A Peek Inside a 19th Century Queen Anne Victorian Mansion in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights & “the Best Pant Ever” Recommended By a Very Chic Friend + More

Happy Saturday, friends!

It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspirations and goings on. Today I’m sharing a peek inside a 19th century Queen Anne Victorian mansion in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights that I toured with Kim + “the best pant ever” recommended by a chic friend (I ordered them and she’s right).

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San Francisco Decorator Showcase

Today Kim and I resume our coverage of the annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase. Last year we missed the tour, but not to worry we’re back on the job.

This year’s Decorator Showcase home – ahem, mansion – is a Queen Anne Victorian in San Francisco’s chichi Pacific Heights neighborhood. Designed by architect Moses J. Lyon for the Ansbacher family (hay and grain merchants) in 1897, the home is an expansive 9,325 (on a 6874 sqft lot) spread over four floors all with stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge. They know how to build up in San Francisco. The house is just a couple of blocks off Billionaires Row, and I think it will take a billionaire to buy this one. Hopefully, a nice one.

The house is built into a hillside with the garage at street level. The front landscape includes terraced landings on the way up with features like a beautiful water fountain and these heated Galanter & Jones outdoor chairs (yes, heated).

Let’s go inside … the home has nine bedrooms and seven and a half baths in addition to the many living spaces, from parlors to reading nooks. I can’t share it all or we’d be here all day, so I’m sticking to a few favorite rooms and sweet moments throughout.

With so many people enjoying the tour, it was tough to get full room snapshots, so I’ll focus on the details that caught my eye with a few professional photos thrown in for a better perspective.

L’Arrivee ~

Entering the home, the first thing I noticed was the exquisite use of applied molding and blue green limewash paint. Oh my, the limewash offers a stunning textured and artistic feel and I immediately rethought everything about our little Folly’s paint schedule. Truthfully I rethought everything about the Folly which is a pitfall of touring showcase homes.

Anyway, the walls had me so spellbound and it took a minute before I noticed the gorgeous stained glass windows.

Kendall Wilson Design created these beautiful entry spaces and I have to say it makes quite a first impression. The textures and layers … all the small details. Swoon.

The molding and blueish green limewash theme ran through the foyer and up the stairs to another breathtaking moment on the stair landing.

Ishara (Sign or Symbol) ~

Kavya of Peruri Design Company chatted with us about the Indian influences behind this main floor space design. Look at the crown detail which includes tiny mirrors creating a festive sparkle in this bright and cheerful room.

Delft Dreams ~

Without a doubt the bedroom of my dreams. Classic ticking stripe fabric on every surface from walls to headboard and everything in between. Design by Chantal Lamberto.

 

Jack & Jill Bathroom ~

The Jack & Jill bathroom off the boys bedroom, designed Jeffrey Neve, is anchored by a delightful Josephine Munsey x Kravet Couture Whimsical Clumps wallpaper.

 

The shower curtain, in a brown flannel windowpane fabric, is perfection. Same can be said for the floor tile.

La Chambre Bleue ~

Kristine Renee & Deborah Costa of Jeanne Renee give a masterclass in texture, color, pattern, and layering. I’m speechless.

All the details of the room here.

The Slow Spin ~

This year’s showcase had an added element of excitement for me because local Lafayette designer, Kimberly Harrison Interiors, joined the fun designing the home’s the stunning laundry space that doubles as a cocktail bar. Why didn’t I think of that?

The Rear Garden ~

The back garden space was of special interest as we’re in the midst of planning the Folly’s landscape design.

Inspired by the Year of the Fire Horse, Russell Martinelli & Sami Burton’s backyard garden space is timeless and tranquil. The neutral palette will have seasonal pops of red foliage.

The outdoor kitchen is centered by a Zwilling grill. Kim and I asked a ton of questions about the Stone Yard Inc. fire table. It looks like it weighs a ton, but it doesn’t.

Also in the back garden we met a cute rep from children’s clothing brand Oso & Me showcasing their adorable baby and children’s clothing and accessories. With a grandbaby on the way I took notice.

Oso & Me is a San Francisco based brand, you can read more about them here. Their baby blankets are adorable – and monogrammable. Their onesies and tees are made of the softest cotton in the sweetest prints. I fell in love with their checked blouse and short set for girls, and shirt for boys.

They were handing out their cute shopper bags in several pretty prints; Kim and I both chose this pretty, cornflower blue floral. And we picked up cards for 15% off using code DECORATORS15. I’ll be putting it to good use and you can too!

More Inspiring Moments Throughout the House ~

 

If you’re in the market for a fully renovated, historic home in the City, this one hits the market mid-May for a cool $25m. The Wall Street Journal  featured the listing (gift link) this week.

Bay Area friends, It’s not too late to see the home yourself. The Showcase, a fundraiser for University High School’s financial aid program, runs through May 25th, including Friday night Happy Hours. Buy tickets here.

