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Urban Design: 5 Great City Homes
Fabulous Homes to Draw You Out of the Suburbs
If you are a city person at heart, isn't it a shame our home dollar often goes so much further in the suburbs? While there are many advantages of living in areas outside our major cities and in smaller towns, there remains the draw of the city. The city is where some of the most remarkable homes can be found, with the added benefit of often being able to walk around the corner to favorite shops and restaurants, run errands without getting into a car, and enjoy a wider range of cultural events.
So if budget were not an issue, here are some fabulous homes that would certainly tempt one to think about leaving the suburbs behind.
So if budget were not an issue, here are some fabulous homes that would certainly tempt one to think about leaving the suburbs behind.
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1. Let's start in San Francisco, a city I enjoyed calling home for several years. This shockingly stunning Victorian in Pacific Heights is the epitome of San Francisco architecture at its best.
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Walking through the grand door, do I really need to see more? I'm sold.
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| Upon entering there is a large parlor filled with clean lined furniture and large pieces of modern artwork, setting the stage for a modern home within this grand Victorian. |
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An upstairs hallway isn't treated as such. Why should it, when graced with high ceilings and interestingly curved walls? Large simple glass pendants take advantage of the height, while a bookcase and built-in benches provide a space to catch up on a little reading.
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| At first glance the kitchen seems perhaps a bit too simple for this home, but when looking closer it becomes apparent that the details are what make this design special. Built-ins, an abundance of millwork, marble countertops and high-end appliances add up to a design that is in keeping with the clean aesthetic Dijeau Poage Construction used throughout the home. See more of this house |
2. Now to the opposite coast, NYC. The intriguing mix of Old World glamor and sleek modern design within this project by Valerie Pasquiou Interiors + Design, Inc is quite remarkable.
| The brick wall has traces of gray that is repeated in the color of the painted woodwork and also seen in the wood flooring. The result is a beautiful blend of warm and cool hues. |
A glass wall encasing a stairwell brings in a reflective quality and is in striking contrast to the brick.
| Set at the back of the home, the kitchen is very modern. My favorite features are the paned-glass pocket doors and steel window frame (seen in the first and second images of this home) which introduces an unexpected pop of red. |
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3. Back to San Francisco, this modern new construction home by Mark Brand Architecture sits on a long narrow lot in Noe Valley, a wonderful neighborhood over the hill from Pacific Heights. What a rare thing this home is, with its abundance of large windows and a garage!
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| The kitchen situated at the back of the home takes advantage of its location, with its large windows and access to a very spacious (by city standards) backyard. |
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| The sunken courtyard allows the lower level of the home to receive good light through more large windows. The multi-level terraced yard is in keeping with the overall design and makes the most of the available yard space. See more of this house |
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4. Another outstanding city home in San Francisco is by the architectural firm Feldman Architecture, Inc., who renovated this Pacific Heights Townhouse. Again, anytime you have a garage in a city, you've made it. The wonderful lime green door indicates something special awaits inside.
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The architectural details seen in the interior reflects the fact this home is in an Edwardian building, but in a pared-down way that feels ready to welcome a modern family. Simple wainscoting and utilitarian fixtures are seen alongside a modern painting and Asian console.
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| Light floods the large kitchen complete with an eat-in area, a luxury in the city. The design features glass-front cabinetry, simple finishes and 1006 Navy Side Chairs, which look great with the gray countertops. |
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In this home is one of the best examples of how to add modern style to a small powder bathroom. The design showcases a wonderfully bold black and white wallpaper and a modern vanity with a beautiful mitered edge detail. See more of this house
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5. And last on the tour of special city homes is one of the more popular homes on Houzz, the Brooklyn Townhouse renovation by Ken Levenson Architect P.C. This was a total gut renovation for a creative couple and their family. The outside is stately and only hints at what lies inside.
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The amazing style created by the confident and bold combination of 19th Century architecture and modern taste is what makes this and the other rooms of this home so popular with Houzz readers.
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This home also features a shaded backyard space, truly one of the hallmarks of the best in city living. See more of this house
Which do you prefer? City or suburb?
More: Tour more amazing homes on Houzz
Which do you prefer? City or suburb?
More: Tour more amazing homes on Houzz
Ideabook published on April 22, 2011.
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LOVE the second home in San Fran!!
For those who don't have the resources to live in a big city where they can walk to their various errands, a good alternative is to go the opposite route and move to a small town. My brother used to live in Oberlin, Ohio, a town with a renowned liberal arts college. There were shops within walking distance and the college offered the opportunity to enjoy fantastic art and music experiences.
Thanks. I've been searching for something like these.