Places We Go : San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2016 . Gardens

May 22, 2016

Just above Fisherman's Wharf, the 2016 San Francisco Decorator's Showcase put me in sensory overload. Built in 1929 for $30,000, this Telegraph Hill house sold last August to a developer for $9,998,000. After this month's show, he's looking to sell it for around $15M. Mind you, it's a 3 bedroom with a quirky floor plan but the grounds are a Mediterranean wonder. Let's circle around the exterior of the house for some ideas.

Above Curb Appeal : The entrance gate surrounded by modern, graphic trellis with climbing white roses.

Front Terrace : I don't know anyone who actually has a front terrace but it's a great idea. Here's my friend Jayne standing on this one. Not such a great idea are those little stumps in the flower bed. According to the designer, those are "charred wood elements conjuring memories of fire-scarred tree trunks in the old growth forests across the Bay."

Windows to the Outside : Charming "window" centers on a view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Plantings : A simple color pallet - white, green and an occasional purple, including cabbages. The gardens are filled with white roses and olive trees.

cloud terrace: a pollinator-friendly garden by chih-wei g.v. chang

Balcony : A charming terrace - enclosed by a purple wall - off the master bedroom

cloud terrace: a pollinator-friendly garden by chih-wei g.v. chang

courtyard gallery garden by megan van linda

Outdoor Art : The Courtyard Garden features a mural (perhaps spray painted on 3 joined sheets of 4 x 8 plywood) which serves a dual purpose - colorful and privacy from the driveway.

Exterior Garden Wall : The wall is varied in height and ornamentation. The classic Italianate architecture plays against the modern furniture. All the patios and walkways are paved in travertine.

Decorative Features : Gargoyles dress up exterior walls.

Water Feature : Those might be glass fish in the water.

No Blank Wall : You might think you're in Italy on the driveway side of the house. Love that della Robbias (a glazed terracotta rondel) style art piece over the door.