Decorator Showcases are wonderlands for interior design buffs; a house where each room has the unique stamp of a different designer with few creative restrictions. The pandemic hit last year just as the SF Showcase designers were at the tail end of completing their spaces, and there was no choice but to finish the job and offer the house for viewing via an online tour.
One year later, we are still in the midst of the pandemic, and with large gatherings not advised, the committee for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase decided on a bold move for 2021: they partnered with creative agency Steelblue to create a conceptual all-virtual 3D experience. The theme, ‘New Perspectives’ features ten of the West Coast’s leading interior design firms who virtually reimagined 1080 Chestnut Street, a Russian Hill penthouse with 360 views of San Francisco. Here are six of my favorite rooms.
'This Very Hour ' | Entry Foyer and Gallery Hall | AubreyMaxwell
Robbie McMillan and Marcus Keller of the design firm AubreyMaxwell greet visitors in the entry with a powerful display. The name given to their space is in reference to a speech given by Frederick Douglas in 1852. It highlights three artists with ties to the Bay Area: Erica Deeman, Isaac Julien and Lava Thomas and seeks to bring about a social dialogue around the issues of race and injustice. I love the idea of a gallery wall as you enter a home, a space that offers art from the outset, a thoughtful discussion point; an invitation to a meaningful dialogue.
'Social Salon' | Living Room | Kobus Interiors
Kobus Interiors‘ aptly named ‘Social Salon’ is a den of comfort, with a massive half-moon sofa, a recreation of Ennio Chiggio’s “Environ One” sofa, taking up half the room, weaving in and out with room for a cocktail party’s worth of people to lounge amid the geometric shaped tables and floor to ceiling windows offering up views of the city.
The other half of the room, feels like a separate space, moody with geometric 3D wallcovering by Duchateau and a gorgeous stone bar, an art piece in itself. The showstopper of the space is the elegant round teal velvet rotating carousel by Kobus Interiors, a recreation of a piece by Verner Panton, the ‘Easy Sofa’ from 1963. This is an elegant late-night room that makes you feel like you should dress up a bit to hang out here.
Library | Peruri Design Company
I love to read, and have always dreamed of having a room dedicated to the pursuit of curling up with a good book. This library by Peruri Design Company does the job. It’s dark, warm hues and serene lighting provide a peaceful space. The bespoke corner window seat nestled under the bookshelves curves into the wall and the rug and coffee table follow suit creating a soft visual cue. Michael Gregory’s photorealistic barn painting (Berggruen Gallery) above the window seat transports you to another place and time, just as with a good novel.
'The Time Being Bedroom' | Guest Bedroom and Bath | Chroma
Oh, to be a teenager with this bedroom. The centerpiece of the room is the custom designed platform bed with turned-metal columns and a curving-bleached walnut base and the headboard created by Chroma in collaboration with deGournay, the detailed beading inspired by Joan Miro’s constellation artworks. The room evokes a visionary and inspirational attitude. Chroma does not disappoint and just as with their room in the 2020 Showcase, prove they have a truly unique vision.
'Views Beyond' | Family Room | Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design
Why do most family rooms focus on the TV? Geoffrey De Sousa’s Family Room emphasizes family and conversation with a custom sectional that wraps around both the room and a cast brass and marble coffee table by Italian architect and furniture designer Vincenzo De Cotiis. There is plenty of seating for all, the color scheme mimicking the stunning views of the city and bay. Massimo Listri’s mesmerizing ‘under construction’ photograph, ‘Palazzo d’Avalos 1, Naples 2016’ anchors the room, perhaps as a nod to the work in progress that is every family.
Shoshin - A Beginner’s Mind | Yoga, Pilates, Meditation Room | StudioHEIMAT
For the showstopper of this room by studioHEIMAT, look up. The ceiling is an art installation, with sheer fabric mimicking the topography of San Francisco’s seven hills. The delicate fabric covers every inch of the ceiling, fostering a focal point for meditation and deep thinking in a room dedicated to strengthening the body and mind.
The 2021 Decorator Showcase is open online to the public beginning Saturday, May 22. New Perspectives presented by Decorator Showcase and Steelblue is a benefit for the University High School Financial Aid Program. There is no cost to view but donations to help support San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program are accepted.
Visit DecoratorShowcase.org for access to the tour and additional info.
Cover Photo: ‘Views Beyond’ Family Room by Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design. Brass Hanging Chandelier by Vincenzo De Cotiis available through Carpenters Workshop Gallery. Window Treatment byRosemary Hallgarten – Wool & Baby Alpaca Sheer available at De Sousa Hughes. Shirr Rugs available at De Sousa Hughes. Oak and bronze bookcase by Caste Design.Small glass table lamps by Jonathan Browning Studios available at De Sousa Hughes. Reading lamp next to club chair by Liaigre available at De Sousa Hughes. Image credit: Steelblue.
