Through the Looking Glass

 Well....the San Francisco Decorator Showcase is over for this year, and it was quite a success. There was plenty of inspiration to keep me thinking until next year. There were luxurious sofas and creative wall treatments......beautiful beds and monumental art pieces....quirky accessories and sparkling mirrors....

Let's talk about the mirrors for just a sec. One in particular was a stunner. The designers at Greencouch, Jeff Schlarb and Lisa Bakamis had us all doing a double and triple take with a mirror they had in the bedroom space they created. At first glance, it seemed to be just another white framed mirror...nice, but not overly inspired......just some wall decor to take up empty space. But then I realized....I was not seeing my reflection. Either I was hallucinating, or I had been vampire-ized in the moment it took to come into this room. This was some crazy mirror!

 The first room we entered was a ethereal white and ivory space with a striated Elitas wallpaper and Merida Meridian leather floor tiles. Bungalow 5 furnishings made an appearance along with Oly Studio and Noir Trading.

At once elegant and playful, I thought this bedroom was certainly pretty and perfect. A glance in that mirror took things to a whole new level.....

But that room in the mirror was a little off.....a bit darker perhaps? I thought it was a trick of the lighting....until a person who was not in my room walked into the room in the mirror. Clever......these designers took a trip through the Looking Glass and invented an alternate dimension on the other side. The room in the mirror was identical, except for one thing....it was a completely different color palette!

Same wallpaper, but a different colorway. Same floor tiles, but a dark slate color. Same chandeliers, different colors. The nightstand was green, as was the desk chair. The curtains and cornice were tangerine...the chairs were a gunmetal dark grey....

Even the wall art was the same...but a celery green....

Same bed....same lamps....

different fabrics on the beds....

What an opportunity! It is the only time I have ever been on the other side of the Looking Glass......

Thank you to Greencouch for bringing fantasy to life!

And a huge thank you to all of the wonderful designers from this year's San Francisco Decorator Showcase for working so hard and giving so much time and creativity to inspire us all. And a big thanks to all of the hardworking members involved in putting on a great Showcase year after year. Bravo!  I look forward to next year!

Kitchen Nook by Tish Key. Chairs by Hollywood at Home, Almond Hatzog Dining Table,  Borgeoise Boheme Chandelier, Donghia Wall covering, Katie Leed and Company Roman Shade Fabric (love!)

The San Francisco Decorator Showcase is going strong until the end of May, so I am giving you all another peek! 

This time....it's the Kitchen, a Cookbook Nook, and adjoining Powder Room. When I was at the house, the designers all had "before" pictures of the house, and let me say, the transformations are amazing. The Kitchen Design is by Tish Key Interior Design, Inc. Tish took a dreary and dark 70's kitchen space and made it into a bright and fresh space with a twist to traditional styling. 

Tish opened up a window previously covered up to let in more light. You can see the light coming through the open shelving to the left of the sink. She used a white marble counter around the sink and French lava stone (available from Sue Fisher King) in a gorgeous navy blue for the rest of the counters on either side of the sink. Notice that the sink area is slightly higher than the rest of the counters....great look.

In another stroke of genius, Tish used door knobs from Baldwin as over scaled hardware on the cabinets. Loved that! The original brick was kept over the range, and Tish used black marble with white veining for the counter tops. The back splash tile (Waterworks) included a large clock made out of tile....so cool.

Tish was on hand to talk to me about all of the great ideas and resources she used for this kitchen. Gracious and so talented, it was a pleasure!

Adjacent tot he Kitchen was what was previously a small hallway, transformed into a jewel box of a space by Brian Dittmar. Brian calls this space the Cookbook Nook. I think I would be spending many an hour here in this cozy chair perusing my books, watching a little TV, or googling recipes at the antique writing desk.

Brian took inspiration from a recent trip to Paris where he sampled as many pastel hued macaroons as possible. Brian used a beautiful silvery grass cloth by Phillip Jeffries as the backdrop to the delicious macaroon colors used in the curtain panels and pillows.

You can even see photos of those inspiring bits of confection gracing the walls in the Cookbook Nook. Other favorite things in this space include the Circa Lighting ceiling fixture, the accent tables, and art above the Swedish Art Deco desk.

I think my favorite part of the space was Brian himself. Dressed to the nines, Brian even sported gorgeous tangerine socks which matched the area rug. It's all in the details, and Brian is a master.

Just off of the Cookbook Nook was a glamorously moody Powder Room designed by Jo Ann Hartley. Dramatic wall treatments by Linda Horning and hand screened Moire wallpaper by Robert Crowder provide the "wow" factor in this space, with accents like Phillip Nimmo sconces Maitland Smith accent table, and Plum Branch mirror by Deborah Childress finishing things off with panache.

Again, I felt lucky to get to meet the designers and hear all about their inspiration and all of the wonderful artisans they pulled together to create such brilliant spaces. Jo Anne was no exception! Thanks Jo Ann!

I hope you all have a chance to visit the San Francisco Decorator Showcase this year. 2011 is a very good year!

Moving upstairs next...lots of surprises in store!

Well THIS is Exciting: The First Ever Elle Decor Showhouse

Just in case you did not flip through every page of the latest Elle Decor ( I know most of you must have, just like I do! But just in case....), I wanted to draw your attention to the newest Showhouse on the scene. Elle Decor is partnering with the Junior League of San Francisco this Fall to create their first Showhouse in the historic St. Francis neighborhood. The Showhouse will be open to the public starting November 6.

The line up of designers is studded with stars! I am expecting a stellar event. Our blog friend, Grant Gibson has a peek at his design on his blog HERE.

I have already marked my calendar. I hope you are doing the same!

More info HERE and HERE.

You can bet I will keep you posted along the way.

