Elegant Touch

To live in an elegant home doesn't mean you have to be excessive in items or costs, as he proved in a recent San Francisco project. The 1,000-square-foot home was a complete remodel of a modest 1930s bungalow. The cohesive design succeeds through the use of repeated materials, furniture placement and scale.

The homeowner had three requirements: a good kitchen, seating for six in the dining room and seating for eight in the living room. Although the living space is spatially challenged, Peters was able to fit a large sofa, two small ottoman seats and two upholstered side chairs in the room without making it look or feel too cluttered. The fireplace became the focal point with a slate tile surround and hearth. A thick, white-lacquered mantel helps to "land" the fireplace in the room. A sheet mirror above helps to enlarge the space and also create a beautiful background for candlelight.