From a pink and girly teen hangout to an elevator inspired by Alice in Wonderland to a mobile booth, there was a dream space to suit every style at the 2012 San Francisco Decorator Showcase House. Designers let their imagination run wild with a customized neon-lit sign, walls covered in gold wallpaper as well as a tiny flower studio. Get inspired by these amazing fantasy spaces and pick up a few tricks for your own home along the way.
More photographs from this display: Living Spaces | Bedrooms and Baths
Alex Amend Photography
Collector’s Library
By Jonathan Rachman
Inspired by his own personal collection, designer Jonathan Rachman created an industrial chic library, designed to hold all sorts of tchotchkes. A glossy gray paint covers the paneled woodwork, creating the perfect background to make each item stick out. An authentic wingtip from a World War II airplane hangs over the fireplace, just one of Rachman’s many unique treasures.
From showhouse to your house: Don’t conceal your collections away. Whether you’re a stamp, coin or teacup enthusiast, set your treasures out to be admired — they will add personality and style to your home. While layering and stacking will add visual interest to your display, make sure people can clearly see each individual item, also.
Alex Amend Photography
Teen Hangout Room
By Emily Mughannam
This chic teen hangout would be many a teen and tween woman’s dream. An oversize pit couch from Sofa U Love holds court at the center, providing lots of space to get a gaggle of kids to sit gossip and bite.
Alex Amend Photography
Designer Emily Mughannam custom made this neon light to read “You only live once” — inspired by a motto of today’s adolescents.
Alex Amend Photography
A bar cart from Society Social holds the essentials, and a chandelier by Apparatus Studio adds flamboyant style. Removable wallpaper covers the ceiling perfect for a teenager who’s always changing her style.
Alex Amend Photography
From reveal house to your house: Teens can change their thoughts about a color, fixture or piece of furniture in a heartbeat. For large pieces of furniture, stick to classics which are fairly neutral and won’t go out of style and personalize them with upholstery which can be switched out easily. Opt for more affordable temporary accessories to add dash without making a dent in your wallet.
Alex Amend Photography
Elevator
By Lawanna Cathleen
A feature as elegant and fascinating since an old-fashioned elevator deserves the perfect motif; this one performs Alice in Wonderland. Restoration Hardware sconces are mirrored in antique mirrors, which makes the Osborne & Little wallpaper shine.
From reveal house to your house: If you have a funky feature in your house — like an old call box, then a dumbwaiter or a radiator — play with this! These are the things make your home unique, so let them shine.
Alex Amend Photography
Laundry Room
By Lisa Bakamis
Since this laundry space is next to the media space, designer Lisa Bakamis made a reclaimed Douglas fir bar from Urban Woods since the perfect place to blend up beverages before settling down and seeing a film.
The washer and drier are tucked into a joyous piece of Schumacher fabric that mimics the same colours as the wallpaper. The floors are concrete pressed with lumber to get a wood-grain effect.
From show house to your house: Make laundry less of a job by transforming it into a space that is cheerful. Bright colours, reclaimed materials and functional accessories turn a small laundry room into a stone box.
Telephone Booth
By Robert Brill Design
Although mobile telephones are long gone for most, many families still have a home telephone line. Designer Robert Brill played this idea by creating a modern mobile booth. The walls are upholstered with white tufted Naugahyde. A false ceiling homes a solid system and LED lighting fixtures which change color. Best of all, the traditional phone is replaced using a wall-mounted iPad.
Alex Amend Photography
From reveal house to your house: Keep your landline telephone where people can have personal conversations. It may encourage family members to take telephone calls elsewhere to keep down noise.
Alex Amend Photography
Media Room
By Weaver Design Group
Gray hair-on-hide cloth wallpaper from Elitis and an upholstered display on the walls of the media room help muffle loud noise in this high tech area. A table was created to go all of the way round the back and sides of the sofa to conveniently hold beverages without the danger of knocking them over. The custom sofa and casual seats provides seating for 10, which makes this luxe area the perfect place to sponsor a movie night.
Alex Amend Photography
From show house to your house: Make your media space match for both group solo and entertaining TV watching by incorporating casual chairs which can be easily stowed away as needed. Give lots of side tables to safely hold snacks and beverages.
Her Office
By Catherine Kwong Design
Produced as a fashion writer’s dream workspace, this chic office unites contemporary furnishings with tailored accents. Hand-painted Kelly Wearstler cloth ties the room together by accenting inspiration planks and a seat in the hallway.
From reveal house to your house: Use cloths to brighten a dim area. Here, Kwong framed folded Hermès scarves in the storage areas. Framing fabrics or wallpaper can add color to an area, without dealing with the mess or fuss of paint. When you’re tired of the appearance, just change it out for something new.
Master Dressing Room
By Kriste Michelini Interiors
Bold metallic Maya Romanoff wallpaper provides this chic dressing room a big dose of glamour. The designer filled the area with classic pieces, portrait-style artwork by Karen Eichler and various metallic elements to create a space fit for a female of any age and style.
Shelves from CB2 were given a quick coat of paint and hung on the wall to get fairly and functional storage.
From show house to your house: Textural walls are great for small and massive spaces, since they add another layer of visual interest to a distance. Start looking for something large and bold, like the gold wallpaper in this area, or something much more subtle and elegant to get a larger bedroom or living space.
Alex Amend Photography
The Pavonia Room: Gentleman’s Research
By Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design
Occasionally mixing patterns may seem wrong but look so right. The hide-and-hair rug in this gentleman’s study is the first thing that catches the eye its reflection in the gold desk seems to continue forever. Pairing this bold rug using an eye-catching Timorous Beasties wallpaper isn’t a clear choice, but the final result is stunning.
Alex Amend Photography
From reveal house to your house: Don’t be afraid to mix and match layouts. Too often we are afraid of experimentation with color and pattern, so we stick to simple neutrals. Go outside of your comfort zone and try pairing a few unexpected pieces together to get a one-of-a-kind appearance.
The Listening Room
Matthew MacCaul Turner
Designer Matthew MacCaul Turner paid homage to several different cultural influences in this modern day music listening area with a beautiful view. Japanese displays, Greek sculptures and Italian furniture all feel at home in this area. The unique light fixture — one of MacCaul’s very own creations — is a fun and unexpected element.
Alex Amend Photography
From reveal house to your house: In case you can not decide on a style, don’t worry. There is no need to stick to one special look in your home. Should you play the same color palette — like the hot neutrals in Turner’s area — you will have more leeway.
Floral Design Studio
Bloomingayles, Gayle Nicoletti
Having a house as large as this just begs for fun, and what better way to become in the ready than to get your own personal flower studio? It’s a luxury, to say the least, but designer Gayle Nicoletti took good advantage of the tiny nook and transformed it in an artistic distance. Tear sheets and graphics are posted for inspiration, and a tasteful chandelier offers extra lighting.
From reveal house to your house: Fnd a small distance at home you can devote to your craft. Even if it is a table at the corner of your office or garage, beautify it with a coating of paint and an inspiration board.
Event information:
The 2012 San Francisco Decorator Showcase runs from April 28 to May 28, 2012.
Location: 2020 Jackson St., San Francisco
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday: 10 Gamble–3 p.m.; Thursday, Friday: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Sunday and Memorial Day: 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Price: $30 at the door (no advance tickets)
More photographs from the showcase:
Living Spaces Wow at Decorator Showcase
Cozy As much as Bedrooms and Baths in Decorator Showcase