San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010, Part III

On the first floor of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, there is a jewel of a room created by the super talent Darin Giese of , what I call, San Francisco's answer to design heaven, Coup d'Etat. If you have never been there, it should be first thing to visit on your next trip to the City by the Bay.

As soon as you enter this "Hall of Wisdom and Enlightenment" you can just feel the wheels turning in the mind of Darin....a creative juggernaut. Just so you know....everything in the space is from Coup d'Etat....just in case something strikes your fancy.....from the fabulous terracotta finials, to the very chic dove grey leather sofa with the bullion fringe, to the custom light fixtures

made from vintage Amish cart wheel rims and grain cages.

Darin designed this brilliant canopied wing back chairs especially for the Showcase. Can inanimate objects send you into a swoon like they do me? I get the feeling we will be seeing more of this design in the next few years. What a perfect spot to curl up next to the fire and read the Arabian Knights.

The metal cage light fixture here used to be Great Plains grain cages according to Darin. It seems there is nothing that Darin and his Coup d'Etat cohorts cannot conjure into something unique and perfectly amazing.

And what would a Hall of Wisdom be without lots of leather bound books looked after by a flock of crows...very Edgar Allen I'd say. The light fixture was made from 20th century buggie wheel rims.

The painting is entitled Taiho Rock and is by artist Topher Delaney. It hangs above a custom English Baroque style bench upholstered in jet black hide....(can be custom ordered as well).

Here is the genius in his natural habitat, Darin Geise....hugely down to Earth and so very nice. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us Darin!

We could have stayed much longer.....but it was back out to the Foyer where we met Shirley Robinson owner of Robinson Finishes. She is standing in front of her hand-painted silk panels, which are a part of her beautiful new line of custom hand-painted wall coverings collection, now available at Michael Taylor Designs showrooms.

Here are just a couple of my favorites designs from Shirley's collection. Coral reimagined....

And the gracefully original and unexpected jelly fish...

So much fun to see this new collection!

Next up.....the Bedrooms!!!! And they are fantastic!

As I was Passing through Healdsburg on the way to Mendocino......

Myra Hoefer Design Storefront

.....Tim and I had to stop at the Myra Hoefer Design Showroom for a little look-see. Myra Hoefer is a doyen of the Sonoma County design community and, in my humble opinion, a master at combining the casual "California" style with chic French and hip modern. She brings her style to the international community as well, having designed a series of apartments in Paris. She even has an Atelier which is available for any of you traveling to Paris needing a place to stay. Can you imagine staying in a Myra Hoefer designed apartment in Paris?!? Heaven! More on that HERE.)

Front Window Display

Her showroom embodies her aesthetic, with objects and furniture from locals such as Paris, to Bay Area based Oly Studio, to modern classics by John Dickinson (wonderful article about Mr. Dickinson over at the Style Saloniste blog HERE).

You may remember Myra's beautiful contribution to the San Francisco Decorator Showcase I posted HERE.

Beautiful French Chairs and a Wade Hoefer Painting

Hop on over the the House Beautiful interview with Myra on their website HERE. There are more pictures of her showroom too.

THIS article in the San Francisco Chronicle is also worth a look.

The Showroom Main Floor

For those of you traveling to Northern California and the Wine Country, Healdsburg , a beautiful town in the heart of the Wine Country, is full of wonderful shops and restaurants. Stay for the day, or overnight at one of the many B&B's or Hotels. And don't forget to stop in and say "hi" to Myra!

SHOWTIME HOUSE!!!!!

Everybody loves a good Showhouse, right? We are used to seeing them in the Spring and maybe there are a few during the holiday season. But our craving is usually put on hold in the Fall.

Well, we are in luck, because this Fall, starting the weekend of September 12, Metropolitan Home's second annual Showtime House is slated to open to the public. Met Home and Showtime are partnering for a second season bringing their cutting edge cable TV hits to life with the design talents of some of the country's most notable designers.

The event takes place in New York at the Tribeca Summit: "a collection of elegant loft residences created from an historic former warehouse." To learn more about the building (pictured above), click here.

Let's cut to the chase here. So, what shows are providing the inspiration and who are the designers? That's what was formost in my list of questions.

Each designer has been assigned a room and a Showtime Series:

Can you just imagine?

And the designer lineup:

1) Marie Aiello, Dexter Foyer, Living and Dining Room, Kitchen, and Terrace

2) Matthew Berman and Andrew Kotchen, Nurse Jackie Waiting Room Lounge and Triage Garden

3) James Biber, Weeds Dining Room

4)) Christopher Coleman and Angelo Sanchez, Nurse Jackie Master Bedroom

5) Markus Dochantschi, Californication Master Bedroom

6) Susannah C. Drake, Californication Outdoor Living Room

7) Francine Gardner, United States of Tara Duplex Apartment

8) Joannah Kornak for Holly Hunt, Californication Master Bedroom and Balcony

9) Paul Latham, Weeds Lounge
10) Piero Lissoni with Nicoletta Canesi, Lissoni Associati, Tudors Dining Room and Exterior

11) James Lord, Roderick Wyllie, and Geoff di Girolamo, United States of Tara and Weeds Outdoor Rooms

12) Kara Mann, United States of Tara Multiple Personality Room

13) Richard Mishaan, The Tudors Small Study and Sitting Room

14) Glenn Wallace and the Savannah College of Art and Design, Foyer

For more info on the fab fourteen above click here.

If you are like me and just can't wait til September, here's a bit of a sneak peak.

And for those of you who can't keep away, you can find out more info on tickets and such here.

And just for a bit of fun......

Kirsten Brant's Cafe/Lounge from Metropolitan Home's Showtime House 2008

Click here for the sizzling slideshow of last year's event!