{"id":1520,"date":"2024-06-13T07:42:06","date_gmt":"2024-06-13T12:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beach-homes.com\/info\/?p=1520"},"modified":"2024-08-29T08:38:43","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T13:38:43","slug":"a-re-envisioned-beachside-pad-delivers-the-ultimate-surfer-haven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beach-homes.com\/info\/lifestyles\/a-re-envisioned-beachside-pad-delivers-the-ultimate-surfer-haven","title":{"rendered":"Seeking The Swell: A Re-envisioned Beachside Pad Delivers the Ultimate Surfer Haven"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>7<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Interior<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Architecture:<\/em> Mason St. Peter, MSP Design, Inc.<\/a>, San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA
Photography:<\/em> Mariko Reed<\/a>, San Francisco, CA, and Honolulu, HI
Contractor: <\/em>CLO Construction<\/a>, Point Richmond, CA
Structural Engineer:\u00a0<\/em>Hom-Pisano Engineering<\/a>, San Francisco, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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An avid surfer and luminary of the California lifestyle, architect Mason St. Peter<\/a> intuitively connects to the ocean and the coastal landscape, which he expresses through his innovative designs. Informed by his meditative surroundings, St. Peter\u2019s reverence for open-air floorplans, raw materials, natural wood accents, porthole windows, and massive glass pivot doors inviting salty sea breezes permeates his freeform-purist signature style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The face behind the full-service architectural design firm MSP Design Inc<\/a>., with locations in San Francisco and Los Angeles, St. Peter has 20 years of experience and a well-curated blend of residential, mixed-use, commercial, and retail design. He is also the co-founder and creator of General Store<\/a>, a collaborative endeavor founded in 2009. Devotees of the bespoke Bohemian Topanga Canyon lifestyle, his family\u2019s own refashioned hunting-lodge retreat, which he shares with his son, Wild, and daughter, Una, emanates a dreamy minimalist vibe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A brilliant manifestation of this trademark aesthetic, St. Peter\u2019s Great Highway Project sits in the enviable beachside neighborhood of Outer Sunset, directly across the street from the best surf break in San Francisco. Designed for a surfer friend looking to move closer to the beach, the 2,118-square-foot home nestles into a rare double lot displaying views of the Monterey cypress green belt that separates the Great Highway from Ocean Beach. From the rooftop, you can catch a glimpse of the ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Great Highway Groove<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Great<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A gem along the Great Highway\u2014the throughway framing the thriving surf community of Outer Sunset\u2014this home was originally a horse barn that once belonged to Adolph Sutro, the 24th<\/sup> mayor of San Francisco from 1895 to 1897. The dwelling is historically protected, and the current owner wanted to preserve the entire home from the exterior beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur design aesthetic is always to have the materials do the work they originally were intended to do,\u201d says St. Peter. \u201cWood should be wood, not painted, and structure should be exposed as much as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clad with cedar siding and black asphaltic roofing, the renovated structure emanates a modern minimalist aesthetic with an organic vibe. Multi-pane windows replicate the originals from the early 1900s, and aluminum double-sided garage doors incorporating translucent glass counterbalance the front door design and lend privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coastal Connection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Open<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When open, the garage doors create a passageway from the backyard to the Great Highway and the ocean beyond. The doors make a perfect frame, silhouetting the twisted forms of a windswept tree across the street. Conveniently located next to the kitchen, the garage also offers a conditioned space that gets radiant heat and serves as a multi-purpose room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moroccan Mood<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Front<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe original interior was all wood\u2014beautiful but very dark for San Francisco,\u201d notes St. Peter, \u201cespecially Outer Sunset, where the fog can linger for most of your daylight hours, month after month. This was the main impetus\u2014to design a space that was open and full of light.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He flooded the space with natural light by implementing massive windows and doors, generating an upbeat, open feel. For a dynamic color twist to his neutral palette, St. Peter introduced a splash of unexpected vibrance with Moroccan-inspired geometric tile in the entrance. Its deep azure hue connects to the sky and the undulating ocean waves.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic Harmony<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"detail<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After passing through the tiled entrance, a stunning full view captures the live-edge walnut staircase, open living spaces, and dramatic glass and metal pivot door opening onto the rear yard. \u201cWe wanted to bring back that wood feel of the original dark barn but with a more organic and natural connection,\u201d says the architect. \u201cThat led us to the ergonomic, live-edge walnut staircase and kitchen countertop detail, along with raw-edge walnut door handles for the Fleetwood pivot door.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A team collaboration involving the builder, a woodwork craftsman, and a structural engineer, the staircase transpired into a sculptural work of art showcased from nearly every vantage point. It also provides upper-level access to the bedrooms and the primary bath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beach Basic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Minimalist<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The kitchen\u2019s efficient spare design emulates the laid-back surfer lifestyle. Open shelving and streamlined countertop prep space ensure an aesthetically pleasing, essentials-only feel.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pivotal Points<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pivot<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The home\u2019s proximity to the surf prompted St. Peter\u2019s use of bespoke elements that blur the lines between indoors and out. Ocular porthole-style windows nod to a maritime aesthetic, and the colossal pivot door invites the salty breezes, creating an almost permanent open-air atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutting-Edge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"closeup<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

St. Peter added live-edge walnut door handles to soften the rigid lines of this 8-foot pivot door. His meaningful design elements create a raw elegance that pervades the entire home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soft Loft<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"upper<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Angled low ceilings create the ultimate cocooning experience on the upper level, where St. Peter divided the space into two bedrooms. Double doors and a circular window open onto a fresh-air balcony overlooking the backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surf Sanctuary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"spa-style<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The lively Moroccan-style tile emerges once again in the upper-level primary bathroom, where a soaking tub and a generous walk-in shower deliver a relaxing spa moment apr\u00e8s-surf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ebb & Flow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Backyard<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shaded by trees and dotted with native foliage, this backyard oasis makes a beachy private mecca for outdoor entertaining. \u201cThis home was completed in 2016, and the owners were thrilled to have the latest jewel in the center of the Great Highway,\u201d says St. Peter. \u201cNeighbors, tourists, and passersby often comment on how much they love the home\u2014its attention to historical detail and its modern feel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a glimpse of some of Mason St. Peter\u2019s other California projects, visit MSP Design Inc.<\/a> If you dream of finding your own scenic oceanside refuge, visit Beach Homes Realty<\/a> and explore the listings for the region of your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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