Cow Hollow Residence San Francisco, old SF home renewal design, historic California house images

Cow Hollow Residence in San Francisco

April 21, 2026

Renewal Design: Mark English Architects

Original Design: Elizabeth Austin architect

Location: central San Francisco, California, USA

Photos by Joe Fletcher, San Francisco

Cow Hollow Residence in San Francisco, California, USA

This project encompassed a remodel and a small addition to an existing two-story family home in San Francisco’s Cow Hollow neighborhood. Originally designed in 1917 by architect Elizabeth Austin – one of a small handful of American women architects working in the early 20th century – it was an honor to be tasked with protecting her vision, while ushering the residence into a new époque.

As a historically significant building, it is protected under a landmark preservation scheme that demanded special planning review. The team meticulously restored the facade (during the construction process, every piece of external ornament was removed, labelled, and reinstated) and conceived a series of thoughtful interventions and additions that would enrich the existing. Inside, the architects reimagined the layout to facilitate a more contemporary way of life for their clients.

As well as converting existing crawl space to habitable square footage and making additions at the first and second levels, they completely opened up the central part of the U-shaped plan and removed most of the second floor, creating a double-height dining space at the heart of the home.

Cow Hollow Residence in San Francisco, California, USA – Building Information

Architects: Mark English Architects – https://www.markenglisharchitects.com/

Architect: Mark English Architects
Project Team: Mark English, Greg Corbett
Location: San Francisco, CA
Client: Wishes to be anonymous
Gross sq footage: 2,702.4 sf Habitable, 359.4 sf Garage
Site area: 6,664 sf
Contractor: De Mattei Construction, San Jose, CA

Consultants

Historic Research: Page & Turnbull, Inc, San Francisco
Structural Engineers: GFDS, San Francisco
Geotechnical Engineer: Earth Systems Pacific, San Jose
Acoustic Consultant: West Coast Sound Solutions, San Francisco

Key Materials

Exterior
Roofing: Rolled asphalt roofing.
Skylights: Dual-glazed, aluminum painted frame (black) by ‘Interlite, Inc.’ of Capitola, CA
Siding: Stained clear red cedar shakes. Original historic ornamentation, railings repaired/replaced as necessary, and repainted black.
Windows: Dual-Glazed wood by ‘Kolbe Windows & Doors’ Heritage Series.
Kitchen Exterior Door: Dual-Glazed, aluminum-clad lift and slide patio door by ‘Weiland’
Entry Door: Custom French wood swing door.

Interior
Wood Ceiling at Master Bedroom and Bath: Clear T&G Western Red Cedar (clear heart) no groove.
Basement Concrete Floor: Polished Concrete.
Wood Floors: Engineered hardwood flooring by ‘Du Chateau’ – European white oak species, fine sawn ebony wood finish
Flooring at Master Bedroom: Leather floor by ‘Toryls’ – Genova Chocolate
Flooring at Master Bathroom: Brazilian multicolor slate by ‘Echeguren Slate, Inc.’ San Francisco
Flooring at Steel Bridge / Upper Walkway: Acrylic by ‘Sabic Polymershapes’, San Jose
Flooring at Laundry and Upper Bathroom: Vermont black slate by ‘Echeguren Slate, Inc.’ San Francisco
Lighting: Juno track lighting, Aion LED.
Fireplace: Custom hot rolled steel finish w/ art niche. Fabrication by John McCoy.
Bathroom Countertops and Shower wall surfaces: ‘IRG’ – Chroma BQ 200H Superwhite honed.

Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets: Custom by Kenwood Cabinetry, San Francisco. Amber Edge Grain Bamboo at Master Bedroom and Kitchen Island. Painted wood finish at Kitchen main counter, Bathroom 1 and Powder Room. Stainless steel countertops on the kitchen counter and Island.

Interior (continued): Medicine Cabinets: Robern
Appliances: Liebherr Refrigerator, Thermador Pro 30” Grand Range. Bosch Dishwasher, Samsung washer and dryer.
Plumbing Fixtures: Hansgrohe, Grohe, Toto, Ronbow, Hastings

Furnishings

Living Room sofa: Custom red fabric over foam and box frame. Design by Stuart Gilchrist.

Dining Table: Custom walnut and steel folding / pivoting table. Design by Mark English Architects, Fabrication by ‘IronGrain’, Oakland.

Office Desks: Custom hot rolled steel legs by John McCoy w/ Amber Edge Grain Bamboo top by Kenwood Cabinetry, San Francisco.

Bookshelves: Custom by Kenwood Cabinetry, San Francisco. Amber Edge Grain Bamboo with painted red finish at open shelving.

Photographer: Joe Fletcher, San Francisco

About Mark English

Mark English, AIA, founded his practice in 1992. A Bay Area native, he offers a designer’s sense of artistry supported by practical knowledge gained from years of direct hands-on building experience. The practice is built on providing design that is sustainable because it is sensible and flexible, and built to last.

Mark earned a bachelor of architecture degree at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and a master of architecture degree at the Syracuse University campus in Florence, Italy.

Mark served as a board member at AIA San Francisco 2011-2014, AIA California 2014 – 2016, and AIA National Small Firm Exchange 2016 – 2019. He has also served as a member of many design awards.

Photography: Joe Fletcher, San Francisco

Cow Hollow Residence, San Francisco, United States images / information received 210426

Location: Cow Hollow, downtown San Francisco, Northern California, USA.