Today on the weekend post, we’ll look inside a 19th century mansion on Billionaire’s Row, it’s the San Francisco Designer Showcase, plus a beautiful garden tour and a couple of summer outfit ideas.
Happy Saturday friends! It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspiration and goings on.
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How was your week?
Looks like graduation season is in full swing. Memorial Day is around the corner which signals the unofficial beginning of summer, and Jim’s birthday. Our patio is open for the season … although we still have to cover our furniture at night because … May gray and June gloom. It gets really damp overnight. In other goings on, I went on a beautiful garden tour and visited the San Francisco Designer Showcase house with Kim. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.
San Francisco Decorator Showcase
On Thursday Kim and I made the trek to San Francisco for the 45th San Francisco Decorator Showcase. You should have seen the hilarious text exchange between us the night before. Each of us having calculated the drive time – distance + traffic – grappled with where to park, eat lunch, what to wear, etc. … all the things these types of adventures entail. We both got a little overwhelmed and attempted to offer the other a graceful way out. In the end we both got up, put on our lipstick and ventured out into the big city and I’m so glad we did.
The Dutch Colonial Revival house built in 1899 overlooks the Palace of Fine Arts and offers sweeping views of the Bay … from Alcatraz to the Golden Gate Bridge. Absolutely magnificent.
What really blows my mind is that the 11,000+ square foot house is built on a less than 6000 square foot lot. Yes, it’s 4 stories but still …
Images via Decorator Showcase Facebook
A few of the neighbors.
The Showcase brings together multiple designers each taking on a space in the house. There are so many wonderful rooms and talented designers and Kim and enjoyed speaking with many of them personally. But it’s a lot so I’m going to narrow my focus to a few of my favorite spaces. Also, it was challenging to capture the rooms with so many people touring the house. Not to worry, I’ll link to a site where you can see wide shots of every space in all their glory.
Come on into the Entry to Remember by Nancy Evars
Image by SEN Creative via Decorators Showcase Facebook
The main kitchen (there are two kitchens) took my breath away and gave me a few ideas for our little house on 4th street. The blue cabinetry, soapstone countertops and mix of built-in cabinetry and antique pieces combined with the home’s architecture took my breath away. Called Culinary Calm (love that), the space is designed by Chantal Lamberto. You can see more at her website here.
Look at the cute space for a doggie to relax and wait for treats.
Images via Chanel Lamberto
I snapped Kim chatting up the designer, Chantal.
This tulipiere is so beautifully unique. Kim knew who makes it but it’s too late for me to text her so maybe she’ll let us know in the comments. (Update: The tulipiere is by artist, Kathy Leeds. Thanks, Kim!)
The house is full of so many beautiful and interesting details.
Are you ready for this … Amy’s Sanctuary and Samantha’s Study, connecting rooms designed by mother-daughter duo Amy Weaver and Samantha Weaver of Amy Weaver Design.
I don’t even know what to say. Probably best to let the photography speak for itself. The rooms feature hand-beaded furnishings by the Yoruba Tribe and Schumacher wallpapers and fabrics.
This is the bedroom of my dreams and I told Kim that the connecting study would make an ideal home for Make Mine a Spritzer world headquarters.
Images via Amy Weaver Design
The Schumacher floral fabric on lumbar pillow are chair are so dreamy.
Details in the study.
Amy and Samantha are as nice as they are talented and it was a thrill to meet them.
See more of this stunning bedroom and study at Amy Weaver Design.
Kim and I had so much fun touring the Showcase. It took us about two hours to get through the entire home and the volunteers kept trying to move us along.
Since 1977 the Showcase has been a major fundraiser benefiting the financial aid program at San Francisco University High School. The tour runs through May 27th so there’s still time to grab tickets to see this incredibly stunning home!
Get your checkbook, the house is on the market for a cool $32 million. You can view the listing, including stunning Showcase photos, here. And see the virtual tour here.
Summer in the City … What I Wore
Ok it’s not really summer, but it feels like it here in the ‘burbs. You’ve probably heard the famous Mark Twain quote, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” That’s a fact. So when venturing into the city during the months of May through August, it’s best to wear layers. Still, it’s (nearly) summer and one isn’t going to wear a wool coat (even if that would be welcome!).
My striped, linen pants from Reformation are favorite purchase. Paired with a simple cami plus blazer and t-strap sandals and I felt casual but elevated and city appropriate. I get so many compliments on my striped, canvas bag which was an inexpensive Instagram purchase that I use spring, summer and early fall. I’ve extolled the virtues of Veronica Beard’s Miller jacket many times. It’s a splurge for sure but one that pays off over time with multiple wears. And it wearable in all seasons.
Shop ~
I hope Kim shares her outfit details because looked so effortlessly chic (doesn’t she always?!) in a custom dress and … well, I’ll let her tell you.
Beautiful Garden Tour
Last Saturday Jim and I took the local AAUW’s garden tour. It never disappoints. Six beautiful gardens in the Walnut Creek, Alamo and Danville area. I took so many photos and videos (you can watch my recap Reel here) and it’s hard to choose among them, but here are some highlights …
This ranch style home has the most colorful gardens in front and back. I’m particularly enamored with the front. It’s so nice to be able to fence in a front yard and create even more private, garden spaces. This home has beautiful, mature trees providing tons of shade.
Don’t you love built-in curved stone bench?!
This traditional home built in the early 1950’s was on the tour six years ago. It was one of our favorites and we were excited to get another look. Two landscape architects live here and this is not a case of the cobbler’s son having shoes.
The final garden on tour was a showstopper. This hillside Mediterranean style home was like a luxury resort. The gardens are terraced starting with a street level lawn and putting green overlooked by an infinity edge pool. At the pool, and main house level, a vast patio with multiple seating and lodging areas, an outdoor bar and kitchen. Winding steps lead to more seating areas with fire pits and stunning views. It just kept going and going … and I’m not sure we saw it all.
Favorite Summer Dress
Of course I’m going to tell you what I wore on the garden tour. Ha! You know I love the Jenni Kayne Summer dress and own two – white seersucker and khaki. Last summer I discovered this similar dress on Amazon The Drop. Yes, Amazon. I thought it was probably too good to be true, one never knows. But it turns out to be a fabulous dress that I prefer to the JK. There, I said it. A couple of reasons I like it so much … it has pockets and I love pockets in a dress. Also, the straps are adjustable with three button holes. I use the middle one. I’m wearing an XS.
I also wore it out to lunch this week and threw a black and ecru striped sweater over my shoulders because it gets chilly indoors. The sweater is also from Amazon The Drop, but sadly no longer available.
Shop ~
Odds & Socks ~
Last week Kim shared a spring and summer bag edit, along with Cindy (link in Kim’s post) for their Signature Style series.
Current Favorites ~
And that’s what I have for you today. Let’s go and see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth.
If you missed last week’s post, I shared a lifestyle tour including the home of a favorite blogger.
Wishing you the best weekend, cheers from Snowberry!
