SF Tudor Revival by Atelier Oleana
Interior designer Anu Jain of Atelier Oleana transforms her century-old Tudor home in San Francisco, balancing historic preservation with contemporary family living.
A century-old Tudor dwelling in San Francisco has been transformed by its owner, interior designer Anu Jain of Atelier Oleana. Serving as her home and a testament to her design philosophy, this deeply personal space has been thoughtfully renovated to create a sanctuary for her young family.
“From the moment I stepped into the home, I felt its bones had something to say,” recalls Jain. “I remember walking into the sunken living room, falling in love and declaring to my husband, ‘This is it’. There was an undeniable sense of history, and I intrinsically knew the spaces called for layers, texture, soul, restraint and a little irreverence.”
Wanting to pay homage to the original structure, Jain opted not to modernise much of the home but, rather, create a dialogue between old and new. Working within the historic framework proved both rewarding and challenging, demanding a delicate balance that honoured preservation while embracing the practical needs of 21st-century family life. Original details – including curved staircase railings, cremone bolts on windows and hardwood floors – were painstakingly restored to their original glory.
“The biggest challenge was respecting the architecture while creating something that felt deeply personal and current,” says the designer. “The home had a lot of soul. We just added more moments that felt like they had been there forever and then used the furnishings to breathe freshness into it.”
Jain approached the renovation process with patience, allowing it to evolve organically. Crisp splashes of blue and green, contemporary light fixtures and tactile finishes add warmth and personality throughout. Fabrics including mohair and velvet and materials such as hand-finished plaster and unlacquered brass were chosen for their ability to age well. One of the stand-out spaces is the dining room, a measured zone in tones of green with a large marble table at its heart, solidifying the home’s status as a place for gathering and entertaining.
Every piece was chosen to layer dimension, not just in form, but in feeling. It’s this tension between refinement and ease that gives the home its character.
Jain finds the most joy in the formal living room, calling it a true expression of the interplay between contrast and cohesion. Here, a dramatic fireplace – a striking feature of Tudor architecture – is set against a buttery couch, a sculptural leather chair from De La Espada and a vintage rattan trunk that serves as the coffee table. The Phillip Jeffries wallpaper is the perfect example of how textures have been used to add softness throughout. Every piece was chosen to layer dimension, not just in form, but in feeling. It’s this tension between refinement and ease that gives the home its character.
The artwork and furnishings include a mix of vintage finds, collectible design and emerging artists. While some came from renowned outlets like The Future Perfect and 1stDibs, others are more personal – heirloom pieces from travels, alongside discoveries from small galleries and local sources across California and Europe.
Serving as both a laboratory for her design ideas and a nurturing environment for her young family, SF Tudor Revival shows how thoughtful design can be both striking and functional. The result feels timeless yet fresh, where old and new elements work together seamlessly, creating a space that’s stylish but comfortably lived-in.
Interior design by Atelier Oleana.
