![A modern home with a wood exterior and a hidden blue interior staircase.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-wood-exterior-blue-interior-staircase-120421-741-01.jpg)
Architecture firm OPA has designed a modern home in San Francisco, California, for an entrepreneur and an artist.
Impacted by the neighborhood groups that restricted its envelope and appearance, the house wears a mask to hide the architectural freedoms within.
![A modern home with a wood exterior and bay windows.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-wood-black-exterior-120421-741-02.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The cedar board screened exterior flows around the bay window and covers the entire front face.
![A modern home with a wood exterior and bay windows.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-wood-black-exterior-120421-741-03.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
A closer look at the wood exterior shows that each piece has been designed to allow the window behind to be partially seen.
![A modern wood exterior made from cedar boards.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-wood-black-exterior-120421-741-04.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Inside, the wood disappears and you’re immediately aware of the blue staircase that connects the various levels of the home.
![A modern home with a pastel blue staircase.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-interior-blue-staircase-120421-742-05.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Some areas of the concrete floor have been painted to match the pastel blue staircase, creating a unique design element.
![A modern home with a pastel blue staircase and painted floor.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-interior-blue-staircase-120421-742-06.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The blue zone of the interior resulted from extensive color studies and mock-ups in collaboration with the artist client.
![A modern home with a pastel blue staircase.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-interior-blue-staircase-120421-742-07.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The facets and fluctuating light conditions at the stair combine to make color perception unstable.
![A modern home with a pastel blue staircase.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-interior-blue-staircase-120421-742-08.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Other areas of the home include the living room, which takes advantage of the bay windows, and has a mesh ceiling.
![A modern home with a pastel blue staircase.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-interior-blue-staircase-120421-742-09.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
![A modern home with a pastel blue staircase, and a living room with a high ceiling and bay window.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-interior-living-room-blue-staircase-120421-742-10.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The open plan kitchen and dining room includes high ceilings, as well as light wood and stainless steel cabinets.
![This modern open plan kitchen and dining room includes high ceilings, as well as light wood and stainless steel cabinets.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-open-plan-dining-room-kitchen-120421-742-11.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The stairs which contrast the surrounding white walls, also lead to the bedrooms.
![A modern house interior with a pastel blue staircase.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-house-interior-blue-staircase-120421-742-12.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
The first bedroom has a custom-designed angled wood bed frame that allows the bed to be level.
![A modern bedroom with a custom designed angled wood bed frame that allows the bed to be level.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/custom-wood-bed-frame-120421-743-13.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Another bedroom, which can be hidden from view by a curtain hung from the ceiling, has angled wood that wraps around the head of the bed.
![A modern bedroom, which can be hidden from view by a curtain hung from the ceiling, has angled wood that wraps around the head of the bed.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-open-bedroom-custom-frame-120421-744-14.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
![A modern bedroom, which can be hidden from view by a curtain hung from the ceiling, has angled wood that wraps around the head of the bed.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-open-bedroom-custom-frame-120421-744-15.jpg)
Photography by Hufton + Crow
A skylight fills the top level of the home with natural light, while a small sitting area looks out the window onto the neighborhood.
![A skylight fills the top level of this modern home with natural light, while a small sitting area looks out the window onto the neighborhood.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-sitting-area-blue-walls-skylight-120421-744-16.jpg)
Photography by Joe Fletcher
Outside, in the private rear garden, the transformative qualities of paint are used in a different way, camouflaging the rear neighbor’s house with dazzle painting.
![A modern home with a small rear garden that raised up creating room for a built-in bench.](https://www.contemporist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/modern-home-landscapingr-rear-garden-120421-744-17.jpg)