The exterior of 625 El Camino Del Mar, the home featured in the San Francisco Decorator Showcase in San Francisco, on May 3, 2023.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE
Most San Francisco residents will never step foot in one of the city’s storied mansions. But once a year, a luxury home opens up to the public to view not only a stunning property but also what the rooms inside would look like with some of the Bay Area’s most celebrated interior designers at your fingertips.
This week marks the beginning of 2023’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase, an annual event benefiting the San Francisco University High School financial aid program. This year’s home is 625 El Camino Del Mar, a 1927 Spanish-style stunner located in the tony neighborhood of Sea Cliff.
For $45, visitors can tour the enclave through the end of May.
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“Interstellar Cellar” by Noz Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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The 5-bedroom, 6-bathroom home has been decorated for the event with 28 design spaces, featuring a game room, a movie room and a wine cellar. There’s also an elevator in the house. The corner house was originally designed by architects Hyman and Appleton, and like most Sea Cliff homes, there are stunning views from most rooms of the more than 6,000-square-foot space.
A nook for hanging out in the kitchen designed by Lauren Berry Interior Design, at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“Reflections on Stardust” by Noz Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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This year feels celebratory, said showcase director of operations Jenny Bittner Borden, after a few rough years for the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020 and 2021, the selected home was only viewed virtually, while the organization skipped the event altogether in 2022.
Typically about 15,000 visitors tour the property, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.
(Left) The Glowing Canopy main staircase by Geddes Ulinskas Architects, (Right) The Elevator by Elan Evans Decorative Finishes.(Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)(Douglas Zimmeramn/SFGATE)
“Sadie’s Arty Party” designed by EJ Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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The Sea Cliff home had been on the market for a while when Borden approached the listing agent about making it into a Decorator Showcase house. She said transforming the property for the show has previously been a great way to market a house and do a lot of renovations in the process. When she got in touch, a buyer was already interested in the home and decided to purchase it with the contingency that the house be 2023’s selected showcase.
The closet for the primary bedroom designed by Tineke Triggs Interiors at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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It’s a smart move on the buyer’s part, Borden said. The family will move into the home after the showcase is finished and get to keep much of the donated finishings and furnishings. That’s hundreds of thousands of dollars in free kitchen appliances, plumbing and electrical work and more. The homeowners were able to put in requests to the designers, most notably the two bedrooms designed with their young children in mind. “It’s pretty special because, for the family, it’s their dream home,” Borden said.
De Dejeunner a Dessert breakfast room designed by Dina Bandman Interiors. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)(Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)
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What’s most impressive, though, is that the home was gutted and completely renovated in just about five months — the current owners purchased the house in October 2022, and the showcase’s team started work in November.
“The Upstairs Keep” by De La Cruz Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“It’s kind of like a museum,” Borden said. “To see what it’s like to live in an almost 7,000-square-foot home with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, well, everyone wants to do that. It’s beautiful.”
“Lounge Bathroom” by Ruben Marquez Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“His Modern Headquarters” by Lizette Marie Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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The showcase runs through May 29, 2023. Hours include Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday and Memorial Day, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The living room by Kimberly Denman at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE
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Shelves for cooking oils and spices are available behind sliding marble walls in the kitchen designed by Lauren Berry Interior Design, at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“… And the Hazy Sea: Powder Room and Antechamber” by AubreyMaxwell at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“Bubbly Bash” by EJ Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“Professor Emeneau’s Fujinohana: Guest Bedroom” by Miyuki Yamaguchi Design Studio at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“Fitness is my Passion” by Kyle Hill Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“Max’s Magical Playroom” by Shelley & Company Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“Reflections on Stardust” by Noz Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“The Kingfisher Suite” by Marsh & Clark Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“Montana’s Monarchs” designed by Chantal Lamberto Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“A Rare Gem,” the primary bedroom, designed by Tineke Triggs Interiors, at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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“The Apollonia Dining Room” by Chroma at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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The kitchen by Lauren Berry Interior Design at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 625 El Camino Del Mar in San Francisco on May 3, 2023.
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