The Painted Ladies of San Francisco

These ladies stand proudly on Steiner Street in beautiful urban chic San Francisco. Don’t let their name or their color display fool you — these ladies are anything but cheap. They sold for millions! They are regarded as royalty…well, sort of. These homes are known as Queen Anne Victorians. 

Built by Matthew Kavanaugh, he once lived in the seventh house, which stood on the corner of Grove and Steiner at 722 Steiner. This was the oldest of all of the houses on the row. The city of San Francisco dates these houses as being built between 1892 and 1896 — although it is considered vulgar to discuss the age of ladies with great distinction, so we will apologize and continue.

These painted ladies have very prominent features, which include steep roofs with ornamented front-facing gables, surfaces patterned with tiles or shingles, bay windows, and of course, an elevated front porch.

These ladies are part of the Alamo Square Historic District. This area contains acclaimed residential architecture built between 1870 and 1929. This section holds a variety of architectural styles, which is perhaps a great lesson in showing diversity through architecture.

Here are some interesting facts about these ladies:

1. The term “painted ladies” came from the 1978 book, “Painted Ladies: San Francisco’s Resplendent Victorians.”
2. These houses on Steiner Street are called Postcard Row.
3. The architecture style is Victorian and Edwardian.
4. The painted lady located on 714 Steiner Street recently sold for $3.55 million, which was $800,000 over asking price. 
5. As this painted lady on 714 Steiner is older, she needs a complete interior renovation, but her elegance is still intact.
6. Over 70 movies and television shows were filmed inside these painted ladies. The sitcom “Full House” was filmed in one of these houses. 

These painted ladies lived a full life and are still going strong!

From the Factory Floor

Moon shadow and berries…

by Gerald Olesker, CEO, ADG Lighting