FAVORITE SOURCES: J. F. FITZGERALD COMPANY

SF media room

Fine craftsmanship is absolutely necessary to achieve that special, one-of-a-kind look sought by many of The Wiseman Group's clients. That's why  J. F. Fitzgerald Company in San Francisco is among the top vendors to whom design staff turns for bespoke furniture orders.

J. F. Fitzgerald Company was founded in 1953 by Jack Fitzgerald and his nephew, Charlie Willin. The company has remained in the Willin family's hands since that time. The on-site mill allows the creation of beautifully-crafted frames in extra thick wood.  Coil springs for sofas and chairs are tied by hand and adjusted to the customer's specifications. Every cushion is handmade for custom orders, a time-consuming specialty: "For a half century, we've understood that quality resides in the details of craftsmanship."

Paul examining a custom frame with one of the owners, Mike Willin

Paul Wiseman began using Fitzgerald 33 years ago when he first opened his interior design firm. Paul is eternally grateful for their early faith in him: "They gave me my first line of credit at a time when that was crucial to my getting started in business!" Since that time, lovely furniture hand-crafted in the Fitzgerald Company atelier graces many a TWG interior.

SF living room

Custom daybed in a boy's room

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS: WEST COAST MODERN

This past fall, The Wiseman Group hosted a book-signing party for author Zahid Sardar and photographer Matthew Millman. Their new book, West Coast Modern: Architecture, Interiors, and Design, had just been published, and TWG wanted to help celebrate the occasion - especially since a beautiful TWG-designed interior graces the cover!

Potographer Matthew Millman and author Zahid Sardar at TWG

The TWG Potrero Hill office was the site of the open house. Guests arrived to drinks and hors d'oeuvres and were free to roam the design firm's offices. Well-wishers, colleagues, and clients attended the event. At one point there was standing room only. A successful evening by any measure!

Guests Valera Lyles and Richard N. Snyder arriving at TWG

Brenda Mickel, Design Principal, explaining design elements of a TWG work in progress

James Hunter, Design Principal at TWG, enjoying a moment with Matthew Millman

Paul Ryan, Ryan Associates Construction, and daughter Rachael

Paul with client Claire Stull

Aleck Wilson of Aleck Wilson Architects with Paul

Zahid and Matthew busy signing books

Standing room only

Todd Cole of Strata Landscape and architect Karin Payson

SF designer Jay Jeffers  with Paul

Zahid with Margy Boyd, founding president of the Modern Art Council at SFMOMA and former head of Art Tours at the museum

Matt with decorator Kathy Geissler Best

Paul with architect Scott Baughman of Charlie Barnett Associates

Paul with designer Martha Angus and Eche Martinez of Martha Angus Inc.

Guest Ali Razavi with Sadie Darsie, TWG Assistant Designer

Paul with Greg Warner, Walker Warner Architects

Paul surrounded by staff (from left): Marilyn Autry (Assistant Designer), Heather Queen (Administrative Assistant), Anna Sweeney (Designer),  Lauren Daley (Senior Designer), Shannon Jue (Senior Designer), and Carrie Swing (Librarian)

Matthew, Paul, and Zahid celebrating a successful evening

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IN THE NEWS: BEAUTIFUL BELVEDERE

View of the SF Bay from Belvedere Island Photo by Doug Jones

Paul Wiseman's home in Belvedere is featured in the April 2013 edition of Pacific Horticulture in an article written by TWG blogger, Kirsten Honeyman. Be sure to visit the Pacific Horticulture website to read about the historic residence and see photos of the gardens.

Entrance to the guest room framed in gorgeous succulent plantings Photo by Kirsten Honeyman

FIELD TRIP: VENICE, CALIFORNIA

A neon orange Lotus -- only in LA!

While in the LA area recently, Paul Wiseman had a few hours to kill between design consultations with two architectural firms. (More on that later). On a recommendation from Corbin Smith, an old friend, Paul headed to Venice to check out the shops. Abbot Kinney Blvd (named after the founder of Venice and builder of its canals) has become a trendy shopping destination with nice boutiques and popular eateries lining both sides of the street.

Glass bottles by Alessandro Zambelli for Seletti at A + R

Paul coveted lots of items at global design shop A + R, but chose to purchase several 1.5-liter glass bottles by Alessandro Zambelli for Seletti. The bottles, based on iconic plastic water container shapes, make a perfect gift for use on a desktop or nightstand.

