valentine's day Elle Decor Showhouse 2010 - Guestroom by Tucker & Marks

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Guest Bedroom by Tucker & Marks. Twin Beds: Hand carved and turned pickled ash. Designer's own collection. Bed Linens by Scheuer Linens. Night Table by Bungalow 5. Cashmere Throws by Sandra Jorden Collection

There were so many beautiful rooms at the Elle Decor Showhouse this year. One of my very favorites was a Guest Bedroom designed by the talented Suzanne Tucker and the amazing staff at Tucker & Marks. Sunny and fresh, cozy and luxurious, this bedroom invites us to come in a stay awhile. I was thinking a permanent move might be in order. 

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Guest Bedroom, photo courtesy of Tucker & Marks.
Area Rug by Dash and Albert. "Wallpaper" is actually fabric from Suzanne Tucker Home. Pillow Fabrics by Madeline Weinrib care of ABC Home.

 There is a very touching story connected to the extraordinary beds in the room: " Michael Taylor made them for Nan Kempner in 1951 because it was between graduating from College and marrying Tommy Kempner in 1952. Nan's "step-mother" felt Suzanne should have them given her connection with Michael Taylor and that Suzanne knew Nan. So she graciously gave them to Suzanne a few months ago, right before the Elle Décor Showhouse opened."

This little bit of history makes the room all the more interesting. 

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19th Century Craftsman Style Bleached White Oak Chair is from Tucker & Marks. Baluster Drinks Table is Clear Murano Glass from The Wicker Works.

Suzanne's work has always struck me as some of the most beautifully detailed in the industry. This room is no exception. I was very impressed by the attention to the smallest details, like the tiny leather welting on the bed pillows that was overlaid with a little whip-stitching. Just lovely.

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Vintage Murano Galss Lamps  through DWM Maloos. Mirror by Made Goods available through Mecox Gardens. Blue Shagreen Box through John Nelson Antiques in LA.

 So here are a few more details I thought you might want to see.

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Suzanne's Hatley fabric makes a beautiful wallcovring in a custom colorway made up just for the Showhouse!.....from Suzanne Tucker Home. Photo courtesy of Tucker & Marks.

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Guest Bathroom by Tucker & Marks. Photo courtesy of Tucker & Marks. Corner Etagere by Artasia. Matelisse Vanity Fabric by Suzanne Tucker Home. Wallpaper by Sister Parish Design.

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Glass Mosaic Floor Tile by AKDO.

I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did!

valentine's day Chinoiserie, Designers and Table Settings....

Gump's Table

......was the recipe for a perfect party at Gump's last Tuesday night! The event, in support of the 2010 San Francisco Fall Antique Show was hosted by Marta Benson, CEO of Gump's and Suzanne Tucker, Chair of the SFFAS Designer's Circle.

Top San Francisco designers were invited to design Chinoiserie inspired dining tables, and the creativity was flowing! Ann Getty, Douglas Durkin, Andrew Fisher and Jeffrey Weisman, Jay Jeffers, Barbara Scavullo, Suzanne Tucker and Gump's all contributed stunning table displays. I could have spent much more time savoring every detail.

valentine's day Gump's Table

Gump's table captured the flavor of the Orient with their twin pagodas which flanked a gorgeous floral display of roses and artichokes. The lush color palette was gold, black and hot coral pink. I loved the back painted glass table top with silhouettes of the East in pink

valentine's day Gump's Table

The gold tea pots and pretty pink and gold place settings were perfect for a chic afternoon tea party.

Such a gorgeous display....the flowers, the glass decanters in amethyst and teal, the black lacquer trays and bronze hurricane candle holders....I was enchanted.

valentine's day Gump's Table

The creative forces at Ann Getty and Associates put together a beautiful table set under a black pagoda pavilion. Acrylic bamboo chairs, and the fresh color palette of jade and tangerine was perfectly appetizing.

Ann Getty and Associates

Details like gilt fortune cookies, and hand made taffeta ginkgo leaves added that personal touch, and the floral display of citron green orchids was luscious.

