San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2012

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The “Pavona” room, a gentleman’s study by Geoffrey De Sousa (Photo: Matthew Millman)

For its 35th anniversary the San Francisco Decorator Showcase returned to the Classic Revival mansion on 2020 Jackson Street, which had also been the home of the 1991 showcase.  The honey-colored brick structure overlooking the Bay was designed in 1902 by German-born architect Julius E. Krafft (1855-1937), and is being offered for $17.5 million (as of June 2012.)

His work also included the James C. Flood Mansion on 2120 Broadway, residences on 2555 Webster Street and 2109 Broadway, the Gothic Revival St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at the corner of Eddy and Gough (sadly destroyed by a fire in 1995), the Bullock & Jones building on 60 Kearny Street, and the Captain Charles Boudrow House in Berkeley.

Philanthropist and president of Wells Fargo Bank, I. W. Hellman commissioned the estate on Jackson Street as a wedding gift for his daughter Mrs. Emanuel Heller.  The elegant interior with extensive mahogany paneling and classical details boasts 11,500 square feet, perfectly suited for thirty plus designers to express their creativity while paying tribute to the history of this elegant home.

Sandra Eggers, Sue Cunningham and Mindy Henderson - Carol Bonnie, Summer Tompkins Walker and Jennifer Raiser

We attended the private patron preview event and the grand opening party, and both nights the house was filled to the brim with supporters and industry professionals and design enthusiasts alike.

In attendance were Restoration Hardware’s CEO Gary Friedman, who came to check out his friend Michael Polenske’s first showcase room, Summer Tompkins Walker, Jennifer Raiser, Kimberly Bakker, Maryam Muduroglu, Lorraine and Thomas Hennessy, Holly Baxter, architect Andrew Skurman and interior designers Suzanne Tucker, Candace Barnes, Jay Jeffers, Cecilia Sagrera Hill, George Brazil, Michael Friedes, as well as landscape architect Stephen Suzman and artist Katherine Jacobus.

Brad Huntzinger, Jay Jeffers and Kate McIntyre - Tineke Triggs in her bathroom

Let’s start with the exterior.  Davis Dalbok of Living Green transformed the entry garden and portico into a gracious passage with a modern approach.  Dalbok is known for mixing unique artifacts into his landscape design, and here he took inspiration from Maharaja’s palaces and the “Kasbah Tamadot” in Morocco, the former home of the late interior designer and antique dealer Luciano Tempo.

Sir Richard Branson turned it into a hotel in 1998.  Dalbok separated the home from its neighbors with colorful vertical gardens reaching up to and woven in between the groupings of Corinthian columns lining the border of the portico.  A contemporary white marble statue of a Buddhist monk, a strong contrast against the lush foliage, and the antique marble elephants found by Luciano Tempo add an exotic touch.  The fantastical Moroccan copper repoussé torchieres and chandelier were designed by maestro Tempo, further evoking the spirit of faraway places.

Portico by Living Green (Photo: courtesy of Living Green)

Sayareh Farsio, Ali Mozaffari and Setareh Farsio

Vertical garden by Living Green (Photo: courtesy of Living Green)

Jen Pray, Carl Conway, Kathleen Lawlar and Michael Goodsmith

Peter West, Sarah Puos, Kathleen Navarra and Jefferey Holt

The generously proportioned great entry hall serves multiple functions, and Dara Rosenfeld turned it into an inviting gathering space in deep tones of green and teal, accenting the original mahogany paneling.  She made the most of the fireplace, a perhaps uncommon, but perfectly suited feature for an entry hall, by creating a comfortable seating group around it, inviting us to linger.

Andrew Skurman, Dara Rosenfeld and Suzanne Tucker

It is not always the largest rooms that leave the strongest impression.  Geoffrey De Sousa and Robin Sussillo of Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design transformed a small room with vaulted ceilings off the entry hall from a red-silk-lined 1980s scheme to a refined gentleman’s study, which effortlessly blended traditional and modern elements.  They took inspiration from “The Cult of Beauty” exhibition at the Legion of Honor, which explores the avant-garde talents of the British Aesthetic Movement.  Their muse was “Pavonia”, the intriguing portrait by Lord Frederic Leighton, whose sensuality and colors formed an elegant base for the room.

Paying homage to another icon of the era, William Morris, the designers covered the walls in a burnt orange hand-printed botanical print by Timorous Beasties, known for their surreal and experimental approach to textiles and wall coverings.

One of my favorite aspects were the meticulously hand-cut spikes of the pineapples reaching into the ceiling.  The reflection of the mosaic cowhide rug, reminiscent of peacock-feathers and designed by Geoffrey for Kyle Bunting, in the faceted brass “Popova” desk by Sylvan Fiss was another poetic surprise in a space where juxtaposition was the avenue for success.  De Sousa and Sussillo achieved true perfection in all details!

