It’s easy to leave your heart in San Francisco: the city has beautiful architecture, historic charm, unforgettable restaurants, cultural galore, great views and enough ambiance to convince even the coolest of us that this place really is special. The city is also known for its high-end real estate, which seems to be rising more into the stratosphere every day.
For sale is a fine example of beautiful architecture as well as a piece of San Francisco history: the Burr Palace. On the National Register of Historic Places and a San Francisco Landmark, the house was commissioned by Ephraim Willard Burr, the eighth mayor of San Francisco, as a wedding gift to his son Edmund and his bride Anna Barnard. Designed by Edmund M. Wharf and built in 1875, it is a completely detached Italianate house with a mansard roof from the Second Empire.
The 7,077-square-foot home has six bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms. It was inhabited by the family and their two daughters until 1968, and is set on over a quarter acre and is one of the largest parcels in the city, which includes lush gardens, a one-bedroom cottage, one bathroom plus the main house.
The house underwent major restoration from 2000 to 2003, resulting in a well-preserved historic building with modern systems and functions. Double front doors formerly owned by the New York Public Library lead to a hallway that features exquisite home design details, including crown moldings, chandeliers, and inlaid hardwood floors. The curved staircase is illuminated by a skylight in stained glass. The triple salon has high ceilings and built-in mahogany cabinets framing a marble fireplace.
The living room also has an original carved marble mantel, while the dining room features a large window. The kitchen, which benefited from the restoration, includes a six-burner Viking stove with grill top, commercial vent, Sub-Zero refrigerator, and freezer. Thermador dishwasher, KitchenAid convection oven and GE Monogram compressor. There are also two food stores.
The second floor houses the private quarters. Overlooking the back garden, the basic suite includes an original fireplace, dressing room, marble-clad bathroom with double sink, custom Smallbone cabinets, spa tub, and shower. Two other bedrooms complete this floor.
Upstairs is home to a lovely family room with original redwood panels and plenty of storage for things and books. This space can easily be used for entertaining or relaxing, with a wet bar area equipped with a refrigerator and dishwasher. A fifth bedroom with en-suite bathroom can host overnight guests.
Downstairs houses the sixth bedroom with an inviting fireplace and a full bathroom, which can serve as another guest room or a matrimonial suite. Workout buffs will appreciate the mirrored exercise room, which overlooks the gardens, while exercise aficionados can be found sipping and circling in the temperature-controlled wine cellar with a capacity of 2,000 bottles. Additional amenities include a laundry or mudroom, utility room and storage lockers.
There is a separate garage for two cars with ample space in the driveway to park another five or more cars. Delightful gardens surround the house to create a gorgeous historic city estate. Another advantage, especially given San Francisco’s reputation for expense: The property has significant savings in property tax generated by the Mills Act.