A Century-Old Arts and Crafts Home by Bernard Maybeck Lists for $4.25M
Just one year after completing the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, legendary architect Bernard Maybeck set out to design what would become another one of the city's architectural treasures: the Erlanger House.
Set on a tree-lined corner lot in San Francisco's Forest Hill neighborhood, the Erlanger House was built in 1916 by Bernard Maybeck. A leader of the American Arts and Crafts movement, the acclaimed architect designed the home to celebrate nature and various cultural influences.
Built in 1916 for S.H. Erlanger and his wife, the three-story residence has long captivated admirers for its handcrafted details. Honoring some of the principles Maybeck helped define for the Arts and Crafts movement, the four-bedroom home effortlessly blends elegant features of English and Japanese influence with meticulously crafted wooden details.
A beautiful wooden door offers a stately welcome. The polished canopy of redwood lines a bayed seating area above.
"This Maybeck home is an incredible masterpiece," said listing agent Kirk Economos of Compass in a recent SF Gate article. "Every element and detail has an essential function, but is presented in a way that is a joy to behold. It's one in a million."
Throughout the years, the home's handcrafted details were meticulously maintained, including intricate moldings lining the entryway.
According to the book Bernard Maybeck: Architect of Elegance, the couple desired an English-style home similar to a grand 14th-century manor house they came across in the Lancashire village of Samlesbury.
One of the home's many stunning features is its cathedral-like living area with exposed redwood beams rising over 20 feet. A large red-brick fireplace enhances the room's regal aesthetic.
Once the 3,620-square-foot estate was completed, Maybeck commented: "This house is our attempt to suggest the idea of an English character in California. Although this house would never happen in California, it yet has an English feeling. The building and its setting among the trees loudly proclaims the good taste of Mrs. and Mr. Erlanger from who the suggestions came."
Floor-to-ceiling windows invite warm natural light inside, while richly textured built-in cabinetry provides plentiful storage. Wood paneling wraps around the expansive family room.
One lucky buyer can own this phenomenal piece of history, as the home is currently listed for $4,250,000. Scroll ahead to take a peek inside.
The opposite end of the living room flows into a formal dining area. An expansive picture window and sliding doors overlook the lush city property.
The open-concept kitchen offers modern conveniences while retaining much of its original detailing, including the custom cabinets and exposed ceiling beams. A picture window stretches across the countertops along one wall.
Skylights rest above a cozy eating area, complete with French doors that lead to a side terrace. Often recognized as the creator of "California design," Maybeck regularly integrated indoor/outdoor living into the homes he built, even as early as in the 1890s.
The home's extensive wood paneling continues into a small office next to the kitchen. This space also provides access to the side terrace.
In total, the home includes four bedrooms, all of which benefit from the home's many windows. A leaded glass window above the headboard originally looked down into the living room.
Leaded-glass windows continue into a turret-like sitting area above the home's main entry. The tranquil space is currently staged as a seating area but could also serve as a sunny studio.
270 Castenada Avenue in San Francisco, CA, is currently listed for $4,250,000 by Peggy and Kirk Economos of Compass.
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