valentine's day San Francisco Decorator Showcase, Part VI: Third Level

The Aerie by Benjamin Dhong

We are heading into the last week of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, and there is still time to hop on over!

There was so much to see, I am not going to be able to show you everything, but I had to give you a glimpse into the third level! Some of the best work was up here.

The talented Benjamin Dhong created a perfect escape which he entitled "The Aerie". It is the perfect "refuge from the daily commonplace".

His mix of modern and traditional is always spot on. Familiar, yet unconventional....it is just the sort of thing I love.

The Aerie

Michael Burg also had a petite space which he called up images of a European hotel room....perfect for Sherlock Holmes. A mixture of quirky vintage furniture, fine antiques and modern edge makes this space so very cool.

valentine's day Blakes, Room 27 by Michael Burg. Rare Louis XVI Secretaire and cow hide ottoman.

valentine's day The perfect resting place.

valentine's day Industrial Chic Tufted Daybed, Blakes, Room 27

Next up, "Poetry in Time, The Horologist's Laboratory by Brian Dittmar conjured up a time wizard's study. Full of clocks, watches, hourglasses and sundials....what better place the wile away the hours?

The Horologist's Library by Brian Dittmar. Brilliant Clock!

For a full study of how this room progressed in time from conception to fruition, hop on over to The Style Saloniste for the prefect recap!!! Truly not to be missed. I was so intrigued by the whole process from start to finish.

Custom Wing Chair by Brian Dittmar fabricated by Gilbert Herrara Upholstery. Note the etching in the mirror

A place for time, a time and place.

Blackman Cruz Lamp on the desk. Note the custom area rug with a quote by Rodin, "Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely". (I am putting that up on my inspiration bulletin board today!)

Brian Dittmar

I had met Cecile Starin at last year's showcase where I was enchanted by the Master Bedroom design she did. This year, Cecilie designed a room no less enchanting, which she entitled "Ivory Tower, A Room for Thought".

Ivory Tower by Cecilie Starin

Cecilie thought of every corner and every surface in this space. The daybed was the perfect fit between the window alcoves. There is everything here a person could want. Wouldn't this be the perfect design for a small New York apartment? A bed that doubles as seating, Storage in the coffee table, A dresser that doubles as a sideboard, bookcases for even more storage, and everything is so stylish and cozy! Take note, those of you in small spaces. This is how to make it livable!

I mustn't forget the ceiling! Cecilie stenciled a caning pattern up there and the light fixture was brilliant!

Cecilie Starin

Level three was packed with surprises....I will have a few more for you before week's end!

And please hop on over to Tartanscot for Scot's own take on the San Francisco Showcase this year HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE! More fantastic pictures and always interesting to see through another person's eyes. (And he does have such nice eyes!)

Happy Monday!

valentine's day San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010, Part V.... Jewel Box Spaces

Art in the "Modern Talks Back" Bath

Sometimes a smaller space might get overlooked in a Show House. At the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010, this couldn't be further from the truth! This Showcase puts the "Pow" in Powder Room! I wanted to show you some of the amazing things that can be done in smaller rooms that can make them oh so memorable!

Shower tile detail in the Modern Bath

Right off of the "Elemental Luxe" Room designed by Marion Philpotts-Miller and Jonathan Staub, there is a bathroom entitled "Modernism Talks Back". Designed by Gregg de Meza, this space certainly spoke to me! In the shower was a message that said "wash behind your ears" in mosaic tile....very graphic and so much fun. The mosaics seemed to spill out onto the floors under the vanity. I loved the fact that this room was quite modern, but the designer kept the original detailed arched opening...such a great contrast! Loved it. The art was chosen after the design was done....it was kismet. The swimmers depicted in dark watery charcoals and reflected yellows are perfect for the room!

"Modernism Talks Back"
Charles de Lisle was in charge of a small-ish sitting room which he cocooned in yards of shirred black and white gingham. Another room that was graphically witty.....cozy yet also modern.

Sitting Room

Charles has been on my radar for quite a long time. He thinks outside of the box and tends to be at the forefront of creative ideas which seem to catch on just as he is on to his next adventure in design. Be sure to check out his website HERE for a peek into this designer's mind at work.

