For a century, this San Francisco carriage house stood mostly undisturbed by the influx of changes around it. “It’s like a secret garden, completely hidden from the street,” says architect Sky Lanigan. “but it still has a visual connection to the city—from the rear deck, you can see the tower of Mission Dolores.”

As neighbors, public spaces, and streets evolved in the Mission, the home remained a unique time capsule until Lanigan and Ian Read, project lead and principal of Oakland-based firm Medium Plenty, showed up. They were tasked with bringing the property into the modern world without disrupting its peaceful bubble.

Before: Kitchen

After: Kitchen

“The structure was a carriage house that consisted of an area to park the carriage and stables for the horses at ground level,” Read says. “Above these areas are living quarters and a hay loft.”

The owners had lived in the apartment for years. As a 30-something couple with two kids and in-laws who visit frequently, they asked the designers to carve out more space for family while privileging “lightness and simplicity,” says Read—something that would embrace minimalism and natural finishes. And because of their in-laws, they asked that the home be accessible, too.

Before: Dining Room

After: Dining Room

“The project was really driven by the relationship between the existing living space and the new homeowners’ suite in the old hayloft below,” Lanigan says. “For the main level, we wanted to open up and brighten the space without calling attention to the changes. I almost think of it as cleaning an old painting: revealing the vivid color below the grime, but elevating the feeling of age.”

The hayloft was completely rebuilt—its previous rickety structure and population of bats, pigeons, and rats left no other option—and made to feel like a contemporary contrast to the existing apartment’s historic features. The apartment’s original Douglas fir floors were cleaned, and new planks were installed in the addition; playful skylights and wide windows bring in an abundance of natural light.

Now, the kitchen flows into the dining area with an office nook built into the pantry unit. The architects also added an elevator to the garage so that visitors can skip the staircase to the front door.

“Ultimately, we did not have a preconceived idea of how we wanted it to look, but as the design process unfolded, we found a subtle, warm aesthetic that just felt right,” Read says.

The renovation sounds straightforward enough, but there were plenty of challenges. Rebuilding the hayloft above neighbors’ parking spots meant balancing speed, ingenuity, and patience. Replacing the Douglas fir meant creating a sort of patchwork quilt effect on the floor—a look that needed to grow on the contractor—and the main suite’s windows are right on the property line. Oh, and the owners had a baby in the midst of it all.

Before: Hayloft

After: Main Suite

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“This project was really tricky from a spatial and agency perspective,” Read says. “But the result is something we are really proud of.” In many ways, the renovation is just as remarkable as the home itself. It’s now a part of the property, tucked away in a well-tended bubble that’s peacefully removed from the rest of the city.

“I feel lucky to be part of a project involving committed, caring clients who deeply consider the relationship between old and new,” Lanigan says. “We fit bold new shapes within a quirky, humble structure.”

More Before & After:

A Timeworn Midcentury in Connecticut Gets a Moody Makeover

A Los Angeles Bungalow Opens to a Gorgeous Garden Oasis

An Interior Designer Rescues a California Desert Cabin From Drab Finishes

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Medium Plenty / @mediumplenty

Builder: Extol Construction

Structural Engineer: Strandberg Engineering

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Before & After: A Time-Capsule Carriage House in San Francisco Is Gracefully Modernized