Step inside the 2021 Virtual San Francisco Decorator Showcase

Author:Lindsey Shook

Sit back, relax and enjoy a tour of the 2021 virtual San Francisco Decorator Showcase, presented by Steelblue. The exquisite all-virtual tour features 3D renderings from ten of the West Coast’s leading interior design firms who reimagined rooms by creating their own exceptional virtual visions for 1080 Chestnut Street, a luxurious Russian Hill penthouse with 360° views of San Francisco and its iconic landmarks. “New Perspectives” will open online to the public on Saturday, May 22, 2021. There is no cost to view but donations to help support San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program are gratefully accepted.  

FOYER & HALLWAY BY AUBREY MAXWELL: This Very Hour

“Creating space and reverence for the experience of art is always top of mind in our designs. Every decision is made with that principal tenet in mind. We are honored to present our homage to the critical role of art in our intimate lives, our cultural and social dialogue, and the ways in which we understand our current and future paths as human beings. Our spaces highlight the important work of three artists with ties to the Bay Area – Erica Deeman, Isaac Julien, and Lava Thomas. The work of these artists is grounded in matters of the human condition and asks the viewer to consider how we’ve arrived at this time and place, and what is our collective path forward. We’ve entitled our installation ‘This Very Hour’ in reference to a speech given by Frederick Douglass on July 5, 1852, and also referenced in Isaac Julien’s insightful and moving art installation work entitled ‘The Lessons of the Hour’. We hope this work inspires people to engage in critical dialogue and consider their impact on the world around them.”

CENTRAL ATRIUM, KITCHEN, DINING ROOM & TERRACE BY STUDIO COLLINS WEIR

“After a year of refuge and reflection, we are gently moving towards a mode of normalcy where hugs and handshakes will replace elbow bumps,” said Susan Collins, Studio Collins Weir.  “We envisioned a home where friends will soon gather over tables of carefully prepared food, glasses will clink and conversations will sparkle. Our spaces, rendered in simple plaster, wood and natural stone, along with judicious pops of color, imbue the home with a sense of tranquil optimism and art that captivates the soul.”

LIVING ROOM AND BAR BY MARTIN KOBUS: Social Salon

“For the 2021 San Francisco Decorator Showcase we were inspired to create an homage to 1960’s-1970’s luxury high-rise living. The building was built in 1962 so it seemed very appropriate to go this route. Think back to the movie interiors of that era reimagined for today. The living room’s centerpiece is a recreation of Ennio Chiggio’s Environ One sofa that establishes a zone for entertaining, one of several important and distinctive furnishings duplicated for the room. The large contemporary painting is by Julie Mehretu. The artist’s inspired technique of figurative layering of time and historical influences pays tribute to the abstract expressionism and the digital age of society. The Bar welcomes you with a stone sculptural island that is in itself an art piece. Here the host can serve cocktails while friends lounge on the mustard floating banquettes and the teal carousel. Another recreation of an important piece by Verner Panton, the Easy Sofa from 1963. Walls and ceilings are clad in 3D sculptural backlit wood panels. The focus of the Bar is a significant digital piece called “ENSO”- a spatial calligraphy method that expresses depth and speed of the brushstroke.”

FAMILY ROOM BY GEOFFREY DE SOUSA: Views Beyond

“Our room was inspired by the ever changing colors of the sky, hills and water of the bay. We wanted to create a family gathering space that took advantage of the beautiful San Francisco vistas while being focused on comfort, family conversation and handcrafted one of a kind furnishings.”

LIBRARY BY SINDHU PERURI

“In light of the recent pandemic, a room such as this has become important for modern families. I was inspired to create an inviting, impactful and intimate space where one could work, read, lounge and entertain.”  

PRIMARY BEDROOM BY CATHERINE KWONG

“When tasked with the design of a bedroom suite, tucked amidst the clouds of our fair city, we looked to those references, and interpreted them into a space that strives to be at once simple and intricate; both serene and layered, with the depth and edges of local artisans’ work,”

PRINCIPAL CLOSET BY APPLEGATE TRAN INTERIORS: Cosmopolitan Fashionista with Downtown Flair

“Our dressing room was inspired by an international stylist who is known for effortlessly fusing couture with the avant-garde. Her timeless elegance and sophistication informed the material and color palettes, and her femininity and confident edge imbue the room’s ambiance. Soft curves in furnishings contrast angled architectural elements, and lustrous materials support lush textures. It’s a place for you to enjoy her passion and curate her collection.”

GUEST ROOM BY DLC-ID: Castle In The Sky

“Our celestial guest room is a welcoming space that combines the luxurious functionality of a well-appointed hotel with the intimacy and comfort of a home. The essentials: a lofty bed with crisp sheets, a plush chair for reading or napping, and a spacious bathroom stocked with amenities. The guest room should also serve as a canvas for creativity, taking more provocative moves with color and art. Get in bed and dream big!”

GUEST ROOM BY CHROMA: Time Time Being Bedroom

YOGA/MEDITATION ROOM BY STUDIO HEIMAT: Shoshin – A Beginner’s Mind

Shoshin (初心) is a word from Zen Buddhism meaning “beginner’smind.” The concept holds that those who approach life with few preconceptions will be open to new ideas and perspectives.

“As Amara, the homeowner, transitions into Shoshin, the strong white provides a contemporary neutral that calms her mind and opens her spirit. Her toes touch the oak floor, grounding her, as she salutes the circular orb of thread by Emil Lukas, which reminds her that we’re all a little celestial. The Tibetan singing bowls reverberate from their custom nooks as she focuses forward, fusing the balancing power of the naturally made quartz with the human-made manifestations of the Buddha. As she transitions from Meditation to Yoga to Pilates, her mind traverses her body’s curves like the hanging fabric that mimics the Seven Hills of San Francisco’s topography. As her workout ends and she gains clarity, Amara always leaves a few minutes to sit in the sunroom suspended in her swinging chair by Dedon. Like the plants around her, the sunlight provides photosynthesis as she greets the morning, a new day, with new possibilities, a beginner again. It’s funny how sometimes the smallest of rooms can lead to the greatest expanse.”