Ann Getty and Associates

One of my favorite things about this display as the lantern light fixture above the table...what a fun crowning jewel.

valentine's day Ann Getty and Associates

The next table is by Jay Jeffers, and as expected, was full of fun,fresh ideas.

Jay Jeffers

Jay created a "room" for his table with rice paper panels painted with flowering branches and birds (painted by Shirley Robinson) which he hung from the ceiling with the most beautiful chains I have ever seen.....(Jay, if you are reading, where did you get those chains?!)

Jay Jeffers Table

Jay used a really interesting modern table and beautiful lantern both from Therien Antiques. The rug is from Tai Ping. Jay brought in the custom designed chairs using C. Mariani Antiques.

valentine's day Jay Jeffers Table

The place settings were beautiful in combinations of greens, browns and golds. Jay proved once again that he is the Master of "Sophisticated Fun".

valentine's day Jay Jeffers Table

Douglas Durkin created a table that really evoked the feeling of Fall for me. Since Fall happens to be my favorite season, it is small wonder I was so drawn it it. Warm and luxurious, moody and intimate, this space invites one to linger over brandy late into the night.

valentine's day Douglas Durkin's Table

The table was surrounded by dark wood louvered screens and draped with a pumpkin and misty slate grey silk taffeta table cloth. The terrariums were filled with exotic plants...one of which I think was a Venus Flytrap.

valentine's day Douglas Durkin's Table

The crystal was a translucent black and there was a persimmon crystal dragon stopper in the decanter. Could you imagine a savory meal here on All Hallows Eve?

valentine's day Douglas Durkin's Table

Andrew Fisher and Jeffrey Weisman have long been a design duo I have greatly admired. (I especially am enamoured with their home in Napa!) Their take on the them was so much fun, it would make one want to party all night!

Fisher Weisman Table

Titled "Lunch at Brighton Pavilion" Andrew and Jeffrey pulled out all of the stops. Inspired by their travels to the Orient, the Brighton Pavilion, Doris Duke's Shangri-La in Honolulu, and films like the King and I and Auntie Mame....they kicked up their heels and used a sequined table cloth. Andrew and Jeffrey are known for their fabulous lighting creations, they channeled Tony Duquette when making this fixture. They described the process to me saying that they sculpted each piece of the mini pagodas and cast them in resin, then painted them gold adding little jewels and ivy a la Duquette.

valentine's day Fisher Weisman Table

The colors they used were just as eye catching...Red, Fuchsia, Tangerine and Gold combine in happy profusion, and the gold butterflies seemed to have just arrived to join the party.

valentine's day Jeffrey and Andrew with their table

The red dining chairs are from the Fisher Weisman Bamboo Collection for Michael Taylor Designs. Just another example of all there is to love about Fisher Weisman

Designer, Barbara Scavullo took her cue from the wonderful horses pictured on the Hermes plates in her place settings.

Barbara Scavullo's Table

You can just imagine a military campaign where the officers would reinforce themselves with hearty meals in their exotic tents.

Barbara Scavullo's Table

The lantern, world map, and Ming Horse punctuate the theme, as does the bridle buckle flatware.

valentine's day Barbara Scavullo's Table

The last table, and certainly far from the least, was the stunning table designed by Suzanne Tucker of Tucker Marks and her troop of talented designers. I was bowled over with how utterly beautiful and detailed the space was.

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

Suzanne and crew had a brilliant French gilt and coral chandelier c. 1920 flown in from across the country from Objects Plus, LLC. Carlton Hobbs supplied the gorgeous painted Queen Anne chairs and settee. The dramatic 18th century Coromandel screen is from a private collector, and the 19th century Khotan rug is from Tony Kitz Oriental Carpets.

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

Suzanne is so talented with the details. The square table is skirted in a Scalamandre green tiger stripe fabric with a topper made from one of Suzanne's own fabrics. The edge detail is made to look like a pagoda roof, the corners curving out, with a bell found at C. Mariani Antiques at each point...

