Every time I attend the San Francisco Decorator Showcase I come away inspired by big design concepts and small design details.  My travels have delayed my attendance so far this year, but these photographs by San Francisco photographer David Duncan Livingston make me eager to catch this stunning showcase before it closes on May 30.

I want to take in the spare white elegance of Antonio Martin’s living room design and the curvy details in Martin Kobus’s dining room.

I suspect the muted persimmon and slate blue of the traditional rug laid the foundation for this striking office design by Stephen Jones.

As did the dramatic kelly green and cobalt blue zigzags in Kyle Bunting’s rug for this glam retreat by Nancy Evars and Dimitra Anderson.

But when it comes to color inspiration, who could resist the delicious rainbow sherbet palette of this girls room by Ann Lowengart.  Isn’t that Sol LeWitt-inspired ceiling scrumptious?

On the second floor hallway Livingston is showcasing some of his own fine art photography–including this effervescent image of the Eiffel Tower. “It’s like a birthday sparkler celebrating France and summer,” says Livingston who uses motion blur to give the fine art print a painterly feeling. Because Livingston’s wife is French they often travel with their young son to Paris. “Before I got married I’d visited the City of Light many times as a solo tourist but now when I visit with my family we’ll have lunch with Grandma, see old friends and just hangout between other travels in France. Paris is THE hub for all things French.”

To see more of Livingston’s exceptional work be sure to follow him on instagram @daviddlivingston.  And for details about the SF Decorator Showcase—running through May 30—go to http://decoratorshowcase.org  Hope to see you there!

Look for an extensive overview of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase in the Bay Area News Group papers this Saturday, but in the meantime here’s a peak at design elements that felt fresh and noteworthy this year.

Contemporary Art as Inspiration

Check out the Cy Twombly inspired floors in Catherine Kwong’s living room, above.  See those splashes and swirls?   They set the tone for this entire showcase house and they’re likely to be the thing people are still talking about in years to come.   Similarly, Heather Hilliard looked to the public art of Sol LeWitt to create the painted detailing on the upper walls of her dining room.

And Martha Angus and Esche Martinez anchored their exuberant playroom with a op-art inspired custom carpet.

Oceanic Blue

Though black and white was the predominant color theme of the showcase, the #1 accent color was a rich turquoise blue.  Kelly Hohla hung it over the mantel by way of this mirrored “jewel” in her Makers Mark Retreat.

Matthew Leverone used it several ways in his ground floor Salon.

Kriste Michelini welcomed visitors to her cozy writer’s retreat with this cheery velvet sofa in the showcase’s signature color.

Decorative painter Willem Racke’ used it for his cut-out mirrored wall mural in Emilie Monroe’s 3rd floor bath.

And Alfred Gregory specified it for this custom tile by Waterworks in the “Elysium” guest bath (note the cool custom threshold while you’re here.)

Living Walls

Vertical gardening can happen just about anywhere, including this sculptural bathroom by Soil Studios.  The plants in this bath wall include French lavender and mint which can be snipped right there to scent the bath.

The same technology was used to create this gorgeous courtyard garden off the kitchen.  The befores are truly incredible–nothing was here besides bare brick wall before Living Green designed and installed these living walls.  Glorious stuff.

Statement Lighting

But living walls weren’t the only artful designs reaching skyward–unusual lighting did as well.  Here are some of my favorite examples.

Kelly Hohla used this mobile-like fixture to draw your eye to the unusual pitched ceiling in the Maker’s Mark retreat.

Alfred Gregory chose this glass chain link fixture both for dramatic effect and because it would stand up to the open shower in the room.

Gioi Tran commissioned a creepy crawly light fixture to fan out across this resin map of London in the teenage girl’s room.

Zoe Hsu paired this undulating fixture with python wall paper in the master sitting room.  Sssssspectacular.

And Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt  used a hook-like light fixture from Coup d’Etat to add industrial heft to her sweet Chocolatier’s Lab.

Treat yourself and maybe a friend–mom!–to a trip to the showcase before it closes on May 27. You’ll come away inspired to try a new thing or two in your own personal showplace.

Living Room design by Catherine Kwong

Like the pairing of a clever black cocktail dress with a custom strand of pearls, the 36^th annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase is both sophisticated and provocative.  This showcase speaks to those of us who crave less clutter and more meaningful design.  After touring the disciplined and compelling rooms this morning, I’m excited to share more images and descriptions soon. But in the meantime get out your calendars and schedule a visit.  You have a month to tour—don’t miss this beauty!

When:  April 27-May 27, 2013

Where: 2800 Pacific Ave., San Francisco

How: www.decoratorshowcase.org/tickets

Painted floor detail

Photos by Bess Friday

Unless you’re a talented interior designer.  Like San Francisco’s Jonathan Rachman, who put together a dazzling display of objets d’art for his soot-black Collector’s Library at the SF Showcase. In case you haven’t seen it yet, here are a few shots of his complex, compelling design.

As your eyes adjust to Rachman’s moody interior, you take in the elegant furniture and finishes first.

Then you start noticing the treasure trove of objects surrounding you.

You lean in for a closer look.

And realize that nothing is placed without careful consideration. 

Don’t you just love a beautifully edited collection?

Like these cutting boards hanging in the Modern Pantry created by Dehn Bloom Design and Tinsley Hutson Wiley Interiors.

Or this sleek display of cosmetic cases in the Master Dressing Room designed by Kriste Michelini.

All right, enough fantasy decorating.  Time to head back to the garage to make some hard decisions. Do you think my chipped Christmas ornaments and the kids’ abandoned Playmobile people would make a statement in my new place?

While I’m working, hurry on in to the San Francisco Decorator Showcase before it closes on May 28.  You won’t be disappointed.

And if you’d like to read more about Rachman’s design, as well as the dapper Tailor Made Suit(e) by San Francisco designer Brian Dittmer, head on over to The Style Saloniste.  Diane Doranns Saeks gives you a wonderful tour of these two exceptional rooms.

Photos: John Merkl, Christina Cavallaro, and  yours truly.

Dramatic porter chairs in the Grand Hall are upholstered in faux zebra hide. Next door, vibrant shades of yellow and purple light up this giddy dining room by Marysia Rybock of Scavullo Design.

A charming wire sculpture of a dress and apron hangs on the wall of the Modern Pantry.

Catherine Kwong created a showstopping office–so chic!

Hermes scarves line the glass fronts in the adjacent dressing area.

This floating flat screen TV turns into a decorative mirror when not in use in the sophisticated media room by  Amy Weaver.

Intrigued?  Let me kick off my  ”goin’ to town”  shoes and get down to writing. Can’t wait to tell you all about this delightful showcase house!

Check out my full report on the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2012 for the Bay Area News Group to find out more about this superb showcase.