San Francisco Decorator Showcase

This vibrant and engaging studio craft room transformed an otherwise small, cold, and unused space in the basement of a grand Presidio Height’s mansion into a multi-functional, brightly colored and welcoming area for a family with a creative bend.

With its handmade textiles, rugs, tiles, and ceramics from artisanal workshops near and far, it was an inspirational destination for all ages. An ample-sized desk was created from a discarded schoolhouse lab table which was mounted on chrome legs. Adjacent to it, a cozy, built-in banquette behind a custom lacquer and raffia table was perfect for executing larger projects. Vintage chairs and bench seats were upholstered in vivid hot pink, red and green fabrics, grounded in black, while a pair of bar stools were chosen for their similarly hued red leather seats and blackened metal bases.

For budding artists, there was a low, round table surrounded by colorful macaron-shaped felt poufs placed next to a bulletin board wall covered in grasscloth wallpaper. A “tree-house” themed closet in custom red-colored chalkboard walls and playful pillow-filled nook was a hit amongst my toddler children. Materials for painting, drawing, bookbinding and wrapping were cleverly stored in vintage trunks, metal cabinets, and baskets. Close-at-hand was the playful yet practical prep and clean-up sink.

Multiple areas for displaying crafts and projects were thoughtfully integrated into the design. Industrial metal shelves were mounted on the main mimosa-themed wall. On the adjacent wall, a black, textured grasscloth wallpaper covered a bulletin-board, becoming a backdrop on which artwork could be easily pinned.

All-combined, the room gave a nod to the then nascent and now flourishing DIY “maker’s” culture, which continues to inspire the materials we use in our interior projects today.