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

The coral velvet chair cushion fabric is also from Suzanne's new fabric line. The saffron hued pillow fabric is from Fortuny.

valentine's day Tucker and Marks Table

This space was truly a grand end to this sumptuous affair and Suzanne was perfectly and beautifully attired to act as hostess.

valentine's day Suzanne Tucker and her Table

It was such a fun evening! I got to see my friends Grant Gibson and Diane Dorrans Saeks, as well as Anh-Minh Le, the editor of the new quarterly shelter magazine Anthology (get your subscriptions now...it's going to be a goody! AND it will be a PRINTED magazine.....I love a magazine I can hold in my hands.)

Gump's is always the most gracious of hosts for events, and this night was no exception. All of the place settings were provided by Gump's, so for more information on any of the beautiful china, silverware and crystal, please do not hesitate to contact them.

And please don't forget to attend the 2010 San Francisco Antique Fair. For more information, click HERE.

valentine's day San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010, Part II

Dining Room by Tucker and Marks Design

The San Francisco Decorator Showcase is in full swing after the opening weekend, and it is as wonderful as we have all come to expect. In my last post, I gave you a peek into the Living Room designed by David Kensington and Powder Room by Matthew Turner.

Today, a peek into the softly elegant Dining Room designed by Suzanne Tucker of Tucker and Marks Design. The pretty and soothing color palette makes one feel immediately at home. One could stay here for hours in the cozy dining chairs, an original design called the Matchstick Chair, soon to be added to the Suzanne Tucker Home furniture line.

The bay window is conducive to curling up with a good book and a cup of tea. This Dining Room really gets it right with it's multifunctional attitude. Rooms this beautiful deserve to be used more often than once a day don't they? The 18th century French Oak bibliotheque, diverse, plush seating arrangements, and dry bar make this space alluring at any time of day.

Tucker and Marks is all about the details. The table settings showed just how perfectly adept they are at making every detail count. I loved the various shades of amethyst, aubergine, and wine on the Hurricane , succulent centerpiece, crystal and sea urchin shells. Delicious!

The detail work on the Dining Room Matchstick Chairs was also exquisite. The fabric is by Holland and Sherry with a custom embroidered back panel and tufted seats. Gorgeous!

The drapery panels fabricated by Susan Chastaine are made from a Suzanne Tucker fabric which was custom dyed for the Showcase. I believe it will be added permanently to her line, as it should be! It is brilliant. The border that is printed on the selvage edge of the fabric was cut and reapplied as a border on the leading edge and mitered across the bottom. There was also a small border on the other side, as well as a beautifully subtle taupe gingham cotton lining. The fringe was a casual jute loop and was the perfect accent. Details, details!

And what deserves just as much attention as anything else? Why....the bar! The casual console was festively turned out with all of the essentials, and accented with the "Horny" bronze lamp from Blackman Cruz (didn't I tell you they show up all over the place?!)

Suzanne Tucker with Christopher Roy, one of her designers at Tucker and Marks

Designers Christopher Roy and Suzanne Tucker, as elegant and approachable as the lovely room they designed.

From the Dining Room, we headed to the Kitchen, which was designed by the design duo of Jennifer Hershon and Joann Harltey. Did I like it? YES! They combined different wood tones and paint colors is such an original way. It was modern and at the same time befitted a traditional home so well with it's rustic metal accents and freestanding range.

I loved the custom shelving above the island, the thick Caesarstone counter tops, and the stainless farmhouse sink.
The combination of wood cabinetry mixed with the putty colored painted cabinets was unpredictable and very cool.



The cozy nook was tucked away next to a servant's staircase. As small as it was, it still held plenty of seating and extra storage under the banquette. Loved the vintage table base and the metal chandelier.


The bar next to the range had a custom made pedestal that was designed to compliment the nook table base. The stools are by Gulassa and have solid glass seats....truly breathtaking.

And here they are, the dynamic duo, Joann Hartley and Jennifer Hershon. The ladies are as cool as the spaces they design. Check them out HERE.

Truly....there are so many outstanding spaces at this year's Showcase, don't miss it if you are in the area. Click HERE for more information about tickets and hours and special events.