Desk area in the gentleman’s study by Geoffrey De Sousa (Photo: Matthew Millman)

Vignette in the gentleman’s study by Geoffrey De Sousa (Photo: Matthew Millman)

Kriste Michelini in her dressing room - Maryam Muduroglu and Sheila Nahi

As customary during the time the home was built, the kitchen was located on the lower floor along with the servants’ dining room, laundry, houseman’s quarters and two wine cellars.  Food was sent to the ground floor’s butler’s pantry located next to the formal dining room via a dumb waiter.  Most homes of this vintage have had their kitchens moved to the ground floor since.

However, each owner of the Heller mansion has retained the original set-up, with the kitchen downstairs, while changing the servants’ rooms into living spaces since all rooms open to a wonderful private terrace with bay views.  Tray and Jeff Schlarb of Green Couch transformed the kitchen into a relaxing living and entertaining space with the cooking area wide open to a family room complete with fireplace.

Kitchen by Green Couch (Photo: Peter Medelik)

Family room by Green Couch (Photo: Peter Medelik)

Jeff Schlarb and Tray Schlarb - Paul Riehle, Lorraine and Tom Hennessy

Back on the ground floor, Tinsley Hutson-Wiley of Tinsley Hutson-Wiley Interior Design and Allison Bloom of Dehn Bloom Design put a modern British spin on a good old butler’s pantry meant for a contemporary butler-less home.  They brightened up the dark and narrow space with neutral tones and surfaces that reflect light and selected over-sized “subway” tile, wide shelving and large pendants to play up the room’s scale.

Butler’s pantry by Tinsley Hutson-Wiley Interior Design and Dehn Bloom Design (photo: John Merkl)

Tinsley Hutson-Wiley and Allison Bloom

Butler’s pantry by Tinsley Hutson-Wiley Interior Design and Dehn Bloom Design (photo: John Merkl)

Gaétan Caron and Rob Delamater in their top floor gallery - Brian Kwong, Davis Dalbok and Tim O’Shea

The second floor library provided the perfect opportunity for Jonathan Rachman to express one his passions, collecting.  Against a backdrop of charcoal gray lacquer a vast array of objects, acquired on his travels around the globe, told stories of wanderlust, time and beauty.  French antiques and European and American artifacts mixed with apothecaries and exotic treasures, utilitarian and primitive objects from around Asia, as well as industrial tools and lighting.  In his showcase debut Rachman created a chamber of curiosities that truly captivated the hearts of visitors by also giving everyone an intimate view into his soul.

Library by Jonathan Rachman (Photo: John Merkl)

Library by Jonathan Rachman (Photo: John Merkl)

Jonathan Rachman - Library by Jonathan Rachman (Photo: John Merkl)

Kathleen and Fred Taylor - Monica Pauli and Kimberly Bakker

As most homes of this size, this grand residence is also not short on bedrooms.  Matthew MacCaul Turner of MacCaul Turner Design decided to give one of the second floor bedrooms another purpose.  He conjured up the “Listening Room,” a modern music room for enjoying melodies of live instruments or recorded music with friends or in solitude.  He took aesthetic references from around the world, not only in sound but also in a visual fashion.  As 21st century musicians from all cultures have collaborated on new musical creations, fusing eras and styles, Matthew took the same global and eclectic approach in his design.

Grounded by a neutral, but high contrast palette, he combined Anglo-Indian, Greek, Roman, Spanish and Italian antiques with Chinese pottery, a Japanese screen, Moroccan poufs and mid-century art furniture with some of his custom pieces including a chandelier made from found glass vases.  Just like in fusion music he found a perfect balance between harmony and tension.

Matthew MacCaul Turner

Listening room by MacCaul Turner Design (Photo: Marcelo Canut de Bon)

Listening room by MacCaul Turner Design (Photo: Marcelo Canut de Bon)

Matt Murphy loves sense of escapism when staying in a beautiful hotel, and he designed a luxurious guest room with all the appointments of lavish hotel room.  He accented a light and monochromatic palette with pops of orchid, while mixing lacquer and cerused wood with warm brass and leather.  Fabrics are made from luscious silks, wools, linens and cashmere, and furnishings, in addition to the obligatory bed and nightstands, include a vanity/desk, a library cabinet, a bar cart, a chaise lounge and two comfortable lounge chairs flanking the fire place.

