Tuesday, October 09, 2012

Chuck Williams and His Earthquake Shack



A week ago today, Williams-Sonoma founder Chuck Williams celebrated his 97th birthday.  Could an enthusiasm for good food and hard work be the secret to his longevity?

You might remember that I posted a few 1970s-era photos of Williams' San Francisco kitchen a few months ago.  (Click here to read that post.)  After that post was published, a reader, Robert Ruiz, very kindly emailed me a 1989 Architectural Digest article which featured this very same home.  I am showing the AD article photos here.

According to the article, Mr. Williams bought his "earthquake shack" in the early 1960s.  In the wake of the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the city built and situated small clapboard dwellings in Golden Gate Park for those left homeless by the disaster (twenty thousand people, in fact.)  A year later, with the city's residential district mostly rebuilt, the city offered to give those cabins to those who were living in them on the condition that they move them to permanent, residential sites.  Williams' shack was moved by horse and buggy to its current location on Nob Hill, near the intersection of Sacramento and Leavenworth. 

When Williams bought the shack, it was little more than four rooms with an outside bath.  No surprise that he embarked on a renovation, one that appears to have modernized his home without losing any of its historical charm.  Part of the renovation entailed going down into the ground into a primitive storage cellar, a space that eventually became Williams' small but efficient kitchen and dining room.

What you'll see in these photos is an abundance of country antiques, many of which Williams picked up during his European travels.  There are oak gate-leg tables, Luneville plates, faience, cooking accoutrements, and books.  What a delectable combination!  The article also mentions Williams' preferred style of entertaining.  Just as he exclaimed in the 1972 article about which I previously wrote, Williams kept the size of his dinners and lunches to around four to six guests.  In good weather, cocktails, after dinner coffee, and weekend lunches were (and perhaps still are?) held on the terrace just off of his kitchen and dining room.

On another note, Robert also mentioned that the recently published biography on Williams, Merchant of Sonoma: Pioneer of the American Kitchen, is an interesting read.  The book not only includes some of Williams' favorite recipes, but it also features pages devoted to some of the now-essential cooking equipment that Williams helped to popularize, including the Kitchen Aid mixer, Le Creuset cookware, and the Apilco cow creamer.

Sounds like hearty belated birthday greetings are in order.  A happy belated birthday, Mr. Williams!


The dining room that is located on the ground floor.



A sitting area on the ground floor where guests relaxed.



An oak dresser holds Luneville ceramics.



Two views of the kitchen. When this article was written (1989), the range was over thirty years old. Williams said that he was devoted to it and knew its quirks quite well.



An exterior view of the clapboard earthquake shack.

All photos from Architectural Digest, 1989, John Vaughan photographer.

22 comments:

  1. Rachel7:33 AM

    What a cozy, warm house. I like the free-standing kitchen countertops and the old stove; definitely not a YAWK (yet another white kitchen!) that feels cold and overdesigned.

    You always post such unique inspiration and I adore your blog for that.

    PS - really looking forward to your Gil Schaefer book review. Your post yesterday spurred me to order Ben Penthreath's book. Happy Tuesday!

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    1. Rachel, Thanks so much! I hope that you enjoy Ben's book. I enjoyed it immensely!

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    2. Anonymous12:04 PM

      One must definitely look at the older pictures from the 1970's to get a true feel for the kitchen. The later pictures, don't even show where the sink is!

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  2. Loved this kitchen from your previous post on it...unfitted, lots of books, extremely comfortable, hanging pot racks, chintz, a stepped shady garden covered in dark green ivy...fascinated to know what his favourite recipes were...is it worth buying the biog alone for them?

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    1. I want to order the book as well. Am very curious to know his favorite recipes, not to mention which kitchen gadgets and equipment that he is responsible for popularizing.

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    2. I think it's going to be worth buying. He sounds like an interesting character. And l love his kitchen. The Greasy Spoon kitchen is nearing completion. My God, it's been a long, dusty, slog. It's going to be a semi-fitted kitchen. Ideally, I would prefer a completly unfitted kitchen, but the architecture dictates. The grand scheme is inspired by the wonderful Lutyens Castle Drogo. Grey walls, oak tops, unlacquered brass bib taps from Barber Wilsons, Belfast sink, White Metro Tiles...etc., etc., With William IV style French Doors- looking on to basketweave London Brick steps and a Gothick Arch. Think it's gong to work....will post photographs on the GS when finished...in the meantime...looking forward so much, to actually cooking real food....we've been living off ersatz microwaved rubbish for several months, and it's beginning to hurt... keep up the good work, Peak of Chic is fab...

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    3. I for one am anxious for the grand unveiling on your blog. Your kitchen will be smashing!

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    4. I'm planning to do a unique post on it. Coming on well, the end is nigh...

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  3. Newell9:20 AM

    Great post. House Beautiful honored Mr. Williams with a Giants of Design award a number of years ago. It's fascinating to look back at the role he played in the evolution of the American kitchen. Your credits at the end also brought back the fondest memories. Photographer John Vaughan worked a lot for shelter magazines in the 80s. I was fortunate to work with him on one of my first location shoots in the mid-80s. He taught me valuable lessons on how to "see" and "shoot" a room....words I still remember vividly to this day.

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    1. Newell, I'm not familiar with John Vaughan's work, but after seeing the way he shot Mr. Williams' home, I'm certainly intrigued. And, I'm intrigued by Mr. Williams' home. Utterly charming!

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  4. I remember this article about Chuck Williams and his house remains one of my favorites. The yellow dining room is superb and that strong a yellow is typical of those years - makes me wish I could see it come back into fashion. There's nothing as cheerful as a yellow room glowing in the sunlight.

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    1. Blue,I have fond memories of yellow rooms. My first apartment had a yellow living room. Although the color wasn't as vivid as that in the article, my yellow walls were still cheery and uplifting.

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  5. What a delight. The warm yellow walls, polished wood and brass are wonderful. Thank you for this post.

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    1. Yes, those yellow walls, warm wood, and brass are like a tonic for the soul.

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  6. Grand post + Happy Birthday Mr. Williams! xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

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  7. This blog is just wonderful, every day. It has now moved to first place in my blog heart.

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  8. Other than those yellow walls, everything feels as fresh as if it was just decorated - the sitting room in particular. Another great example of how a casual mix of antiques and art is always up to date.

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  9. Doesn't that fabulous kitchen where lots of delicious things would have been cooked make a lot of the very chic and shiny
    Kitchens we see in mags today look utterly pretentious!

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  10. I read the bio on Mr. Williams and found it completely engaging and entertaining. He is very forthcoming about many of the details of his life, and it gives you insight as to what motivated him to create such a fantastic empire that to this day still embodies the principles he was so passionate about. His home is a lovely time capsule that truly holds up among the over designed and art directed kitchens/living spaces we see today.
    Thank you for such a lovely post...actually all of your posts are lovely and totally enjoyable.

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  11. Anonymous4:40 PM

    The feeling one gets from the Williams house is very similar to the Penreath interiors, isn't it?

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    1. I never thought of it, but you're absolutely right. Good point!

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