It's all about thoughtful creation in the four-story Dutch Colonial home selected for the 45th Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase.
At the top of the Baker Street stairs, the brick house at 2898 Broadway was built in 1899 by architects Walter D. Bliss and Walter Paville (St. Francis Hotel, James Flood Mansion, and Geary Theater) for Bliss' parents, Elizabeth and Duane "D.L." Bliss. It was a showcase venue back in 1989, and has featured in several films including 2013's Blue Jasmine.
Today it has been transformed with a captivating array of spaces featuring moments ranging from nostalgic to immersive and always artful. It can also be yours for a cool $32 million.
Twenty-eight designers have created a visual feast with a myriad of glorious textures, scent, and even an auditory experience (check out PlantWave's music experience in Lisa Staprans' meditation room).
Take a peek at our favorite rooms for the 2024 showcase below. It was definitely a mood.
// The showcase house at 2898 Broadway (Pacific Heights) is open Tuesdays through Sundays, April 27 through May 27, 2024. Tickets ($45/GA, benefiting the San Francisco University High School financial aid fund) are available at decoratorshowcase.org.
The Observatory by Jon de la Cruz, de la Cruz Interior Design
(John Merkl)
In a major departure from his room last year, Jon de la Cruz has created a botanical sanctuary teeming with lush patterns, colors, and greenery from Boxleaf Design. The lively family gathering space serves multiple functions: as a media room, game room, breakfast nook, and cocktail lounge with ample seating areas, game tables, and a dedicated space for kiddos. Inspired by the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts and Alcatraz, floral sofas, hand-tufted rugs, and stained oak paneling mirror the natural landscape. Pieces from Ai Weiwei, Paul Kremer, and Mel Bochner all pay homage to SF's sights and cultural offerings.
The Rotunda by Zoe Prillinger and Luke Ogrydziak of OPA
(Joe Fletcher)
A study in movement, OPA transformed the existing rotunda, turning four columns, an overhead recessed dome, and a niche on axis into a vortex, ushering in motion from the hallway into the east rooms. Reminiscent of James Turrell, gentle light from above illuminates the swirling motion and billowing folds. The mirror is meant to bring people in, while the subtle turning sensation directs them in a path of travel.
"Purple Haze" by Holly Kopman
(Photos by Christopher Stark)
Few things make us happier than a very fancy powder room—a tiny little jewel box where bold designers can go a little wild. Holly Kopman channeled Jimmy Hendrix in her "Purple Haze" powder starring a rockin' mix of real and faux stones. The starring role went to Bay Area decorative painter Caroline Lizarraga's "I Lost My Marbles" wallpaper for Parete, with support from a custom pink onyx vanity and viola marble floors. Decadent, feminine touches include a one-of-a-kind glass chandelier and an Italian fringed pouf.
"Then and Now" Dining Room by Suzanne Tucker, Tucker & Marks Design
(Courtesy of Tucker & Marks)
It's been 35 years since Suzanne Tucker first designed this very same dining room for SF Decorator Showcase. This year, she reimagines her original work with a then-and-now theme in which a daytime garden-inspired party easily wanes into evening nightcaps. True to Tucker's form, the room, in shades of green and bronze, is exquisitely high end with art and furnishings from Berggruen Gallery and C. Mariani Antiques; Fortuny fabric; and dinnerware from Sue Fisher King.
The "Quiet Quarters" by Evgenia Merson Design
(Bess Friday)
A whisper of a room, these guest quarters by Evgenia Merson were all about subtlety. Driven by the local mist and natural surroundings, the tranquil sanctuary takes the form of a bedroom with a custom upholstered bed by EMD, a settee from Almond & Co., wall lighting by Coup d'Etat, and wall coverings by Policroma that evoke a hushed wooded retreat.
"Jewel Box Kitchen" by Kristen Peña of K Interiors
(Christopher Stark)
A deeply romantic palette with plenty of movement lends itself to memorable moments in Kristen Peña's kitchen, whether with a quiet meal at the counter or a more convivial gathering. In a celebration of pattern, tiles by SF's Linda Fahey lay the foundation while Da Vinci marble leads the eye up toward plastered walls and a moody ceiling painted by Caroline Lizarraga.
The "Fortuna Salon" by Leann Conquer and Alexis Tompkins of Chroma SF
(Emily Poole)
Leave it to Chroma to create spaces that make you think with elements that are just a bit out of the ordinary, complex yet subtle. Designed for creative contemplation, this salon mingles inspirations ranging from 19th century French and Belgian design to the fashion of Dries van Noten, spectral mathematics and experimental sculptural. The room blends antiques with mid-century silhouettes and custom Chroma pieces in a mosaic of plush textiles, verre églomisé, and earthy tactile treatments. More robust materials are peppered in: mahogany, bronze, and iron.
The "Receiving Room" by Tineke Triggs
(Christopher Stark)
