Behind the facades of Pacific Heights’ stately houses, a design revolution is under way. As next-generation owners move into residences built between the early 1900s and the 1950s, interiors are getting a jolt of 21st-century style from the likes of closely watched local designers Steven Volpe and Ken Fulk. One of the latest entrants to this trend is a dramatic renovation masterminded by San Francisco interior designer Nicole Hollis—and there’s not a stitch of period decor in sight.

Hollis’s client, a young finance executive, spent his early years abroad, where he gained an appreciation for both the spare Japanese aesthetic and modern European design. Hollis, who was a senior designer with renowned architect Howard Backen (the Napa Valley Reserve, Cliff Lede winery, Solage Calistoga) before striking out on her own six years ago, embraced a minimalist approach to create a calm urban escape. In light-filled interiors, white walls turn the spotlight on large-scale black lamps and giant black wing chairs. “We were inspired by modern interiors in France and Belgium, which combine pared-down architecture with classic wood furniture, natural woven textiles and leather, modern appliances, and Asian antiques,” Hollis says.

The 2,000-square-foot house was a simple two-story box, full of possibilities. First, Hollis reconfigured the upper-level floor plan to accommodate both large and more intimate gatherings. For peace and privacy, she and structural engineer Monte Stott relocated the master bedroom and bathroom to the lower level, overlooking the garden—a move that enabled the expansion of the kitchen and the addition of a family room.

“Minimal design requires constant editing and restraint,” says Hollis, who worked with a controlled range of materials in white, black, and a touch of gray (her mantra was “If it doesn’t serve a purpose, leave it out”). Among her choices were black light fixtures; white, black, and gray upholstery; black or white rugs; oak furniture and cabinetry; matte stainless steel hardware and plumbing; and bronze accents.

To replace the worn bamboo floors, Hollis specified eight-inch-wide, French white-oak planks that were bleached and stained by Christopher Hildreth of Tree Lovers Floors, on Natoma Street. He got the stain shade just right: a slightly gray tone that reveals the natural grain. The oak warms the decor and helps to ground the floating effect of the white walls and ceilings.

Hollis also worked closely on the complex project with Thor Herforth-Madsen of THM Construction, who was devoted to the minimalist concept, she says. Once the space was stripped of its original trim, the real house was suddenly revealed. “It takes a perfectionist,” she adds. “There is nowhere to hide mistakes.”

An unexpected flourish is the kitchen’s massive custom chandelier. “My client loved this idea, so I found a steel-beaded fixture that is a truly modern take on a traditional shape,” Hollis says. She is still looking for art and lamps to complete the project. “Design takes time. For this house, it will be an ongoing process, but the definitive minimalist aesthetic will be constant.”