A San Francisco home owned by billionaire investor Charles Schwab appeared on the open market this week. Schwab is asking $15 million for the home, which is situated in the upper reaches of the Pacific Heights neighborhood. He paid $12 million for it a little more than 8 years ago.

The Gardner Dailey-designed house was built in 1941. From the street, the property is serene and tasteful, with a set of black gates, brick, white stucco, and a privacy-providing Chinese elm standing sentry between prying eyes and oversize windows.

The home could be classified as a modern, albeit a modified and particularly graceful one. The emphasis on community and light/transparency is there, but most rooms achieve a kind of gentleness with subtly warm overtones and sculpted curvature.

And there is a precision to the interiors as well. The staircase is a good example of the unusual sense of balance that is struck, and the way the literate sensibilities of the interior architecture avoid moodiness or cynicism. The living room follows through, with floor-to-ceiling glass that looks out on some of the better views of San Francisco, and a simple onyx fireplace that suggests timelessness and creature comfort. Another gem is the wood-sheathed reading room on the upper level.

There are 3 beds and 4 baths in this 5,400 square foot house. The lot extends to just under two tenths of an acre, with plentiful green-and-growing providing a pleasing seclusion that contributes to the extraordinary appeal of this property.

Schwab founded his eponymous investment firm in 1971. His net worth is around $8 billion.