Our 2025 SF Showcase transformed an overgrown postage-stamp backyard with synthetic turf and flagstone paving into a stylish garden highlighting abandoned materials and handmade custom elements. Suffused with dappled light, organic forms and the fluffy texture of tree ferns, this inviting outdoor room channels a contemporary European feel that speaks to the architecture. It's a space to gather, meditate, and celebrate — especially at night under a starry sky.
Creme de Provence limestone rims the semicircular staircase descending from the back patio, leading to an expanse of decomposed granite defined within sweeping arcs of reclaimed cobblestone. This in turn creates a dynamic pattern when viewed from balconies above. The limestone is repeated at the corner patio, anchored by a bar made from discarded quarried material. Furthering the magical ambience: a bespoke stone table and ceramic stools, a custom planter and table carved from discarded old-growth wood on the resurfaced garden apartment patio, and tree ferns, shade trees and beveled glass lighting. A canopied, sequestered jewel, the 2025 Showcase garden celebrates reclaimed materials, unique custom elements, and the nature-inspired bonhomie of the Bay Area lifestyle.
Established in 1977, the 2025 San Francisco Decorator Showcase features the work of 20 exceptionally talented interior and landscape designers ranging from industry leaders to emerging talents who have transformed a grand mansion in Pacific Heights in just 14 weeks. Since its inception, the annual event has raised more than $19 million to benefit the San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program. The 46th Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase ran from April 26-May 26th.
Our firm approaches each Showcase project as an opportunity to explore new ideas. For the 2025 San Francisco Decorator Showcase, we chose to experiment with the use of reclaimed materials. The architecturally articulated stairs provided the starting point for our design. We were also drawn to the fluffy texture of the existing tree ferns. They add a softness and ethereal quality to the composition and are especially interesting to look down upon from the decks on the upper floors. A city garden presents a challenge, with inherent limitations in space, sunlight and orientation, but also offers a unique opportunity to create a private outdoor space where one can retreat from the bustle of urban life. This garden—tucked away from the street behind a gracious home—is a quiet and sequestered space for contemplation, family living and entertaining.
Many of our designed elements in the garden are custom fabricated using reclaimed stone materials from American Soil Products and fabricated by Arriaga Masonry, based in the East Bay. We want to highlight the usefulness of discarded materials, which, when used creatively, can become new and be made beautiful again. Our use of reclaimed cobblestone adds an energetic radial form to the composition while also tying the paving spaces together. The cobble material is Zola Beige Limestone, sourced in Morocco and fabricated in Italy. Due to factory error in the way it was cut, there was a lot of leftover material that American Soil milled down to different sizes then repurposed.
The second reclaimed stone element is a custom table in one corner of the garden. This was also fabricated by Arriaga Masonry at American Soil Products. It is made out of Winterset Limestone from the Midwest. These pieces of stone are what we refer to as "cut off pieces", remainders of stone used for a sculpture in Mission Rock, San Francisco.
The main concept is that we aim to divert "cut off", pieces from going into the landfill while devising new ways to use them in other projects.
We designed a custom bar/counter which is located in the corner of the garden and set on a diagonal. This element is comprised of five individual skins of split face Porto Beige Limestone from DaVinci Marble carefully pieced together during fabrication and connected via screws and bolts. The countertop is made out of Honed Porto Beige Limestone. Notice that the edges of the top of the countertop are edged appropriately to match the rough nature of the vertical pieces of stone. The piece was fabricated by Sticks-N-Stone, located in San Carlos.
We enhanced an existing shade garden with varied texture, foliage shape and color to uplift the mood and brighten the spirit. A shade garden need not be dreary!
- Dicksonia Antarctica: Two additional tree ferns were added to the garden to enhance the leafy texture in the garden.
- Fatsia japonica, various varieties: large leafy plants inserted in the shade layer provide interest to the eye and cover up bare spots.
- Osmanthus Fragrans: A tough hedge plant adjacent to the metal railing that is fragrant and can hold up in either sun or shade.
- Olea E. Compacta: Three large specimens are featured in the decomposed granite. These are one of the pillar plants of the garden, placed to provide softness of form and texture. The choice of three is important; we prefer to use odd numbers when placing plants.
- Pittosporum 'Golf Ball': These are used as a rounded globe in the garden to provide structure.
- Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Marjorie Channon': A variegated leaf that provides volume and lightness of color to the garden.
- Westringia 'Wynabbie Highlight': A tough drought-tolerant plant for the sunny spots which provides an alternative texture and color to contrast with other vegetation.
- Various new fern varieties were added.
- Existing plants: Three tree ferns, a Pittosporum hedge located along on eastern property line and an existing olive tree in the corner.
We painted the back of the stairs where the exterior closet door exists as well as the flanking lower wall of the terrace outside the garden apartment. Sherwin Williams graciously donated the paint, 6071 Popular Gray color. RS Professional Painting refreshed the paint for us.
Additionally, on the garden terrace, the wooden planter was painted and a stain applied to the wooden table.
Creme de Provence Limestone, provided by Da Vinci Marble, was added to the base of the staircase as well as the patio base for the bar area. Arriaga Masonry graciously donated the labor to install the paving.
Decomposed Granite from American Soil is laid between cobble bands by Triple BK Gardening.
- Bistro Light Fixtures were graciously donated by a Los Angeles-based studio, Art Luna Studios. Custom made and fabricated in Los Angeles.
- Amber Rondelle Lights, sourced from The Future Perfect.
- Outdoor Light Strand Pole with Tank, sourced from Terrain.
- The Luxicole and the Insitu rechargable cordless lamps were designed by Hervé Isle de Beauchaine, founder of Maison HISLE, and manufactured in France. The lamps can maintain their charge for 5 hours, emitting up to 45 hours of warm, glare-free, energy efficient LED light.
- The St-Louis Crystal Folia portable lamp, designed by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, was manufactured in France. The lamp can maintain its charge for 5 hours, emitting up to 45 hours of warm, glare-free, energy efficient LED light.
Chief Curator of the Eames Institute, Llisa Demetrios has been a bronze sculptor for more than twenty years. She enjoys the idea of using modern welding skills with the traditional material of bronze. In addition to bronze artworks, Demetrios designs utilitarian home and garden furnishings, including stools and benches.
Bartholomew Kraus is a Pacifica-based artist who creates unique sculptural interventions and functional forms that aim to bring the user closer to plants. As a gardener, he embraces seasonality, and how the greater native environment integrates into every built space. His works encourage users to intimately engage with the smallest native species in each garden, continually drawing on the layered micro environments that plants can occupy, while intentionally connecting the user to the broader landscape. These sit-able forms, titled Fern Stools, draw direct inspiration from the tree ferns they reside under. The trees' dappled shade and textured trunks enable small native species to become a living layer.
Located near the garden apartment door, the wood trough was fabricated by Larkspur Builders from old-growth Douglas fir reclaimed from a historic turn-of-the-century house in San Francisco's Presidio Terrace.
Conceived as the final element in the space, the custom table fabricated by Larkspur Builders was made from old-growth Douglas fir reclaimed from a historic turn-of-the-century house in San Francisco's Presidio Terrace.
The white textured stonecast planters flanking the bar were provided by Palecek. They feature hand-braided handles and embedded details.
Palecek's Somerset bar seating in ivory adds a refined yet inviting element to the bar area. Powder-coated aluminum frame and legs in ivory, sides and back of hand-woven synthetic rope in taupe.
