Plath & Company Transforms a Small San Francisco
Industrial Space into a Flexible and Elegant Urban Loft

Renovation Takes Top NARI Honors in Northern California

SAN FRANCISO, CA — April 11, 2000–Plath & Company General Contractors’ adventurous remodel of a small downtown industrial space into a pristine and spacious urban loft recently captured the Grand Award from the San Francisco Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Through skillful execution of the elegant design and a blend of natural and high-tech materials, the box-like concrete structure in the city’s South of Market area was transformed into a contemporary pied-a-terre designed for entertaining and displays of photography. The Architect was Nestor D. Matthews, AIA, of Matthews Studio, San Francisco.

Plath & Company (www.plathco.com) is one of the largest renovators of lofts, condos, townhomes, and historic Victorian and Arts & Crafts residences in the San Francisco Bay Area. Plath & Company also builds new custom homes.

The 1,570 square- foot space combines Old World craftsmanship with modern materials such as stainless steel. Soaring circular shapes, including a curved wall that separates the kitchen from the living room and circular stairs leading to the reading area or mezzanine, highlight the new loft. Another curved wall separates the open shower area and the bath from the rest of the loft. The existing high ceilings and beautiful clean-lined clerestory windows were incorporated as major design elements.

The sculptured facade of the kitchen counter allows the owners to hold art openings by masking the kitchen area. The kitchen’s architectural panels hide heating ducts and water heating elements, and wooden cabinets mask the appliances.

By pre-planning multiple functions for the loft, the owners are able to entertain, display photography, or just relax. The bottom floor, divided into the kitchen, bath, and living room/photo studio/art gallery and bathroom, allows for many different uses in a compact area. During photography sessions, light in the living room/studio area can be completely blocked out.

The downstairs area isn’t the only space that accommodates a variety of uses. Above the stainless steel and glass circular staircase, the auxiliary sleeping area also functions as a media room and library.

"The aesthetic the owners desired was clean, and we wanted to use each element in the space as a sculptural form so the environment itself was an artistic statement," said architect Nestor Matthews.

Steve Plath, President of Plath & Company, said, "Nestor Matthews’ spare, open, elegant design provided an opportunity for our artists and crafts people to showcase their talent and experience. This kind of design depends upon, and calls attention to, the kind of work we have built a reputation for, the finesse we bring to details and beautifully applied handmade finishes that look and feel good."

Plath & Company utilized many different wood materials, such as red birch for the floors, and dark red bubinga and golden tauri wood for the cabinetry or casework. Frosted glass, and smooth polished chips of terrazzo in the bathroom floor created added to the an elegant experience. Granite, slate, textured stucco and the stainless steel and glass circular staircase produced an ambiance throughout the loft.

The NARI judges, in making the award to Plath, said that the project exemplified "a beautiful execution of detail, compelling brush strokes of design movements, wonderful restraint and clean execution in the overall idea and detailing and good function in the compact space." The project also won a first place award in a separate residential interior design category.

Plath & Company also recently won the California Preservation Foundation award for Outstanding Achievement in the field of Historic Preservation for their restoration of the McMullen House.