History

The story of the San Francisco Decorator Showcase began in 1977, when Nan Rosenblatt, a former San Francisco University High School parent and an accomplished interior designer, and Philip Fernandez, the first president of the school’s Parents Association, conceived the first Showcase to raise funds for University’s financial aid program. In its first year, the Showcase netted $26,000; in 2012, it raised over $546,000.

Showcase has taken place at some of the most prestigious addresses in some of the most breathtaking neighborhoods of San Francisco.

2012
Address: 2020 Jackson Street (between Laguna and Octavia Streets)
Architect: Julius E. Krafft
Built in 1902 for Clara Heller and Emanual Heller
Chairs: Sue Cunningham and Sandra Eggers

2011
Address: 2950 Vallejo Street (between Lyon and Baker Streets)
Architect: Gottschalk and Rist
Built in 1927 for William R. Clark
Chair: Sandra Eggers

2010
Address: 3450 Washington Street (between Walnut and Laurel Streets)
Architect: Albert Farr and his partner Joseph Francis Ward
Built in 1929 for Elsa Guggenhime at a cost of $32,231
Chair: Michaele M. James

2009
Address: 2830 Pacific Avenue
Architect: Nathaniel Blaisdell
Built in 1910 for George L. Payne, owner of Payne’s Bolt Works
Chair: Maureen Murray Fox

2008
Address: 2820 Scott Street
Architect: James A. McCullough
Built in 1905 for the Grace family
Chair: Maureen Murray Fox

2007
Address: 2901 Broadway
Architect: Henry Clay Smith
Built in 1927 for Milton S. Ray
Chair: Pamela Tang

2006
Address: 3701 Washington Street
Architect: Samuel Newsom and Sidney Newsom
Built in 1902 for John E. and Nellie Mason
Renovated and redesigned by John Bakewell
and Ernest Weihe in 1927-28 for George Wagner and
Vivian Axtell Gordon Wagner
Chair: Marie O'Gara Lipman

2005
Address: One Cherry Street
Architect: Houghton Sawyer
Built in 1913 for Jesse Sheldon Lux Potter
Chair: Janet Hunter

2004
Address: 2516 Pacific Avenue
Architect: Lewis Hobart
Built in 1921 for Louis Finlay Monteagle and Lydia Paige Monteagle
Chair: Gail Walker

2003
Address: 164 Sea Cliff
Architect: Albert Farr
Built in 1920 for Florence and Walter Schaller
Chair: Marie O'Gara Lipman

2002
Address: 3540 Washington Street
Architect: Bliss & Faville
Built in 1908 for Matilda and William Wolff
Chair: Naomi Rayman

2001
Address: 1337 Pope Street, The Presidio of San Francisco
Architect: Office of the Quartermaster General
General's Quarters built in 1915
Chair: Maria Muzio

2000
Address: 2601 Broadway
Architect: J.E. Krafft
Built in 1897 for Judge and Mrs. C. Carol Cook
Chair: Maria Muzio

1999
Address: 2500 Divisadero Street
Architect: Clinton Day
Built in 1889 by Day, later architectural work done by Angus McDonald
Chair: Linda Tunney

1998
Address: 2930 Vallejo Street
Architect: John H. Powers
Built circa 1919. Original owners were Oscar and Wilhelmina Hueter
Chair: Lauren Vucinich

1997
Address: 2520 Pacific Avenue
Architect: Walter Bliss
Designed in 1907 for Lillie Spreckels Holbrook
Chair: Judy Sheldon

1996
Address: 250 Sea Cliff Avenue
Architect: Bertz, Winter and Maury
Built in 1930 for Narcisco F. Baldocchi by general contractor William Martin
Chair: Susie Brown

1995
Address: 2460 Lyon Street
Architect: Louis M. Upton
Built in 1917 for Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Tynan
Chair: Marie Collins

1994
Address: 2622 Jackson Street
Architect: Willis Polk
Built in 1894 for George W. Gibbs
Chair: Suzy Cronholm

1993
Address: Three Twenty-fifth Avenue North
Architect: Frederick Nickerson
Built between 1909 and 1913 for Dr. James J. Watkins
Chair: Jeanne Newman

1992
Address: 3673 Jackson Street
Architect: Newton Tharp
Built in 1904 for Wallace Bradford
Chair: Patti Hume

1991
Address: 2020 Jackson Street
Architect: Julius E. Krafft
Built circa 1902 by I.W. Hellman for his daughter, Mrs. Emanuel Heller
Chair: Sue Berry

1990
Address: 2930 Vallejo Street
Built in 1919 by Oscar and Wilhelmina Hueter
Chair: Rondi Hoffner

1989
Address: 2898 Broadway
Architect: Walter Danforth Bliss
Built in 1899 for Duane Leroy Bliss
Chair: Betsy Waud

1988
Address: 3701 Washington Street
Architect: George Wagner, with John Bakewell and Arthur Brown
Built in 1900 for Nelly C. Mason. Major renovation in the late 1920s by owner George Wagner
Chair: Sally Lovett

1987
Address: 2950 Broadway
Architect: Stetson George Hindes
Designed and built between 1912 and 1915
Chairs: Patricia Swig Dinner and Joan Wild

1986
Address: 2255 Lyon Street
Architect: Willis Polk
Built in 1920 for Mr. and Mrs. Leo J. Clayburgh
Chairs: Tina Bartlett and Jeanie Blom

1985
Address: 2150 Washington Street
Architect: Charles Weeks
Built in 1915 by James Duvall Phelan for his sister, Mary
Chairs: Jeanie Blom and Terry Tracy

1984
Address: 2724 Pacific Avenue
Architect: E.A. Hermann
Built in 1894 for Captain Hermann L.E. Meyer
Chairs: Marie Saroyan and Terry Tracy

1983
Address: 2960 Broadway
Architect: Willis Polk
Built in 1912 for Samuel Napthaly
Chair: Marian Robertson

1982
Address: 3800 Washington Street
Architect: Frank S. Van Trees
Built in 1902-04 for Marcus Simon Koshland
Chair: Margaret Kaufman

1981
Address: 3725 Washington Street
Architect: Edward T. Foulkes
Built in 1925 for Clarence de Veuvre
Chair: Gail Mace

1980
Address: 2160 Green Street
Built in 1876-77 for Leander S. Sherman
Chairs: Gisele Huff and Rosemary Klebahn

1979
Address: 2320 Broadway
Built in 1901 for James McNab
Chairs: Birgit Hall and Gisele Huff

1977
Address: 2820 Pacific Avenue
Architect: Willis Polk
Built in 1910 for the Misses Alice and Caroline Griffith
Chairs: Nan Rosenblatt and Philip Fernandez