First Look at SF's 2013 Decorator Showhouse

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• Catherine Kwong Design got the highly coveted living room, which is the first room you see when you enter the home. Catherine's design was inspired by "Mick and Bianca Jagger—the early years." From the de
• Catherine understood the importance of highlighting the gilded ceiling and massive amount of ornate moulding. The decision was made early on to keep the room's original ceilings. "I loved the intricate detail of the original ceiling, said Catherine. "It's
• The window treatments were simple and sophisticated: silk taffeta that pooled at the bottom. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The salon, designed by Leverone Design Inc, stops you in your tracks as soon as you enter. The matte white paint over the ornate moulding is something we don't see often, and would love to see more of. Pair tha
• A bronze sculpture by Stephen DeStaebler [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• A common theme in this year's home was bringing the outdoors in. These 60-year-old Monterey Pines in custom containers are a good example. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• One of the trees up close. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• At night the trees cast playful shadows on the surrounding space by the wall scones behind them. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The home's foyer, staircase, and 1st and 2nd floor hallways were designed by Alex Ray of Five Sense Art Consultancy. Above is a black lava sculpture by Darren Waterston. It "contrasts an unexpected force of nature against the controlled architecture of th
• Heather Hilliard Design's philosophy for the dining room was "classic detailing with the restraint of modern design." The wood panel walls and ceiling pattern are permanent, so Heather introduced "custom minimal f
• The painted wall pattern above the panels was inspired by Sol Lewitt's site specific room installations. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The powder room on the main level was designed by Barbara Chambers of Chambers + Chambers. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The formal butler's pantry in the house was transformed into a chocolatier's lab, complete with edibles we did not have permission to munch on (for shame!). It was designed by Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt of Marsh an
• We especially liked the brass and glass shelves suspended from the ceiling [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• And of course the industrial-inspired X-Ray pendant. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The tile behind the stove are terracotta with laser cut metal inlay. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The family kitchen was designed by Alison Davin of Jute. The European-style kitchen has warm woods and leather pulls, herringbone flooring, and a fireplace seating area. [Photo by
• The sitting area off of the kitchen. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• A long farm table with informal seating sits in the middle of the kitchen, perfect for food prep or homework. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The garden courtyard was designed by Davis Dalbok of Living Green Design. Iconic Michael Taylor garden chairs spotted. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Seven original Japanese paintings, re-imagined as garden art embedded in burnished silver leaf, were the inspiration for the space, which is called the 'Birds of Prey Garden Courtyard' [Photo by Patricia
• The living walls featured conifers, cascading maples, mosses and forest understory. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• We especially love the chartreuse and merlot mixture. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The staircase leading up to the bedrooms. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The master bedroom was designed by Phillip Silver of Bigelow + Silver. Philip told us that in traditional western culture, furniture placement follows a more formal layout, like pushing everything against the wa
• Touches of opulence complete the space [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• A natural palette sets the tone. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The master bedroom. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Let's play spot the lucite. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The master bathroom has an ingenious floor plan, creating six separate spaces within a single room that couldn't be more than a few hundred feet. It was designed by Kevin Hackett and Jessica Wiegley of Siol Studios
• One of the highlights of this year's Showcase House was the living wall installed behind the bathtub. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Blackened steel was used for the plumbing fixtures and also the partitioners. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The view from the window in the master bathroom. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The master sitting room was designed by Zoe Hsu of Z Dimensions Interior Design. One of the many highlights was the Gemsbok Horn Chandelier, which demands your attention when you enter the room. [Photo by
• A nook in the master sitting room. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The wall of mirrors are actually closet doors. The house is 8,000+ sq. ft. but there's no such thing as too much storage. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The 'Teenage Girl's Room' was designed by Applegate Tran Interiors. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Desk area. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The dressing room was designed by Shelley & Company Interior Design. It was designed with respect to "the glamour of a bygone era where getting ready for dinner was an extravagant routine in itself." [Photo
• Compartments for everything. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Designed by Kelly Hohla of Jeffers Design Group, this "Maker's Mark Retreat" is a "homage to the urban artisan." The dusty grey palette does well with small details like blackened steel, bronze and brass for li
• Perhaps the wonkiest—and we mean that in a good way—room in the house was the called the "Danger Zone." Designed by Martha Angus and Eche Martinez of Martha Angus, Inc., the space was designed "for fantasy
• The art was sourced from Art Basel and Design Miami. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• This pair of orange teepees use lucite rods instead of wood to hold them up. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Wall sconce fun. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• This "secluded writer's retreat" was designed by Kriste Michelini Interiors. Whitewashed floors, grasscloth and pops of bright and pale warm colors complete the space. [Photo by
• A vintage inspired chaise with a stool by Coup de'Etat. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The atelier was designed by Antonio Martins Interior Design. It was designed as a "refuse for the man of the house who spends leisure hours restoring treasured objects." [Photo by
• See! Restored treasures. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• And a place for napping. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Often times we feel bad for designers who are stuck with teeny tiny spaces. Designer Kelley Flynn showed us that size does not matter when it comes to producing good design. She turned this water closet into a hal
• The penthouse retreat and terrace was designed by Villanueva Design. The penthouse sits on the top floor on the big abode, and features views galore of the surrounding neighborhood. When entering the space yo
• Hot stone massage, anyone? [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• Designer Karen Villanueva purposely avoided window treatments, a risky, but worthwhile move. She wanted to showcase the views and blur the boundaries between outdoor and in. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• A sitting area and wet bar in the penthouse retreat. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• A portion of the terrace. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• The landscape design is by Katharine Webster MLA, Inc. [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• [Photo by Patricia Chang]
• [Photo by Patricia Chang]

Twenty-seven of the West Coast's best interior design firms have transformed Herbst Manor, an 8,000 square foot Georgian mansion at 2800 Pacific Avenue in San Francisco, into a decorator wonderland for the city's 2013 Decorator Showcase. Yesterday, press got a sneak peek, and our sister site Curbed SF was there to check it out. Especially exciting is Catherine Kwong's "rock 'n' roll hideaway," which was inspired by Mick and Bianca Jagger. Read on for more of what they saw:

Unlike past years, this year's showcase's style flowed from room to room, as if each designer worked with the others to make sure there was fluidity throughout the space. Continuous themes were muted matte paint over intricate moulding, Mid-Century modern this and that paired with bursts of Hollywood Regency and opulent textiles and materials like alabaster, and small details like blackened steel and living walls. Do check out the gallery above, with more than 60 photos, all with captions detailing each shot.
· San Francisco Decorator Showcase [official site]
· The Late Lee Herbst Gruhn's Pacific Heights Mansion Shaves a Little More Off the Top [Curbed SF]
· Behold, the 35th Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase [Curbed SF]