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Most kids spent Saturday mornings in front of cartoons. Brittany Giannone spent hers in auction houses, perched on her father’s lap as he bid on antiques. Her father was an entrepreneur with his own residential interior design practice, and Brittany grew up tagging along—wandering through antique shops at his side, running her hands across worn wood and velvet, or tucking herself beneath worktables in artisan studios while he selected trim for draperies. “Those moments left a deep impression on me,” she says. “I saw how deeply personal design could be when it’s approached with care.”
That early immersion shaped everything: her respect for craftsmanship, her instinct for finding beauty in the details, and ultimately the foundation for ABD Studio, which she launched in 2014. Her philosophy has stayed the same ever since—honor architectural integrity, layer elegance with ease, and never forget that a home is for living, not just looking.
In early 2019, Brittany’s clients were preparing to renovate their Cole Valley home when their plans shifted: a fire-damaged Edwardian in Presidio Heights came on the market. Most saw soot and charred beams; Brittany saw potential. She knew what it meant to build back—her own family had lost a historic home to fire when she was a teenager. “Walking into that house was sobering, but also strangely familiar,” she says. “Even in its damaged state, it had a quiet strength worth preserving.”
The house still had its bones: elegant proportions, a presence worth saving. Together with Nick Noyes Architecture, she set out to preserve the Edwardian facade while reimagining everything inside for a family of five. It wasn’t demolition—it was renewal.
From there, the design turned toward the way this family wanted to live. For Brittany, everything begins with listening. Her clients were warm, grounded, and deeply family-focused—and the house needed to reflect that. They wanted a game table in the living room, a Christmas tree visible from the entry, and a kitchen that worked hard but never felt precious.
Suzanna Scott
Even the smallest spaces carried meaning. Crawl spaces off the children’s bedrooms became cozy reading nooks, fitted with floor cushions, soft lighting, and pull-back curtains. Weeks after move-in, Brittany got a text: the daughters had spent a rainy Saturday curled up in those nooks, reading and giggling. “That’s the kind of memory you hope to create through design,” she says.
Suzanna Scott
The house’s defining feature became the central staircase—a sculptural yet understated connection between gathering areas and quiet corners. Crafted in warm wood with clean, architectural lines, it draws light through the center of the home and anchors every floor in a sense of flow. “Once we finalized the stair design, everything clicked,” Brittany recalls. It gave the house its rhythm, both visually and in daily life.
Suzanna Scott
That decision reflected the project’s larger principle: preserve what’s essential while reimagining the rest with new purpose.
The finished home strikes a balance between refined and relaxed. Sunlight moves easily through tall windows, catching on plaster walls and soft oak floors. In the kitchen, durable stone counters invite cooking and gathering, while the living spaces layer tailored upholstery with textiles.
Suzanna Scott
“There were moments when we presented things that were beautiful, but not quite them,” Brittany admits. “It took time, patience, and trust to land on a style that felt true. But that process made the home more personal, more layered.”
Suzanna Scott
Presidio Heights became a milestone in Brittany’s career—not just because of its design, but because of its meaning. It reaffirmed her belief that design is a conversation and that the most rewarding projects grow from trust, curiosity, and shared vision.
It also reminded her of resilience—both human and architectural. Transforming a structure marked by fire into a warm, vibrant family home echoed her own story in an unexpectedly personal way. “This house proves that beauty can emerge from challenge,” she says, “and that thoughtful design can help carry us there.”
Suzanna Scott
The result? A home that honors its past while embracing its future—layered with history, memory, and the kind of everyday elegance that makes it a true haven for a family of five. For Brittany, it also circles back to the lessons of her own childhood: that homes, at their best, are not just built, but lived in deeply.
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