9 Storied Spaces From The 2025 San Francisco Decorator Showcase
Bold, soulful interiors recount tales both personal and dramatic at the 2025 San Francisco Decorator Showcase.
Surveying the unchained exuberance of designer John K. Anderson’s colorful, personality-imbued listening lounge, Stephanie Yee, the executive director for the San Francisco Decorator Showcase, notes: “I’ve been thinking about the tradition of storytelling and the power of myth, and there’s a lot of that in the rooms this year.”
The 19 Bay Area interior designers selected to reimagine the spaces in and around the manse at 2935 Pacific Avenue do have stories to relate, and this year they are making their point of view known with vibrant, statement-making rooms that truly showcase their skills.
With nearly 10,000 square feet spread over five levels, this is a tale with many chapters. Here, we showcase some of the highlights—from elegantly paneled hideaways to globally inspired retreats.
The San Francisco Decorator Showcase opens to the public April 26 through May 26. Tickets are available at decoratorshowcase.org, and proceeds benefit the Financial Aid Program at San Francisco University High School.
Living Room By Geoffrey De Sousa
A number of the rooms, both inside and out, are designed to encourage people to slow down and connect, and this sophisticated living room falls in that category. Geoffrey De Sousa used the elegant paneling and traditional mantlepiece (freshened up with a green quartzite from DaVinci Marble) as a backdrop for modern upholstered pieces with bold forms, artisan-made accessories, and the room’s star: an oversize photograph by Sir Issac Julien entitled Sem Começo Nem Fim / Without Beginning or End.
Marine Layers: Family Room & Kitchen By Kelly Hohla
Upstairs, a pair of connected spaces speak to Kelly Hohla’s love for the beaches of her native Golden State and travels through the Scottish Highlands. In both places, the point where water meets land isn’t always sunny, and Hohla plays with a color palette sparked by the often fog-shrouded shores. The family room displays her new furniture and floorcovering line, including the watery patterned Seafoam rug. Handcrafted and bespoke elements, such as the elegant fire screen by Tuell & Reynolds, are also front and center.
The moody beach hues flow into the kitchen, outfitted by Bakehouse Kitchens cabinets stained in a driftwood-like color called “Coastal Oak” with some door fronts painted “Bridgerton Blue.” The latter color is picked up in the BlueStar range. The gray patterns in the marble (sourced from DaVinci Marble) used in the countertops, backsplash and range hood suggest ocean waves rolling onto sand.
Moroccan Mirage By Julie Rootes
Julie Rootes visited Morocco recently and brought home the inspiration for this alluring dining room. Sensual details include walls and a ceiling swathed in 200 yards of richly colored Sandra Jordan alpaca fabric, gleaming brass John Lyle dining chairs, and a stunning Paul Ferrante light fixture that drips with metal accents giving it a tasseled effect. To one side, an upholstered bench embraces the maximalist style of a luxurious riad and invites lounging post-meal.
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A Modern Library By Kathleen Navarra
Kathleen Navarra, responsible for some of the prettiest rooms in her 11 turns at this event, has reconsidered the role of a home library. In this room, wood paneling is enlivened by the saturated hues and distinctive patterns in the Fromental wallpaper and Kyle Bunting rug; and seating options include a custom sofa by Philip Nimmo Design, oversize lounge chairs by Kimberly Denman, a strikingly fringed Lorenza Bozzoli Couture bench, and a cozy banquette at one end of the space. In the designer’s mind, these elements combine to make an environment where more than reading takes place; it also fosters creativity, productivity and luxuriating.
Bronze Topaz & Vanilla Onyx By Lauren Berry
Lauren Berry has created a primary suite whose bedroom done in the espresso and vanilla shades found in an Italian affogato is undeniably seductive. But step into the suite’s bathroom to witness one of the home’s most memorable showstoppers: a transparent, bronze topaz-colored fiberglass bathtub positioned on an onyx-tiled floor (DaVinci Marble) to face views of the city and the San Francisco Bay.
Atelier Of Dreams By Sabah Mansoor
Before she was a designer, Sabah Mansoor used to visit the San Francisco Decorator Showcase and long to be part of it. After a career shift, her dreams came true in this project room that documents her personal journey from fashion to interior designer. The walls are covered with a striking mural by decorative painter Caroline Lizarraga and the ceiling is strung with braided strands of fabric and lights meant to engender a “head in the clouds” vibe. A worktable sits in front of windows draped with sheer shades decorated with a sewing pattern motif.
The Global Nest By Kendra Nash
Kendra Nash was visiting Thailand in 2004 when a last-minute decision put her out of the path of a devastating tsunami. The experience shifted her perspective and life direction, and this bedroom retreat reflects that while highlighting the transformative power of world travel. Deep, plummy walls envelop the space that’s layered with earthy textures inspired by Southeast Asia, New Zealand and Mexico. The space is filled with symbolism, from lunar images meant to evoke reflection and renewal to an installation of a monumental acrylic chain signifying strength and unity. A standout is the custom dresser whose drawer fronts are crafted with marble from Pietra Fina.
Way Out West: A Technicolor Time-Out By John K. Anderson
In his Showcase debut Anderson brings the party to his rooftop room designed to unplug and connect while listening to vinyl records, relaxing on the curved sofa, and/or enjoying a drink from the bar created with a healthy dose of 1970s glam. Influenced by the masked alt country musician Orville Peck—an artist John K. Anderson listened to on repeat while designing this room—and his personal Texas roots, the designer assembled a color-drenched lounge he describes as having “a touch of Western swagger.”
The Garden Apartment By Katie Monkhouse
Of all the designers, no one took a bigger bite than Katie Monkhouse. Her lower-level apartment is comprised of a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. Multiple spaces give her a canvas for a full expression of her skills and allow her to explore concepts, materials and brands she’s wanted to try for years. The centerpiece is the kitchen, where she created a curved eat-in island she’s long contemplated for private clients. It sits in front of a backsplash adorned in part with custom, modern-minded delft tiles crafted by KV Tiles with images of California native plants. It adjoins a living room whose focal point is an undulating vintage sofa remade with a leafy Dedar upholstery.
