Sprekels Mansion

In honor of St. Valentine’s Day, I thought it would be only suitable to feature the estate of the San Francisco local and ROMANCE Novel Extraordinaire, Miss Danielle Steel. Now, for us singles out there: Valentine's Day festivities may just include one of her paperback potboilers (or, if you prefer, one of her Lifetime made-for-TV movies) along with alcoholic beverage(s) of choice.

Miss Steel's Sprekels Mansion was originally built for the bride of (sugar-daddy) sugar-heir Anthony Sprekels. The Sprekels were famous art collectors – probably most well known in San Francisco for donating the Legion of Honor to the city - and for building this monument of a house. The massive 55,000 sqft estate is considered the largest private single-family residence in the city (no source for that one, just something I’ve heard a few times). Although the property screams “Beaux-Arts” louder than it does “Victorian,” it can technically still be considered Victorian since it was built before the end of (said) era in 1915.

LOCATION: 2080 Washington Street, Pacific Heights (right across from the lovely Lafayette Park)
SIZE: 55,000 sqft (aka same size as the WHITE HOUSE)
BORN: 1913
OTHER FACTS: Made out of white limestone, 55 rooms, Louis XVI ballroom

Now, I doubt that Miss Steel will be vacating any time soon, but I would love for this house to come on the market just so we could get a peek inside those massive vine encased walls (and possibly into that Louis XVI ballroom of hers…).





Awesome Birds-Eye-View of Property: Miss Steel: owner of trampoline - I had no idea!

Sprekels Article

Possible image of the late Mrs. Sprekels INSIDE the mansion

2515 Scott Street

LOCATION: Pacific Heights
PRICE: $19,750,000
I’m hesitant about whether to refer to this Victorian (with a touch of Neoclassical) manse as a residence or a convention center – this place is massive! Necessary pre-requisites for prosepective buyers interested in cashing in on this remarkable property include: a properly stocked bank account (property will set you back almost $20,000,000) along with the desire to be able use phrases such as, “Oh he is in the gentleman’s parlor,” or, “No, I just saw him in the west wing.”

Despite its cavernous size, the property has a great feel inside - high-end, yet very livable. The Victorian touches are present in every room, yet not completely obvious (for some reason the place doesn’t “scream” Victorian to me). Inlaid hardwood, crown-moldings, quite possibly the most beautiful staircase I have ever seen, and even he/she-specific rooms such as the “gentleman’s club room” and the “lady’s dressing room.”
Here are the facts:
-$19,750,000 (doesn’t give sqft or price / sqft)
-8 beds / 11 baths (39 rooms total)
-Born 1899
-Redwood siding
-Formal gentlemen’s parlor and bar, marble powder rooms, commercial elevator, caterer’s kitchen (on top of chef’s kitchen), octagonal wine cellar, artist studio, 11 fireplaces, 6 car garage, rooftop deck, gorgeous tiling in bathrooms

There are TONS of pictures on the listing agents site (99!). I almost decided to quit going through them after about number 50, but I'm glad I stuck with it and got a chance to see everything thing this remarkable estate has to offer. the last picture is a very special vintage photo of the property (no date given unfortunately).












Listing Agent's Site