Tailored To Perfection

BY ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRENDAN MAININI

The professional relationship between interior designer and client can be uniquely close. Who else could easily name one’s most favorite colors and least favorite textures? Who else could so easily recite the life experiences that have shaped one’s design preferences? The ultimate testament to this bond is the return client, and few know this better than Inspired Interiors’ founder and award-winning designer, Emily Mackie.

Mackie had already designed a River North penthouse for a Chicago computer scientist when he tapped her to reimagine a second home in San Francisco’s Mission District. The exciting new project was a three-floor walkup next door to the residence of one of the world’s most successful social media moguls.

“I saw this project as a sequel to a great movie,” says Mackie. And Mackie’s script began with creating panoramic views of two of the world’s most famous bridges.

“Before we started the project, the client hosted a pre-construction, pre-demo party where he invited a number of his former Stanford classmates to come and enjoy the space,” explains Mackie. “After a couple of glasses of wine, I threw open the living room’s original 30 x 60 rear-facing, vintage windows and coaxed the client to poke his head outside. I wanted him to see how magical the space could be if it were completely open. Because of our relationship, he trusted me enough to slice off the building’s back exterior wall and replace it with floor-to-ceiling windows.” The result? A breathtaking 180-degree unobstructed view of the cityscape.

After this dramatic feat, Mackie set about incorporating meaningful accents throughout the home. Take, for example, the spectacular primary suite’s lounging area complete with a bay window overlooking the client’s new neighborhood. “I could picture him sitting on the sofa with one of the 100 books he likes to read each year,” she says. Mackie created a chevron-shaped bookcase that serves as a high-end sorting device, allowing the homeowner to organize his books as he reads them by month. “It works a bit like a Pez dispenser—a very nice Pez dispenser,” she observes.

Just off the primary bedroom, shielded by metal barn doors inlaid with antiqued mirrored glass, is the primary bathroom—quite possibly the most intricately designed space Mackie has created.

Primary bedroom with chevron-shaped bookcase used to sort the client’s monthly reading.

Primary bathroom with custom tiles displaying fragments of the client’s favorite movie, album, and book cover art.

“It’s five layers of crazy,” says Mackie with a laugh. “I came up with the idea but I can’t remember where it started. The tiled walls are comprised of small fragments of zoomed-in snapshots of art from my client’s favorite movies, albums, and books—things that have meant something to him in his life. Everything from Harry Potter to The Goonies to The Giving Tree. It is like a guessing game—always giving him something to contemplate when he’s in the space.”

This particular installation took Mackie’s skill set to a whole other level. She created the layout in Photoshop and developed an intricate legend for the tile maker and installer, all of which she carefully documented for the client should he ever need to have it repaired—or perhaps—re-created elsewhere.

“We curated an environment for him that is truly interactive—something completely different every time he experiences it,” Mackie adds.

When reflecting on this project, Mackie recalls many moments that aligned to bring her creative vision to fruition. One example is the visit to a Parisian tradeshow, which coincided with the project’s start date and delivered the inspiration for a key element of the living room’s design.

“In one of the booths, I saw a display wall that had an abstract grid system, a Mondrian-inspired layout that combined both beauty and function,” she explains. “Our fabulous Chicago-based cabinet makers were able to re-create it for the client’s living room. The left side of the unit hides all of the electronics that an entertaining space requires and the right side houses the fireplace stack. It’s lovely.”

Flanking this beautiful wall unit is the rain room, complete with a koi pond—bringing the outdoors in with unabashed elegance. The lush garden contains a café table at which her client begins his day with early morning coffees and computer work and a softly lit glass staircase provides a big tease for the rooftop view above.

For the kitchen, Mackie embraced some of the French influences typical to this area of San Francisco to create a design that elevates everyday tasks. The cerused oak base cabinetry that appears to be dusted with flour invokes the feel of a modern French bakery while the custom stove hood’s specialty finish—one Mackie dubs “dirty gas station”—is a nod to industrial style. Illuminated burnt pine cabinetry uniquely lined with gleaming subway tile transforms the simple act of reaching for a water glass into a design experience.

Every space in the home contains striking elements that are both beautiful and functional. In the foyer, multiple custom-designed metal art panels highlight the homeowner’s renowned graffiti art collection. The panels flank a hunter green leather bench inspired by the bucket seats of a vintage Aston Martin. With a wave of the foot, the homeowner can discreetly stow away his shoes without disrupting the sophisticated and artistic design of the entry.

“This project is a perfect example of an unselfish and honest way to design around a client’s needs and personality,” Mackie says. “This space is absolutely unforgettable.”

Kitchen with a stainless steel custom stove hood, illuminated burnt pine cabinets lined with subway tile, and cerused oak cabinetry with a “dusted with flour” appearance.

To learn more about Inspired Interiors, visit inspiredinteriors.com.