Once again, as in last year’s master bedroom, many of the pieces came from Matt’s extensive collection of furniture by the amazing Tommi Parzinger (1903-1981) who is known for tailored design with characteristic details and exquisite craftsmanship.  Matt used that inspiration for some of his own designs interspersed throughout.  Vintage pieces blend harmoniously with 21st century creations in this inviting guest retreat.

Guest bedroom by Matt Murphy (Photo: John Bedell)

Matt Murphy

Guest bedroom by Matt Murphy (Photo: John Bedell)

“The only problem with this room and is that you made it too comfortable…guests would never leave.” Guest at the opening night gala

Amy Weaver in her media room

Catherine Kwong in her dressing room

Sally Shapiro, Ellie Price and Chris Towt

Laura Martin Bovard, Michael Friedes

Brian Dittmar’s bedroom was inspired by a recent trip to London, and specifically his time spent on Savile Row dreaming of having a bespoke suit made there one day.  So when the Showcase came around he decided to express the concept of a tailor made suit, which is very similar to what we do as interior designers when creating an interiors that fits a client as perfectly as a bespoke suit or footwear.

Tailor Made Suit(e) by Brian Dittmar (Photo: David Duncan Livingston)

In his Tailor Made Suit(e) for the 21st entury dandy he employed the same principles of fine materials, fitted silhouettes, thoughtful details, unexpected adornments and expert hand-sewing.  The floor was covered in a wool herringbone carpet, and the walls were dressed in mink-colored chenille wallpaper, and admittedly the very first walls I have ever hugged.

His furniture choices centered around a striking bespoke metal bed by Paul Benson were decidedly masculine and toned down, accented here and there by injections of luscious chartreuse and aubergine, reminiscent of a bright pocket handkerchief adorning an understated well tailored suit.

Tailor Made Suit(e) by Brian Dittmar (Photo: David Duncan Livingston)

Claudia Juestel, Brian Dittmar and Stephen Suzman - Malin Giddings, Max Armour, Anne Johnson

“Brian Dittmar’s room was a smashing success on all counts.  What a unique and layered room.  And the custom bed designed by Paul Benson was a tour de force!”

Michael Friedes, interior designer

“I absolutely loved Brian’s attention to detail, such as the sartorial trim on the valances.”

Cecilia Sagrera Hill

The term “man cave” can have some designers shiver at the shear mention of the words.  But I am not the only one who has designed a man cave or two, and if done well they can be exceptional rooms specifically for the man of the house.  If teenage boys’ rooms anything look like Kathy Geissler Best’s ”boy cave,” young men would habitually have grown up with a great sense of design, and we will no longer have to worry about “man cave” being a dirty idiom.  The palette and textiles are empathetically male, and the art and objects are sophisticated but playful.  Here Geissler Best achieved a great balance between good design and reflecting a sense of youth.

“Boy Cave” by Kathy Geissler Best

“Boy Cave” by Kathy Geissler Best

Kathy Geissler Best - Roberto Tiscareno and Cynthia Harb

The two smallest rooms were the first floor telephone room, which Robert Brill gave a 21st century spin with wireless communication via iPad on upholstered walls and lit by color-changing LEDs, and the elevator.

One of Lawanna Cathleen Endonino’s favorite novel is “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,”, written in 1865 by author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the nome de plume Lewis Carroll.  In her design “Through the Looking Glass” for the home’s elevator she conjured up a 19th century inspired fairy tale reflecting the elegance of the time and the whimsy of the famous children’s story.

Elevator by Lawanna Cathleen Design (Photo: Michael David Rose)

Lawanna Cathleen Endonino

Since the bathrooms of the home had been renovated in recent years there was not much the designers could do in those rooms.  But Michael Polenske and Carissa Duncan of Ma(i)sonry saw that as the perfect basis for an art installation, turning their first showcase room into a gallery.  They embraced the Japanese aesthetic view of Wabi-sabi, which is based on transience, and they centered their design on works by artist Michele Pred and Marcel Duchamp, accenting them with repurposed industrial fixtures and petrified wood.  Pred works with items confiscated from airports, and she filled the old-fashioned clawfoot tub with thousands of scissors while suspending more scissors from an umbrella in front of the window.

In an ode to Duchamp’s urinal they handwrote one of his quotes one the wall above the toilet.  “I like living, breathing better than working…my art is that of living.  Each second, each breath is a work which is inscribed nowhere, which is neither visual nor cerebral, it’s a sort of constant euphoria.”  Marcel Duchamp  That sums it up, perhaps for the entire San Francisco Decorator Showcase.

Bathroom by Ma(i)sonry

Carissa Duncan

Bathroom by Ma(i)sonry

If you missed the San Francisco Decorator Showcase this year make sure to mark your calendars for 2013 from mid April, 2013.