THE HILLS ARE ALIVE - SPRING 2026
The Oakland Hills are alive, and this recently completed home finds perfect balance within the vibrancy of the new season. Constructed with fire-hardened materials, the modern family residence sits lightly within an intentionally wild landscape, floating above native oak trees. It emphasizes the scenery while capturing the warmth of golden hour light. Spaces that felt cozy and intimate through winter now breathe differently, as walls fully open to welcome the evening air.
The interior serves as a spare yet warm counterpoint to the richness of the surrounding landscape, drawing inspiration from the family’s years spent adventuring at sea. The sense of openness, uninterrupted sky, invigorating breeze, and constant connection to nature that exemplified their life on board the boat is reimagined through retractable glass walls, seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, streamlined forms, and a restrained material palette. This maritime influence is perhaps most evident in the dining nook, which recalls breakfasts enjoyed in the boat’s outdoor cockpit — bathed in early light and oriented toward a carefully framed view through the adjacent galley.
Photos By Adam Potts
The sun profoundly shapes the spaces we inhabit, and its qualities are central to our design approach. Here, the angle of dusk light softens edges, warms glass, and reveals the depth of overhangs and cantilevers. Natural light does more than illuminate — collaborating with the architecture to animate the spaces within and give form to the sweeping vistas across Oakland and San Francisco.
SAN FRANCISCO DESIGNER SHOWCASEWe are loving the preview images for this year’s SF Decorator Showcase. The Queen Anne-style Victorian in Pacific Heights has been fully restored by 18 firms, with rooms filled with exquisite furniture, fixtures, and artwork. Explore the singular design concepts from April 25-May 25, while supporting the annual benefit for educational opportunity at University High School. Tickets for the event — a celebration of “creativity, craftsmanship, and community” — may be purchased online.
SUNSET MAGAZINE DESIGN AWARDS 2026We were thrilled to be included in Sunset Magazine’s 2026 Home & Design Awards Winners. The “West’s Best Designers” are displayed on their website and Tierney Conner can be found under the Best Kitchen Design category. Our Lafayette renovation — a mid-century ranch house made modern — graces the first page. A directory of all the winners and their portfolios is also available.
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