A Sumptuous Dining Room in San Francisco

We've been away for almost two weeks, celebrating weddings and graduations with family back east and I'll post more on that visit later! For now, an incredibly beautiful, sumptuous room in the hills of San Francisco overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

When I visited the San Francisco Decorator Showcase the stunning showstopper dining room in the venerable mansion was the brilliant work of Suzanne Tucker, acclaimed as one of the top 100 designers in the world by Architectural Digest. She created a most inviting room with a gorgeous tablescape set for a festive celebration. My photographs do not do this room justice!

the table is set using natural elements combined with elegant

china and glassware: the huge rock crystal forms the base of the centerpiece,

the use of succulents (so modern!) in textured silver vases, of sea urchins and

spiny flowers in coral, and those gorgeous amethyst hurricanes

things I love about this room:

1. the warm color scheme of yellow and brown with accents in complementary colors amethyst and coral

2. the brilliant use of detailing on those gorgeous chairs to give them an "outline" against the pale carpet and white tablecloth

3. the natural elements she brought into the elegant mix: sea coral, the huge rock crystal, the organic form of the lamp

4 .the mix of traditional furnishings with modern twist in the chairs, the art, and the collections displayed in the case

the very welcoming bar is a study in

balance: the large modern canvas offsets the

warm traditional wood table and floor; the spiky lamp

is a counterpoint to the smooth silver and crystal

martini, anyone?

***

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if you would like help creating a beautiful new look

for your home or event, either in the San Francisco Bay Area

or virtually anywhere else,

call or email me

kit@kitgolson.com

650.302.6883

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design

"It's Always Sunrise Somewhere"

If Father Time looks kindly on those who love clocks, hourglasses, watches, calendars & metronomes, then Brian Dittmar is in full grace. Captivated as a child by his grandfather's pocket watches, Brian's early love of clocks actually informed his later decision to pursue a career in interior design and architecture. The grandfather clocks he saw in museums on the east coast had architectural details on top: pediments, columns..small classical structures that fascinated him, and he later realized those led him to an early love of architecture.

A small room on the third floor under the eaves of a stately San Francisco mansion is now the hideaway for Brian's imaginary l'Horloger to spend quiet moments contemplating the passage of time and tinkering with the instruments of timekeeping. A fastidious attention to detail is a hallmark of this enchanting room designed for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2010.

Let's pause for a moment for a short visit with Brian:

display of vintage objects that mark the passing of time:

hourglasses, orbital sphere, clock

a setting (the photo shows part of a symmetrical arrangement)

includes a mid-century clock on the wall, reference

to ancient Greece in the Klismos chairs, and an iPod docking

station with digital time read outs

relaxed and smiling, Brian is seated in the chair

he designed as a direct reference to a casework (grandfather)

clock in front of the mirror etched with wise words about Time itself

three of Brian's grandfather's pocket watches

displayed in front of a vintage globe

an incredible view of San Francisco Bay, Marin County,

the Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge

from the window next to the desk

Diane Dorrans Saeks did a wonderful blog post about the process of becoming a showcase designer and Brian's design decisions on The Style Saloniste...be sure to check it out for many more fascinating insights!

............................

for help creating a beautiful new look

for your home or event, in the San Francisco Bay Area

or virtually anywhere else,

call or email me

kit@kitgolson.com

650.302.6883

Kit Golson Design

for elegant, sustainable and pragmatic

Chic Provence Interior Design