Once a year, usually in the spring, various charitable organizations procure a residence for the purpose of opening it to the public for home tours. What makes the home of interest is the fact that it’s been remodeled and redecorated by some of the best interior designers, architects, carpenters and artisans in the country. Some of the rooms are sleek, modern examples of contemporary living. Others are over the top confections of fabric, flowers, art and antiques. Inspiration and visual appeal are clearly what show case “visitors” anticipate, drawing them back year after year to their favorite showcase.
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I’ve participated in five showcases and two home tours: three as a student, two as a designer and two as a homeowner and all of them were satisfying, worthwhile experiences. From a designer’s point of view, it’s a large investment of time of money. It takes about six months to present schemes to the committees; do any necessary demolition work; procure furnishings from vendors; enlist the help of subs (some are paid, some are volunteers); and complete installations. At the end of the six months there is often a grand opening or evening gala and about two weeks of daytime tours. Ticket prices vary but the daytime tours are usually more affordable.
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The highlight of that first
showcase for me, was attending the evening gala. The living room was warm and
comfortable yet had elements of drama with a black, baby grand piano; beautiful,
quilted maize colored, floor length curtains; and large scale furnishings. It
was a very special event for my late husband and me and I felt validated
knowing I would be doing this professionally one day.
The second showcase was
equally magical. This time the home was in good condition. It was inhabited by
a local surgeon who generously allowed the use of his main residence. It
remained open to the designers for six months in preparation. It was a large, contemporary
residence, and again we students created an outdoor luncheon area and transformed a
small room off the kitchen. Attending that evening gala also had a profound
effect on me. The living room had a custom iron, cat tail motif screen
installed just inside the front door, creating a small entry space. Chocolate
brown mohair sofas flanked a redesigned fireplace. Stained concrete floors were
popular at the time and the designer had commissioned one and topped it with an
antique rug.
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A few years later I was
awarded a room of my own. It was my first as a professional and it was not the best space in the house. New
designers get the less desirable spaces while returning participants get the
better ones. However, the house was significant architecturally speaking.
Designed by the late architect William Turnbull of Sea Ranch fame, it was a clean and
spare, sprawling wood structure. Turnbull was noted for designing buildings that
were in sync with nature. It had lots of window and angles and was comprised of
three structures linked by a large, central atrium. The basic design was
comfortable and functional but the home needed many updates like a new front door,
flooring, window coverings, and a new kitchen and baths. Noted designers Leavitt and Weaver redesigned the atrium filling it with their imaginative, custom furnishings.
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My “room” was unfinished.
There were no walls or windows or flooring. It was probably a large utility
space in its previous life. I’m not sure
how many tour guests were brave enough to venture up the stairs but if they
did, they were rewarded for the effort.
I called the space “Mary Jo’s
Study” after a special client. It consisted of two small yet distinct spaces
divided by a central staircase. We installed walls, beautiful wool carpet, custom
iron stairwell guards, and several light dispensing solar tubes since the
owners wouldn’t allow me to install windows. I designed a reading nook with a built-in counter and custom fitted mirror under the eaves of the roof and a custom
designed counter “skirt” that coordinated with all the other fabrics in the
room.
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There was a pair of gorgeous, French antique mirrors and a French sideboard loaned to me by the design store, Fleur de Lis. Many of the furnishings were on loan from various showrooms at the San Francisco Design Center with whom I’ve developed a relationship over the years. There was a parquet topped walnut desk from Wroolie and Company; Tole style planters from Shears and Window; and an overstuffed, linen leaf print covered armchair with a tufted velvet ottoman, both from Lee Jofa.
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Two of my favorite pieces were a pair of armless, mahogany framed, olive green velvet chairs from Kravet. They were smashing. I had one of our seamstresses sew up a slipcover to conceal a non-descript wooden bookcase. It matched the “skirt” that went around the custom counter. Original oils by California artists Chuck Waldman and Jack Cassinetto hung on the walls. One favorite in particular was a misty shot of the Golden Gate Bridge.
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Photography: Cory Warner, Shiree Hanson Segerstrom
Renderings: Waterlogue
Click here for more information about this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase.
Here’s to a beautiful spring, Shiree
Renderings: Waterlogue
Click here for more information about this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase.
Here’s to a beautiful spring, Shiree
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