The Silver Lining
Location San Francisco, CA · Architect Mork-Ulnes · Contractor Rico General Construction · Project Manager Raffi Nazarian · Landscape Architect Terremoto · Lighting Design Pritchard Peck · Photographer Bruce Damonte · Stylist Yedda Morrison · Square Footage 2500
Project Story
“I’m a very curious person and this translates to how I design in that I’m always absorbing, learning and interpreting. Naturally drawn to quirk, I will always be excited by the unexpected and rarely shy away from the bold. I think of my own house as a place to experiment, take risks and fearlessly test ideas that have been percolating for a long time but haven’t held with clients.
The concepts of maximal minimalism, unexpected color combinations, and play are big influences in my work, so they are definitely present in my own home. Here saturated color punctuates every room. The experimental ideas of the Space Age movement and Superstudio’s take on postmodernism have always intrigued me. A few of the more psychedelic pieces in my house are from or inspired by these movements such as the custom pink acrylic pendant by Joanna Grawunder hanging over our kitchen island, the silver ‘rumpled spaceman’ drapery in the library and the vintage Raymond Loewy dresser in the primary bedroom. They are also some of the first things purchased specifically for the house so they were strong influences on the overall aesthetic direction. While in Venice, Italy I saw so much terrazzo and came home inspired to use it for every inch of the floor. Textures, forms, and colors that I’ve always loved show up throughout the interior creating a sense of cohesion and order, but also playfulness.
Our house reflects the strong relationships we’d built in the local community. Many Bay Area artists, colleagues and exceptionally talented friends contributed to the design including Tina Frey, Linda Fahey and Sean Robins of Studio Van Den Akker and so many others. We have work by artists and designers who we have long-admired and then gotten to know. Our home is a testament to our friends and to so many meaningful interconnections.”
— Alison Damonte
While in Rome, the couple spotted rare Neeko chairs with their original tube steel framing. Designed by Japanese Architect Kazuhide Takahama for the Japanese pavilion at the XI Triennale in Milan in 1956, productions after 1958 utilize wood instead of steel tubing.
A collection of sentimental pieces: the bronze bowl, a wedding gift, holds an assortment of eggs made from various materials by Egg Collective. The Jean Claude Mahey Burlwood coffee table was acquired from a French vintage dealer during a trip to Marrakesh.
Johanna Grawunder’s sculptural lighting drives home the intention of the kitchen design -- to not look like a kitchen. By deeply thinking about the programming and utilizing downdraft venting and a shelf along the back wall, the kitchen takes on the personality of a rotating gallery.
The Dirk van der Kooij dining table, made largely from discarded plastic objects, lectures the 'Delta Chairs' by Rudi Verelst on the importance of recycling. 'Untitled' (cadmium yellow),2020 by Luke Diiorio smiles on cheerfully.
The Norman Cherner side table does not give up on his friendship with the Foscarini table lamp, even though he's getting a big head.
A vintage Orswaldo Borsani coat rack is suspended for skipping class while the 1916 Josef Hoffmann chair and Cody Hoyt vessel get detention for wearing skirts that are too short.
I will always be excited by the unexpected and rarely shy away from the bold.
A stairwell that reflects light as if you're walking through a disco ball.
Down the rabbit hole we go.
Modern trompe l'oeil wallpaper and a mirrored ceiling sends us on a drug-free trip.
Studio Van den Akker designed the Garvey Club Chair (Alison's maiden name) with love as an homage to his old friend.
The Georges Pelletier lamp fans its tail feathers in an attempt to win over 'Angela' by Alec Soth, but to its dismay, she may have already chosen the Raymond Loewy DF-2000 cabinet as her mate.
Inspired after a night out at beloved venue, the Verdi Club, Alison immediately knew a “Ladies’ Lounge” of sorts would find its way into the home. Ripe for impromptu gatherings or lazing with a glass of wine.
An custom black disco ball by Yolanda ‘Yo Yo’ Baker demands everyone must groove.
The wet bar bats its eyes at the studious library from across the room. Library blushes.
Vintage Camaleonda Sofa by Mario Bellini struts the red carpet, dripping in gold.
A Bocci wall light attempts dry January.
Exclusive guest list: Matt Kleberg, Paco Rabanne, and George Nelson.
A sculpture evoking a psychadelic volcano by Brian Rochefort gazes out at the wide world beyond.
