Explore one of San Francisco’s most notable homes, where Audrey Hepburn partied
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Gardner Dailey’s 1960 Telegraph Hill townhouse served as a 1960s celebrity salon.
- Whitney Warren commissioned the modernist home that contrasts Edwardian and Victorian stock.
- Property spans nearly 7,000 sq ft with multiple terraces, guest suite and parking.
Commissioned by a San Francisco socialite, modernist architect Gardner Dailey changed the game 65 years ago when he built a townhouse overlooking the bay that was the antithesis of the city’s numerous Edwardian and Victorian homes.
The home Dailey built in 1960 for legendary host Whitney Warren Jr. at 109-111 Telegraph Hill in San Francisco became a Swinging ‘60s hotspot for global icons. Warren hosted dinner parties in the residence, located at the base of Coit Tower, that attracted movie stars, best-selling authors, opera divas, aristocrats, photographers and composers. Guest lists included Audrey Hepburn, Princess Margaret and Truman Capote, to name a few.
Visionary biochemist William Rutter bought the home for $1.8 million in 1991, according to public property records. Rutter co-founded Chrion Corp., a pioneering biotechnology company. He died in 2025.
Rutter’s family put the extraordinary residence on the market Friday for $12.5 million.
The multi-level townhome, with an elevator serving all levels, is grand. A living room with 19-foot ceilings showcases a spectacular chandelier and fireplace. The formal dining with a fireplace, a sunroom, and multiple terraces offer mind-blowing views of Coit Tower, San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate and Bay bridges and the downtown skyline.
Two guest bedrooms, kitchens
The nearly 7,000-square-foot home has four bedrooms and four full bathrooms. One of the two ensuite guest bedrooms was designed by renowned Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta. There are also two kitchens.
Interior designer Richard Brayton remodeled the house in 1990s.
Featured in Architectural Digest, Town & Country, and “Inventing the California Look,” the property includes a separate guest suite and an additional 4,000-square-feet of space for a garage, wine room and storage. There’s parking for up to six vehicles.
“Gardner Dailey was a true innovator of California modernism—known for his clean lines, tall windows, and that signature indoor-outdoor flow that makes you feel instantly connected to nature,” listing agent Karen Mendelsohn Gould of Compass said in a statement.
“His homes were never flashy; they were designed to feel effortless and grounded, with exteriors that quietly blended into the landscape. You really feel it—stand by the windows and it’s as if you could reach out and touch the trees, Coit tower, the Transamerica building or even the Bay itself.” The listing also encompasses a separate 3,219-square-foot lot at 357 Filbert St. is ideal for a garden, an art pavilion or expansion, according to Compass.
