California studio Edmonds + Lee has refurbished and expanded a gabled-roof dwelling in San Francisco, transforming rooms into light-filled spaces with wood flooring and minimalist decor.

Encompassing 3,000 square feet (279 square metres), the Gable House occupies a long, narrow parcel in the city's Noe Valley neighbourhood. The residence, built in 1908, is owned by an industrial designer who works in the tech industry.

The wood-clad, front facade was painted all white, but otherwise left untouched. In the rear, the architect added a rectilinear volume and re-skinned the entire facade in custom-stained cedar.

Inside, rather than following the trend of tearing down walls to form large open spaces, the team opted for a procession of distinct rooms, each "anchored by only the lightest of moments". A staircase with a glass wall ties all of the floors together.
"Sharing a design sensibility with the client gave us a platform from which to depart from the aesthetic and spatial norms for Victorian renovations in San Francisco," said Edmonds + Lee, a local studio.
"We opted for a series of carefully choreographed rooms that simply draw visitors through the house, with each room offering a different experience."

On the first floor, the entryway leads into an austere living room with gauzy white curtains and white walls. A modern black sofa and marble coffee table are organised around a low, horizontal hearth, which serves as a focal point in the res...