A Fashion Designer and an Actor Make a Historic Telegraph Hill Rental Their Own
Zac Posen and Harrison Ball rented an 1850s cottage on San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill and brought in Ken Fulk to help decorate it. The couple moved west when Posen joined Gap Inc. and Old Navy, while Ball had retired from New York City Ballet and begun acting. Their layered home mixes vintage and contemporary pieces, including a 1950s O’Keefe & Merritt stove, artwork, and an attic workspace.
Posen moved west for executive creative roles at Gap Inc. and Old Navy. Ball had just retired as a New York City Ballet principal and was starting an acting career; the couple remains bicoastal. Ball found the 1850s captain’s cottage online after nearly choosing another house.
The property’s history includes a Russian aristocrat, a Prohibition-era club, and reported connections to Joan Baez, Martha Stewart, and Armistead Maupin. Ball revived the garden with locally sourced plants. The kitchen keeps vintage cabinetry and a 1950s O’Keefe & Merritt stove, while the attic serves as a workspace and Ken Fulk helped layer the interiors.
This story may influence renters and design enthusiasts by showing how leased historic homes can be personalized without ownership. It could draw attention to San Francisco’s Telegraph Hill preservation and local craftspeople, while possibly fueling interest in vintage appliances, layered interiors, and garden restoration. Landlords and tenants may see designer collaboration as a way to care for older properties. Celebrity coverage could also boost Bay Area design tourism.