Patio is a Spanish word meaning "court open to the sky." The term “patio home” comes from the fact that these homes are usually built around a central courtyard or patio. Greek architecture influenced the majority of homes on the Iberian Peninsula, which included small patios for outdoor living in warmer months and for viewing something fetching, like greenery in cooler months. San Francisco— and specifically the Sunset and Richmond Districts, sometimes called ‘The OutsideLands’— is known for its many center patio homes.
These were built-in homes that often share a wall or two with other houses. This architectural innovation allowed much-needed daylight and fresh air to reach interior rooms along with additional skylights throughout the home. Eventually, many of these patios were covered over with glass skylights, minimizing fresh air, but creating an interior solarium for plants. If enclosed with a roof, one can make a cozy reading spot with a few Adirondack chairs and plants, curl up with a blanket, read a book or conduct Zoom calls. Ferns, lilies, and orchids do well in these environments and it really is like an added room! These patios, solariums, or atriums can be used for year-round grilling open air, and can create an environment for gatherings. The center patio adds a unique quality to the layout of a home. The indoor-outdoor floor plan is so appealing given our ever-changing climate in the city.
The beautiful Center Patio Home in the Inner Sunset at 1743 17th Avenue has an intriguing backstory that also includes some Greek origins. Once home to the Hontalas family— owners of the beloved, and now closed Louis' Restaurant at Lands End—like the Hontalases, the current sellers have loved this property and raised their three children here.
Perched above the Sutro Baths around the bend from the Cliff House, Louis’ Diner— an SF icon— was in business for 83 years and closed in 2020; sadly a Covid casualty. The diner — with sweeping views of the Pacific and known for its Shrimp Louie— was a favorite for tourists and locals for many generations. The restaurant was once just one of many establishments that used to sit along this section of Point Lobos Avenue near Ocean Beach, mostly owned by Greek families like the Hontalases. Louis outlasted them all! Tom and Bill Hontalas— the final proprietors— were third-generation owners who started working at the family business as teenagers in the 1960s. They are grandsons of the original owner, Louis Hontalas, who came to San Francisco at the age of 11 in 1906 (the year of the big quake),and opened the restaurant with his wife in 1937. The house on 17th Ave. holds many memories.