Melissa and Brad with Tippy, their whippet-Chihuahua mix
Clean lines and beachy materials make for a modern, coastal facade.
Melissa and Phil Clarke designed the entry hall’s slanted, beadboard ceiling to mimic the look of an enclosed porch. Her office is through the pocket doors to the left; at the end of the hall, the open cooking, dining, and living space feels like a totally separate zone.
Before placing her photo selections, Melissa laid them out in Photoshop for color balance.
The bones of the house are undeniably coastal, but to capture the vibe of the Mission District, the San Francisco neighborhood where she lived for many years, Melissa “brought in tons of black to make the interiors feel more urban.”
She also layered in edgy accessories, such as the angular light fixture from Design Within Reach above the dining table and a graffiti-style painting above the living room mantel that reminds her of “the dark side of corporate America.”
Dark grey walls cultivate a sense of calm and visually separate her work zone from the rest of the home.
In Melissa’s office, gilded shelves display meaningful mementos, such as vintage cameras and Lego figurines that once belonged to her late brother.
Melissa and Brad made the wallpaper in this first-floor bath themselves, using favorite photos of musicians they ripped from coffee-table books.
When the twins are craving quiet time, they retreat to their second-floor bedrooms and shared TV room, where the walls are decorated with skateboards that once belonged to Melissa’s brother. “Amelia skateboards, and Cole’s the intellectual of the family,” Melissa notes.
The black-and-white master suite is a soothing retreat from the bright colors and busy patterns Melissa often sees as an interior designer.
Mid-century furnishings feel clean-lined and simple, while shiplap walls in the master bath nod to coastal cottages.
Amelia and Cole, Brad’s 10-year-old twins
The patio is tiered so that pool activity won’t obstruct the striking river views; the flip-open window on the indoor-outdoor bar allows for easy access to the kitchen.
Stone pavers lead from the pool to the family’s dock. “We’re out there a lot; the kids fish and hang out,” Melissa says.
