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lexander Lurie, a seasoned realtor with more than ten years in the business, has never encountered a property as distinctive as 538 28th St. in Noe Valley. “The owner’s dedication to this home is extraordinary,” he remarked, noting his relation to Mayor Daniel Lurie.
The house began as a modest 1,000‑sq‑ft, 1910 bungalow. A developer later expanded it into a sprawling 5,000‑sq‑ft, five‑bedroom, five‑bath residence, complete with an elevator that links the three‑car garage to a rooftop terrace on the fifth floor. The kitchen hides a bar behind lacquered wood panels and features built‑in charging ports to keep the space tidy. Charles de Lisle, a top 100 Architectural Digest designer, oversaw the initial renovation, but the result was still largely plain, with basic finishes and white walls.
In 2018, new owners purchased the property for $5 million and transformed it into a luxury retreat. They installed a concealed cocktail bar and workstation in the kitchen, added an arts‑and‑crafts studio a floor above, and split a large suite to create a sixth bedroom. The upgrades—custom cabinetry, Absolute Black granite countertops, cedar‑plank decking, and a manicured garden—are the caliber of a $20 million home, yet the listing price tops $7.5 million. Although the original decals have been removed, the skylit stairwell remains a standout feature. According to Redfin, this makes it the priciest active listing in Noe Valley, where only a handful of homes have crossed the $7 million mark in the past five years.
The most significant structural change was reorienting the staircase around new skylights. The owners also commissioned artwork by San Francisco artist Jenny Sharaf for the stairwell, a piece they plan to bring with them to their next residence. Listing the home was a difficult choice, driven by the family’s teenage children and new school commutes, Lurie explained. Despite the short time on the market, prospective buyers have been “wowed” by the meticulous updates, calling the property “tricked‑out.”
Originally, the house contained two primary suites. The owners retained the fifth‑floor suite and divided the one below to add an extra bedroom on the fourth floor. Lurie almost removed some of the youthful wallpaper before listing, but decided against it, noting that many San Francisco buyers tend to over‑sanitize homes to the detriment of character.
