Secret Garden Arts & Crafts Estate Lists For $4.5 Million In San Francisco

In the 1890s, English-born architect Ernest Coxhead was a trailblazer of California’s Arts & Crafts movement, uniquely infusing country house elements from his native home. While few of his residential works remain, one such San Francisco treat comes to market at $4.5 million in the Pacific Heights neighborhood. Nina Hatvany of Compass San Francisco has the listing.

“Arts and Crafts homes are fairly prevalent in the San Francisco area but Coxhead-designed homes specifically are quite rare,” says Hatvany. “According to our research, there are under 15 remaining residential homes in San Francisco designed by Coxhead, including 2940 Jackson. He also designed homes in the East Bay and Palo Alto.”

Built in 1894, the 3,245-square-foot Jackson Street family residence will charm its future owner with period details—refined moldings, dark hardwood floors and enchanting leaded windowpanes. Current owner, fashion stylist Lauren Goodman (current style director for Wired magazine), tapped French designer Lili Diallo to modernize the sophisticated Arts & Crafts estate’s interiors with vibrant décor that, along with beautiful exterior gardens, unlocks the home’s uncompromised essence.

The estate’s two-tone façade recalls Coxhead’s bygone era, with its dual dormers, one-car garage, custom door, and distinctive red-bricked stairs and driveway. An entryway to the estate’s main entertaining spaces boasts a stained-glass window, lofty ceilings, and a large coat-closet landing.

“I really love the beautiful period details throughout the home, including the elegant moldings, a stained glass window, and charming leaded windowpanes in the front rooms,” says Havatny.

The formal living room features a wall of oversized south-facing leaded windows and a central wood-burning fireplace flanked by two built-in bookshelves. A retro geometric-shaped emerald dining room (also with wood-burning fireplace) contrasts the adjacent contemporary chef’s kitchen with breakfast bar, premium stainless steel appliances, and Carrara marble counters and backsplash.

The spacious kitchen flows into a family room with oversized windows that seamlessly extend to the dramatic private garden by landscape architect Jenny Weiss. The garden boasts concrete pavers, steps, new fences, a wood deck, lush multi-level seating dining space and a hot tub amid plants and flowers by Terremoto Landscaping.

“The garden is particularly special, with walk-out access through large sliding glass doors, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor experience,” says Havatny. “It’s a wonderful urban oasis for relaxing and dining—complete with a hot tub.”

A chic powder room is tucked midway up the main staircase to the second floor which houses a laundry room, three bathrooms and four bedrooms, including the master suite with fireplace, built-ins, leaded windows and a walk-in closet. The marble-clad ensuite bathroom has a walk-in glass shower and double vanity. A back bedroom overlooks the garden. There’s also an office or playroom space in the Coxhead-designed home.

Coxhead moved to Los Angeles to build a series of Gothic Revival Episcopalian churches in Southern and Northern California. He designed the Prayer Book Cross in Golden Gate Park, the Golden Gate Valley Library on Green Street, and the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Building. He and his brother created the firm Coxhead & Coxhead, which designed residential homes in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Alameda and Berkeley.

“Many Coxhead homes resemble English cottages, with shingle rooflines and combining elements of various styles,” says Hatvany. “Coxhead’s shingled Arts and Crafts buildings influenced renown Bay Area architects Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan, Edgar Mathews, Albert Farr and other practitioners of the First Bay Tradition.”

The residence is situated in the heart of Pacific Heights—within walking distance of architecturally similar retail shops and restaurants, Alta Plaza Park and the Presidio.

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