

Behind the Design: Trestle Apartments in San Carlos
A modern mission revival, Trestle
Apartments in San Carlos claims inspiration from the iconic railways of the
past. Nestled along El Camino Real, every detail of this luxury apartment
community has been thoughtfully hand-selected.
We invite you to explore the hidden story of Trestle, as
told by the designer behind the project – Jenn Ray of Prometheus.
Where did you begin
with the concept? How did it evolve?
Jenn Ray (JR): The concept for Trestle began by taking a
deep dive into the location. Located on El Camino Real and along a major
transportation line for the bay area, it wasn’t hard to nail down a solid
concept from the beginning. The Spanish architecture of the neighborhood was
also an influencer. We knew we had to embrace the history of the location, and
run with the style of the buildings. Modernized Mission Revival became the
concept. The interiors represent this through the rich colors, texture, dark
wood, tilework and use of artisan wares throughout.
Tell us a little more
about the use of artisan wares.
JR: The tile selection and placement throughout Trestle
really ties back to the overall concept. We selected handcrafted tiles from Cle Tile in Sausalito for the I AM HOME
wall and clubhouse. They feel like a simplified Spanish tile that really speaks
to the present day Mission revival feel we have throughout the neighborhood.
We partnered with Marie
Fisher Interior Design (MFID) to help curate the artwork. They sourced
Otomi quilts, black and white Mission photos, handmade planters, terracotta
sculptures, Mexican folk art and pinch pots. These all reference the locations
along the “Royal Road” that stretched from Baja to Northern California in the
18th century.
The furniture and millwork details reference the luxurious
luggage details that can be found on vintage pieces. We took those details and
modernized them a bit in all of the selections. There is a heavy use of metal,
leather, rich colors and some caning.
One of my favorite
details is the sconces above each apartment home.
JR: The Mission Bell Marker system has existed on the
historic route of the El Camino Real since 1906. The original marker system
intended installation of bells one mile apart along the entire length of the El
Camino Real from San Diego to Sonoma. The sconces throughout the corridor of
Trestle are a fun little nod to the past.
There are three
gorgeous stitched pieces of art on the first floor that grab your attention.
What is the story behind those?
These are Otomi textiles, or tenagos! It’s a traditional
embroidery technique from central Mexico in the state of Hildago. In the 1960s
the craft was revived for an additional source of income after a devastating
drought for the Otomi tribe. The depicted flora and fauna are inspired by
nearby cave drawings.
I’m a big fan of
metalwork and love the sign that notes the Neighborhood. What inspired the
detail?
Tim Nash worked on the Neighborhood sign with Meyer Reed. It
was inspired by handmade Spanish tiles, heavily influenced by the Mission style.
Last but not least,
what is your favorite part of this Neighborhood?
My favorite space is the Neighbor Lounge. It really feels
like a cozy living room to me. We were gifted low ceilings here, which I think
made everyone nervous in the beginning, but I love how intimate it ultimately
feels. The beams add a little detail and the rich colors on the millwork and
dark wood flooring make it a little moody.
I also am pretty in love with the sofa in the lounge. It is
from one of my favorite furniture crafters – Casamidy – and handcrafted in
Mexico. The metalwork and leather ties on the waxed canvas are lovely and bring
the extra element of detail that we were looking for circling back to the
luggage details seen throughout the space.
The Neighbor Lounge feels totally comfortable with different
zones for Neighbors to relax and kick their feet up and enjoy. I really hope
the Neighbors feel like they can enjoy the space as an extension of their home.
A big thank you and congratulations to the team on this
incredible project:
- Melissa, for her schedule and budget assistance. She was like Trestle’s fairy godmother.
- Karyn, for her work on procurement and installation.
- Jessica and Ricky, for their construction team management.
- Jenn, for her vision and dedication bringing Trestle to life.