Houzz Tour: 1950s Hilltop Home Gets a Dose of Modern Style

Although this mid-century home is perched on a hill overlooking the bay in San Francisco's Noe Valley, its original design did nothing to embrace its clear views and natural light. The client, half of a design-savvy couple with a young son (and baby number two on the way), wanted an open and bright space in which to raise the family. "Their main priority was opening up the home," says interior designer Regan Baker. "The original house was a dark warren of walls and clutter."

Architect Mason Miller knocked down almost every interior wall in the 1,600-square-foot apartment's main floor, clearing the way for a view in each main room. A master suite was added to the top floor, and Baker gave the home a unique textural blend of rustic, modern and retro-inspired décor. The view of the blue sky, the endless ocean and the city "is just like a piece of art on the wall," says Baker. "It's best viewed around white walls and less clutter."