Pride of Place

     PLACEwritten by Katherine Tom with Pam McElroy

Wish you had more room to spread out while you shelter in place? This sprawling five-bedroom mansion in Pacific Heights with over 5,000 square feet of living space would be a welcome change of scene. Speaking of scenes—it features in a fun little slice of San Francisco film history.

The year was 1971, when Play It Again Sam was being adapted for the screen. Plot twist: a film workers’ strike in New York forced the entire production to relocate the film to San Francisco.

According to the owners, 2183 Pacific was used to shoot interior scenes of Diane Keaton’s character Linda’s home. Imagine hosting a movie night in the ballroom—yes, there’s a full-on ballroom on the third floor—band enjoying a classic comedy (rated 97% on Rotten Tomatoes) right where it was filmed!

Host with the Most
The third floor, which houses the ballroom, functions as a multi-purpose, full-service events space and workspace. “The third floor is the coup de grace,” says new resident of the property, Cameron Hughes, founder of de Négoce, an online shop for premium wines. Across from the ballroom is the 350-square-foot home office. “The view of the Bay from the main office is breathtaking. You can catch yourself just staring out the window for hours,” says Hughes.

Of the ballroom, he says, “With its tall ceilings and huge open space, it’s perfect for gathering my team and going through the hundreds of bulk wines that pass through our purview very month.” The south-facing floor-to-ceiling windows in the ballroom invite an abundance of natural light and lead out to the open and airy four-hundred-square-foot back deck.

Off the ballroom is the caterer’s kitchen, complete with a Wolf range and dishwasher; perfect for entertaining or fixing a quiet midnight snack. When indoor socializing is safe and allowed again, Hughes will entertain here. “I plan to have friends and colleagues over to enjoy this space…future dinner parties, lots of wine and cocktail hours, maybe some dancing as well!”

But for Hughes, what mainly drew him to rent 2183 Pacific was the expansive wine cellar in the basement. He currently has more than two hundred cases of wine stored in the cellar, and says there’s plenty of room to store much, much more. He describes the space as “priceless” when it comes to his business.

While 2138 Pacific Avenue seems to be the perfect space for Hughes’s family and business, others who were interested included a foreign consulate seeking to house their consulate general and use the third floor for official state dinners.

Aesthetically Pleasing Amenities
Fans of Asian art would certainly love the striking sculptures and antiques on display. They were all purchased overseas and imported to the United States by the owners, avid collectors who have had the property for decades. From the stone Fu dogs guarding the entryway to the carved stools in the charming little tea nook to the many beautiful pieces of Qinghua porcelain, the home is filled with treasures that have been acquired over the years.

There is an elevator spanning all three floors, but don’t skip the staircase, a wood-paneled architectural stunner with beautiful detailing that you simply don’t see anymore. So many of the original trims and moldings have been lovingly preserved in this classic Victorian. There are even three working fireplaces dotted throughout the home.

Room to Spread Out
The Hughes family plans to use the first and second floors as their main living space. They especially enjoy how the warm, wooden accents and original details make the space feel “cozy and spacious at the same time.”

The enormous main kitchen on the first floor boasts a built-in Subzero refrigerator, a 9-burner Wolf range, two dishwashers, and a commercial-grade exhaust fan over the stove. The first floor also houses a living room, dining room, main kitchen, breakfast room, and one bedroom. The second floor holds three bedrooms and a family room.

In terms of outside space, there is a fun 400-square-foot patio in the front, and several balconies and terraces, including a 250-square-foot balcony off the master bedroom and 400 square-foot terrace adjoining the ballroom.

Neighborhood
The property has a walkscore of 96 (walker’s paradise). Lafayette Park is just a couple of blocks away. A quick stroll in the opposite direction brings you to the many shops and restaurants of Fillmore Street, including Blue Bottle, Salt and Straw, Roam Burgers, and Noosh.

Property Management
2183 Pacific Avenue is managed by Corey Eckert, vice president of Structure Properties. Structure Properties is a full-service property management and leasing company servicing apartment buildings, single-family homes, and condos. Eckert chose to feature this San Francisco property because of how “truly unique” it is.

Corey can be reached at (415) 794-0064 or [email protected].