The Wood Exterior Of This Home Hides A Remarkable Blue Staircase Inside

April 13, 2021
A modern home with a wood exterior and a hidden blue interior staircase.

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photography by Joe Fletcher
A modern home with a pastel blue staircase, and a living room with a high ceiling and bay window.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photography by Hufton + Crow
Architecture firm: OPA | Contractor: Forsythe General Contractors | Structural: Buro Happold | Landscape: OPA | Planting: Delphine Huetz-Cozzolino