Karen Palmer, The Examiner
2008-08-02 00:27:54.0
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SAN FRANCISCO -

It may not be the typical start of a relationship, but Seth Spalding knew his partner Barbara Gnos was special by her reaction to a painting in his old Mission apartment. The image, a rendering of a naked woman that Spalding’s mother had found at a nearby garage sale, was one of Spalding’s favorite pieces, but had already provoked negative reactions from visitors.

“She really saw the artistic elements in it,” Spalding says. “It was kind of a litmus test.”

The rest, as they say, is history. Spalding, an investor specializing in tech companies, and Gnos, the head of marketing for Repairpal.com, now live with their 1-year-old son, Luke, in a two-level Noe Valley flat that has the bones of a Victorian and the high, airy ceilings of a loft. The space opens out onto a sweeping deck overlooking much of The City, from Bernal Heights all the way to the Financial District and the Bay.

Although they kept much of the color scheme the previous tenant had painted, the details of the home are all theirs: Spalding and Gnos have seamlessly combined their two aesthetics for a style they call “modern organic” (Spalding’s the “organic” one; Gnos is more “modern,” according to the couple). “We have a bit of an eclectic side as well,” Gnos notes.

Work by local artists such as Carol Aust, Jessica Dunne and Richard Perri, culled by the couple at SFMOMA Artists’ Gallery and the Hunters Point Artists’ Colony, adorns the walls, as do pictures drawn by another up-and-coming new artist, Spalding’s 6-year-old daughter, Eve. The furniture is decidedly modern, with a focus on whimsical, striking white lighting pieces from the likes of LIMN and online store HiveModern. Accents, including lime green Knoll chairs in the kitchen, orange pillows on a white leather couch, add splashes of color.

Given the size and scope of the deck, there’s also a balance of the indoors and outdoors and a focus on bringing the outdoors in. Spalding, an avid cook, grows various fresh herbs on the deck, and snips flowers from his plants to display inside in clear spherical vases mounted on the wall.

The painting from Spalding’s old apartment still hangs front and center in the dining area, showcasing both their combined aesthetic, and the life they’ve built there. “Because we have a family, we really try to combine design with function,” Gnos says.

Seth Spalding and Barbara Gnos

Design aesthetic: Modern organic

Notable design elements: Furniture with clean lines, whimsical lighting, local art, bright accents, natural elements

Design inspirations: The couple often visits galleries in San Francisco and New York City. “It’s more about going out and experiencing things than looking in a magazine,” says Spalding. Gnos has studied art history, and Spalding credits growing up in a somewhat “bohemian” household as an influence.

Favorite room: The open, airy living room and deck. “On warm days, we’ll open the doors so that it really feels like one big room.” — Spalding

Prized possessions: “My family.” — Gnos

“My family, the gallery of Eve’s art in the entryway and a plant on the deck we call Eve’s tree.” — Spalding

Favorite local design stores: LIMN, Ligne Rosset, Zinc Details. Spalding and Gnos also love visiting Flora Grubb, where they pick up planting and accent pieces. “It’s a contemporary plant store ... that’s just so experiential. We find a lot there,” says Gnos.

Favorite color combinations: A cool color palate, and colors found in nature.