Lunch at Piccino Presidio on the Lucasfilm Campus

After the Showcase we had lunch at Piccino Presidio, at the Presidio (obvi), a casual Italian place on the The Letterman Digital Arts Center’s a 23-acre campus which is home to Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic, and Lucasfilm Animation.

I had a delicious pasta, and Kim, always a healthier eater, had a salad with grilled chicken. Of course there was bread. Focaccia bread. Yum.

Back to the Lucasfilm campus, it’s gorgeous and must be a wonderful place to work. It even has its own Starbucks where we availed ourselves of the powder room.

The campus has beautiful views of the Palace of Fine Arts and is dotted with points of interest including a statue of Edaweard Muybridge, known as ‘father of cinema’ for his groundbreaking work bridging film and motion pictures.

And, last but not least, the famous Yoda Fountain. I’m not a Star Wars fanatic, but I do hold special affection and reverence for Yoda.

After lunch we stumbled into the Skywalker General Store. We were rushing to get on the road and couldn’t take time to explore. We did learn that George Lucus makes wine from 35 acres planted at Skywalker Ranch in Marin, about 30 miles North of the Presidio. The portfolio includes the estate wines under the Skywalker label, Château Margüi (Provence) and Viandante del Cielo (Umbria).

Obviously there’s much to explore across the campus … and the wider Presidio ares as well. Next time.

What I Wore

My decorator showcase get-up won’t earn any fashion awards. I wanted to wear the striped, linen-blend shirt that I shared last week and tried on every pair of cream and beige pants in my closet to see what worked. I settled on these easy, breezy organic linen wide leg pants that I talked a lot about last summer.

Going anywhere with Kim – ahem, Ms. NorCal Style – brings on severe outfit choice anxiety. AKA panic. Kim always looks fabulous and effortlessly pulled together. So after working myself into a tizzy, I took a deep breath, a step back and reminded myself that overthinking never leads to anything good.

Anyway, San Francisco can be chilly so I grabbed this cashmere sweater to throw over my shoulders and slipped on my well worn platform espadrilles.

 

Kim, of course, looked adorable and I’m sure she’ll tell you all about her outfit. I’m loving her navy linen jacket.

I wish you could be a fly on the wall when Kim and I try to organize a get together. The logistics, parking, departure time, arrival time, where should we eat, what should we wear, do either of us want to back out, etc. It’s like we’re trying to marshal a precision military campaign instead of a casual lunch and house tour. Anyway, I got a kick out of reading my coverage of our 2024 showcase visit and see that our inability to organize ourselves is a time-honored tradition.

“Best Pant Ever”

My friend Dana recommended these vintage white jeans. She says they’re ‘the best pant ever’ and when Dana talks, I listen … she’s the best dressed woman in town. I swear I could knock on her door at 2am and she’d answer with perfectly done hair, full makeup, and wearing a killer jacket or blazer. No exaggeration. She would never be caught out at a restaurant barefaced and in sweats (there’s a story here, but I’m too ashamed to tell).

Anyway, I ordered Dana’s ‘best pant ever’ and of course she’s right. Mine are a little long, and I’m debating whether to have them hemmed a skosh to wear with flats or leave them as is and wear with a low platform. The wide-leg lends itself to that so l’ll let you know what I decide.

The denim has no stretch so size accordingly. I ordered a 27 which is a little big in the waist but fine everywhere else and super comfortable. I may have the waist nipped in … the truth is I have to do some sort of alteration with most of the pants I buy.

Anyway, the jeans come in this Mojave wash too. Swoon.

White T-Shirt Edit

I finally got around to publishing the white t-shirt edit I’ve been teasing forever. White tees and jeans are an everyday uniform for me, as well as essential wardrobe basics.  Read the edit here.

Boxy Crop Tee

Odds & Socks ~

• Our designer, Jaklyn Groom of KBKC Design, wears these cute Dolce Vita Fyona Mule Fisherman sandals. They’re no longer available so I searched Poshmark. The black leather are hard to find – I did find one pair in size 7. I’m size 7.5, sometimes 8, so I had to pass. Here’s same style in a woven beige in 7.5. Same in size 8. Anyway, when I shared her sandals on Instagram I said I’d get the details, wish I had better results to report.

• Speaking of sandals … Toms is sending me these Alana Wedge Sandal. I’m going to hold off hemming my new jeans until they arrive. I have a feeling they might be the perfect shoe for the best pant ever.
• Two Sisters, Two Met Balls is a really fun read. Plum Sykes account of her attendance, with twin sister Lucy, at the 1997 Met Ball. Before the Met Ball was the Met Ball we know today (side eye).

Current Favorites ~

And that’s all we have time for today. Wishing a very Happy Mother’s Day weekend to all of the mom’s and mom figures! 💕

Last week I shared some snaps from a local home and garden tour, beautiful linen shirts on sale, fun. collectible. theme glassware, and a new book to get us in the mood for seasonal entertaining; catch up here.

Let’s see what’s inspiring Elizabeth and Kim.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

PINECONES AND ACORNS

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