When celebrities buy historic homes, most people assume the interiors stay frozen in time. The truth is different. What makes a century-old property work for modern living isn’t preservation alone. It’s knowing exactly where to update and where to leave untouched. Julia Roberts’ San Francisco townhouse shows exactly how that balance plays out.
The 58-year-old actress, recognized for iconic roles as Vivian in Pretty Woman and Anna in Notting Hill, built a real estate portfolio that spans three states. Her most talked-about property sits in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights neighborhood. The Victorian townhouse, originally purchased for $8.3 million, sold in late October 2023 for $11.25 million. That’s roughly $500,000 below the initial asking price. The sale happened fast, according to Mansion Global, proving that the right renovation approach makes historic architecture more desirable, not less.
The bones that justified the price
Architect Sylvain Schnaittacher built the 580-square-meter residence between 1907 and 1908. That’s early 20th century construction, which means original plaster work, millwork, and structural walls built to last. Roberts kept all of that. The exterior walls stayed intact. The original structure remained untouched. But architect John Wheatman led a complete interior renovation to bring the home up to current comfort standards. That’s the move that matters. You preserve what gives the home its character. You replace what makes it livable. The combination is what reads expensive. The home spans five levels and contains five bedrooms plus five bathrooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s not just the architecture that anchors the value. It’s the fact that the architecture was respected during the update.
A portfolio built across decades
Roberts didn’t start with San Francisco. She purchased a sprawling New Mexico property back in the 1990s, around the time her career took off. That estate cost approximately $2.5 million and stretches across nearly 13 hectares. She and her husband Danny Moder married there in 2002. Today, it serves as a secondary residence. One year after their wedding, the couple acquired a clifftop compound in Malibu for $9.5 million, according to Hello Magazine. The property sits above the Pacific Ocean and includes multiple buildings arranged around a paved courtyard. Aerial views reveal an interior patio, expansive green spaces, multiple terraces, and several shaded outdoor seating areas. The estate is also equipped with solar panels that contribute to its energy needs. A private beach sits just steps from the main residence. Each property reflects a different phase of her life, but the Presidio Heights townhouse became the most recognizable address.
What the layout reveals
The San Francisco home’s five-story layout isn’t just about square footage. It’s about vertical flow. Five bedrooms and five bathrooms spread across five levels means each floor has purpose. The massive windows don’t just let in light. They connect every level to the Golden Gate view, which becomes the focal point no matter where you stand. The refined architecture and high-end finishes tie the home to California’s coastal heritage without feeling like a museum. That balance is what makes historic homes feel intentional rather than dated. If you’re renovating a period property, borrow this approach. Keep the structure. Keep the millwork. Keep anything that defines the style. Then update everything the occupants actually touch: plumbing, electrical, climate control, kitchen, baths. The original frame does the aesthetic work. The modern systems do the functional work.
Why this approach works
The lesson isn’t about buying a Victorian townhouse in Presidio Heights. It’s about understanding what makes a renovation feel finished rather than compromised. Roberts’ San Francisco property sold for $11.25 million because the updates didn’t erase the original design. The architecture stayed legible. The interiors became livable. That’s the formula. If your home has original details worth keeping, don’t rip them out to make room for trends. Instead, update the invisible systems and leave the character intact. The same balance between preservation and modernization can be seen in historic renovation projects that retain the original character while adapting the interior to contemporary life. The market responds to that clarity. The buyer who paid $11.25 million in 2023 wasn’t buying a time capsule. They were buying a home that honors its past while functioning for the present. That one shift makes all the difference.