Paul then wandered into The Sculpture Gardens, a licensed plant nursery which propagates plants from all over the world. It specializes in flowering bushes and small trees suitable for decks, patios, and small gardens. The establishment, originally called Venice Place Arts Center, has a fascinating early history. According to their website, an "interracial partnership of socially involved friends was formed, and a non-profit fine arts school was completed to provide classes for neighborhood children." There were apparently three galleries and ten to fifteen studios on the property. Several old plant specimens date back to the early 1970s when the garden was first planted.

Paul next to a mature prickly pear cactus at The Sculpture Gardens

The architecture along Abbot Kinney Blvd is eclectic. Older bungalows have been gentrified; modern office buildings have been erected; and old storefronts have been attractively updated.

A bungalow with a stylish update, including a pale blue-gray palette and custom stucco work

Playful modern building with commercial space below and apartment living above

A dapper artisan painting the sign for new restaurant Willie Jane, his cappuccino waiting below

An intriguing window display at Chariots on Fire

Comment?

The area is well worth a side trip next time you have an afternoon in LA!  ~

PLAYBILL: THE STORY OF A CHIC, UNEXPECTED POWDER ROOM

Traditional oak paneling is the jumping off point for this sophisticated powder room

"WHAT FALLS TO THE EDITING ROOM FLOOR"

ACT I, Scene I: SF Peninsula

As part of a large remodeling project, the owners of a Tudor-style home ask The Wiseman Group to create a powder room off the main entry hall. While the home is traditional, the clients are collectors of 20th c. art. They are open to the creation of something fresh and unusual. Paul Wiseman and Senior Designer Lauren Daley take on the challenge.

ACT I, Scene II: Potrero Hill Office of TWG

In order to visually tie the powder room to the adjacent hallway and echo the home's traditional oak paneling, Paul and Lauren conceive the idea of using trompe l'oeil fabric "paneling." Arriving at this concept is key to the overall story. Now that the character of the walls is developed, the rest of the plot can unfold.

One of the many sample panels created in designing the upholstered walls

ACT I, Scene III: Lauren Daley's Office at TWG

Lauren and Paul gather inspiration from various books in the TWG library, including the work of Jean-Michel Frank, Christian Bérard, Jean Cocteau, and Alberto Giacometti. They decide on a direction and sketch their ideas. They now turn their attention to forming a team of talented artisans to execute their vision.

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Charley Brown painting one of the powder room surfaces

ACT II, Scene I: Evans & Brown in SF

Charley Brown, one of the best decorative painters in San Francisco, is chosen to develop the pattern, line weight, and color of the trompe l'oeil fabric panels. After many rounds of gouache elevations and painted samples, the protagonists settle on a design for the walls.

Plaster swag and "sack" tissue box made by Michael H. Casey

ACT II, Scene II: Michael H. Casey Designs in SF

Paul and Lauren enlist the help of master plaster artist Michael H. Casey to make several objets d'art for the powder room: a table lamp evocative of Giacometti, a swagged curtain for the window, and a playful tissue box in the form of a small sack tied with a rope.

Hand towels  embroidered by E. Braun from a drawing by Charley Brown

Vintage Lalique calla lily stoppers made into a unique lavatory set

ACT II, Scene III: Remaining Details Are Perfected 

A talented team is chosen to complete the job. Page & Pio Construction partners on the installation;  Charley Brown paints the fabric panels and creates a design for the hand towels, which are embroidered by E. Braun in New York; Fabric Walls installs the wall upholstery; Fox Marble in SF realizes the TWG design for a stone vanity top with raised lip; and, in a move deserving of a standing ovation, Lauren tracks down two vintage Chloe perfume stoppers (made by Lalique for use in a factice, or large display bottle) and sends them to P.E. Guerin in New York where they are beautifully transformed into a lavatory set for the powder room.

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ACT III

VERANDA magazine article on the powder room

VERANDA magazine lifts the curtain to give a tantalizing glimpse of the completed powder room in their April 2013 edition. The one-page article runs under the title: "Sleight of Hand: A trompe l'oeil powder room captures what we love about a timeless trick that suddenly feels new again" (page 68). Readers of TWG : Design Journal, however, are treated to front row seats for the entire performance.

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Bravissimo!

CREDITS

AUTHOR: Paul V. Wiseman

DIRECTOR: Lauren Daley, Senior Designer



PHOTOGRAPHER: Matthew Millman