Kendall Wilkinson Outfits the $15.5 Million Penthouse at San Francisco’s 181 Fremont

Les Sohar
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Designing the interiors of a half-floor penthouse 700 feet above the street, with sweeping 180-degree views of San Francisco and beyond, wasn’t necessarily a tall order for Kendall Wilkinson Design. The 3,256 square-foot floor plan—set high up within 181 Fremont, the tallest mixed-use tower west of the Mississippi at 802 feet—was transformed by Wilkinson into a contemporary, move-in-ready home. Through its floor-to-ceiling windows, the penthouse overlooks the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Sutro Tower, and Mount Diablo, among other sites and landmarks. The building itself, developed by Jay Paul Company and recently completed to the tune of $850 million, is poised to redefine both San Francisco’s downtown skyline and the area’s property values.

In contrast to the building’s angular architecture, Wilkinson and her team utilized soft lines, pops of brilliant color, and ultra luxurious fabrics and materials to create a sense of romanticism and balance. As a final touch, the designer employed Holly Baxter to curate the artwork throughout. Wilkinson took the Sohar’s on a virtual tour of the penthouse, which is offered fully furnished (without art) at $15.5 million.

The Entry

“My team and I wanted to create a striking entrance with a sense of mystery when you first walked into the unit,” Kendall Wilkinson explains. “The original layout had a large sliding door that would open into the den and gave no suspense upon arrival. We removed the door to create this dark and romantic lobby entrance.” Walls swathed in a textured wall covering by Phillip Jeffries add texture to the space and, as Wilkinson says, “lure the client in.” Wilkinson hung a one-of-a kind Italian mirror and Porta Romana sconces above the custom brass console, which sits opposite a painting by Raffi Kalenderian. “The boldness of color and textures that you first see upon entrance set the theme of negative and positive spaces for the entire unit,” the designer explains. Meanwhile, screens of antique brass fretwork separate the entrance from the great room.

The Great Room

“When walking into the living space, there was originally supposed to be a large television unit in the corner, but I felt that this took away from the breathtaking 180-degree views of San Francisco Bay, so we removed it and replaced it with an eco-friendly fireplace,” shares Wilkinson. “Now the views become the entertainment, and you can appreciate the scenery.”

The Great Room and Dining Area

“At the opposite end of the great room is the dining room; over the table hangs a custom chandelier by Peter Bristol, who designs for Apple, so it’s a bit of a nod to the area where we live,” Wilkinson says. “The wall behind the table hides the beautiful kitchen and two sliding doors. My team and I wanted to create a walk-around space through these rooms, so I had the doors enclosed in the wall for later use if wanted.”

The Kitchen

The kitchen offers a prime view of the Bay Bridge. Wilkinson used a clear lucite shelf so as not to obstruct it.

The Den

“To differentiate the den and living space I put in a new custom-made glass sliding door that allows access to the space and the option to close it off for a more intimate room,” Wilkinson says. “This lets the room become an extension of the main living space for a party or a quiet space to work when closed off.”

The Master Bedroom

“When walking through the light-tone walls and dark-wood-floor halls, you pass his and her dressing rooms, outfitted by Poliform, before entering the elegant master bedroom,” Wilkinson explains. “Immediately, you are surrounded by handmade wall coverings from Robert Crowder, white-and-gold-accented decor contrasted by hints of rich aubergine.”

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