.
San Francisco Decorator Showcase — April 27 through May 27 The San Francisco Decorator Showcase brings together work from over thirty interior designers in a single space, from established veterans to emerging voices. It is always a worthwhile and energizing afternoon.
THINGS TO CHECK OUTPIEDMONT RESIDENCE
MARIN RENOVATION
SAN FRANCISCO MAGAZINE
Tierney Conner Architecture is an Oakland-based studio founded in 2004 that integrates architecture, interior design, and landscape design in-house for custom residential, multi-family, and commercial clients across the East Bay and San Francisco Bay Area. The practice is led by partners Anne Tierney, Erin Conner, and J. Jarrell Conner, and is located at 363 17th Street in downtown Oakland.