Sitting Room
The splash of citron against the black, white and foggy grey adds a bit of jazz and pull the trees outside the window right in!

There was another stylish space just off of the "Guest Quarters at Mongibello" by Wick Design. "Le Suite" designed by George Brazil and Cecilia Sagrera-Hill is the perfect place for us girls to get our day started! Beautifully Chic, there are custom details throughout....like the brilliant ceiling light fixtures created by the designers, and the book matched marble in the shower with a niche for the necessities!

Bathroom Vanity Details in Le Suite


Bathroom Vanity in Le Suite


Shower Details in Le Suite
I think what I liked most was the vanity with the mirror placed before the window. All women know that natural light is best!

Le Suite Dressing Room
This space was so well thought out, there is even an ipad with outfits catalogued and ready to go for any occasion! How smart is that?

Vanity Details in Le Suite

Here are the clever pair, Goerge Brazil and Cicilia Sagara-Hill....very stylish themselves!

George Brazil and Cecilia Sagrera-Hill

Another unexpected and very pretty space was the Second Floor Kitchenette designed by pretty Anastasia Faiella. She used Carerra for the counters and subway tiles in a grey marble for the back splash. I am a fan of open shelving, so appreciated it here as well!

Second Floor Kitchenette Details

Classic and fresh....both the kitchen and Anastasia!

Anastasia Faiella

If you have not had a chance to get over to the Showcase, you still have time! It is not to be missed!

It runs through May 31st. For more information, click HERE!

valentine's day San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010, Part IV: Bedrooms

Guest Quarters at Mongibello

When we got to the Second Level of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase and the first Bedroom we saw took our breath away. Romantic and breezy, we felt like we had been transported to a coastal village on the Mediterranean. French, Moroccan, Greek....it seemed to blend all together in such a fresh minimalist way.

We can all thank Will Wick of Wick Design for taking us all away. I loved the fresh simple bedding against the beautiful custom designed metal canopy bed with the exotic lantern above.

The limed oak floors were laid over the existing floors in the house.... just a little Show House legerdemain....creating a beachy casual feel. A fantastic floating console with a grouping of exotic photos and sketches gave a sense of artistic adventure.

An artist's studio at the beach... a sort of ode to Picasso's On the Beach, perhaps.

I could live here.....yes I could.

Just swinging in that chair looking at the water in that light wood frame...

Will Wick and designers

For more information about anything you see in this oasis of calm, click HERE.

Refreshed and renewed, we wandered on to find this bedroom....

Elemental Luxe

Entitled "Elemental Luxe" by designers Marion Philpotts-Miller and Jonathan Staub, this room lives up to it's name. Organic and textured meets lacquered and edgy in this fun bedroom.

I loved the bright turquoise daybed from Fishcake against the soothing neutral backgound palette. Very cool sconce from School House Electric!

valentine's day We loved the beautiful white fretwork screen from CS Wo and Sons, and the Lotus Chair and Ottoman from Fong Brothers.

valentine's day Jonathan Staub was on hand to chat and we had fun talking about all of the details like the wallcovering from Nobilis (very fun website BTW!) and how it looked so much like wood paneling, and the faint striping of the Zebra skin rug from William Sonoma.

Loved it all!

Jonathan Staub

The Master Bedroom Suite was calling our names, so off we went in search. Designed by husband and wife duo, Shelby De Quesada of Quesada Interiors and Jorge de Quesada of De Quesada Architects. This space was completely redesigned with an empasis on functionality. New custom closets were installed, and a New Master Bath designed. Opeinings to the room were also changed for better flow.

valentine's day And then Shelby worked her magic with beautiful Venetian plaster and Venetian mirrors, charming sconces and whimsical iron console enhanced with air plants.

This Master Suite was soothing and pretty, classic and sumptuous.

valentine's day We loved the marble at the Master Bath...perfectly beautiful.

valentine's day Hope you enjoyed the Bedroom peeks!

Next up.....some special spaces on Level Two....a Sitting Room by Charles de Lisle, Dressing Rooms by George Brazil and Cecilia Sagrera-Hill, another fantastic Bath design by Gregg De Meza and a pretty Kitchenette by Anastasia Faiella.

valentine's day 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...

valentine's day So much fun to see this new collection!

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