Beachside Sea Cliff estate in SF lists for $32M

A cliffside mansion by the Presidio of San Francisco with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Pacific Ocean has listed for $32 million.

The 7,540-square-foot home is up for sale at 9 25th Avenue in Sea Cliff, Global Mansion reported. It hasn’t hit the market in 35 years.

Built in 1941, the mansion was once home to the late Michael Taylor, the interior designer famous for developing the “California look,” a midcentury style defined by neutral tones and open spaces. He bought it in 1970 and died in 1986 at age 59.

The two-story manse was purchased in 1987 for $2.35 million by the late Arthur Ciocca and his wife, Carlyse. Arthur Ciocca, founder of The Wine Group, died in December. He was 84.

With more than 100 feet of water frontage, every room in the house has an ocean view.

“We really wanted a California feel with an Italian influence to frame the view as it comes into the house,” Carlyse Ciocca said in a statement. “At night, the view becomes like black glass, and you see the running lights on the ships coming into the Bay and the lights of the Golden Gate Bridge.”

The couple took the home down to the studs, “while retaining both the integrity of the original architecture and Michael Taylor’s iconic ‘California Look,’” the listing said. The Cioccas worked with Porter and Steinwedell on the redesign, the same architects hired by Taylor.

The five-bedroom, seven-bath home retains its original exposed ceiling beams and has herringbone-wood floors.

Surrounded by mature cypress trees, the white mansion has an inset upper and lower colonnade, with an entrance hall, grand living and dining rooms with a fireplace and a chef’s kitchen, according to the listing.

It has a library lounge with a wet bar that leads to the garden terrace and an upper-level main bedroom suite with two bathrooms, each with a dressing room. There are two private offices, a lower level with a lounge area, a wine tasting room and a terrace.

The pool was designed by Taylor, and there’s also a gated stairway down to Baker Beach, a rare feature for exclusive Sea Cliff.

Neal Ward, an agent with Compass, holds the listing.

“For a property on the ocean, that’s so important,” Ward told Global Mansion. “This is in extraordinary condition. Someone may want to change some of the finishes to match their own tastes, but it’s move-in ready.”

Prices for Sea Cliff estates have remained strong. An 8,500-square-foot Italianate Victorian that was once home to Sharon Stone recently hit the market for $39 million.

— Dana Bartholomew

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