Ken Paige, Dudley Miller, Richard Muratore, and Orlando Diaz-Azcuy
Merging some of the area’s most iconic designers in one of San Francisco’s most iconic buildings, and all to benefit some of our most beloved nonprofits—sounds like an iconic idea. That’s just what Ken Paige, chair of Icons of Design, a designer showcase event now on view, figured.
“The reason for the Showcase was just a case of my ‘connecting the dots,’” explains Ken. “I guess at my advanced age, there are more ‘dots’ out there for me to connect. Whether it’s fixing up couples for a romantic evening (my wife, Dorothy, and I have married off five couples with our matchmaking), or financing, employment, finding the right outfit for an occasion—I think it’s important to connect people with similar needs or interests.
“So when I thought that the sales for Millennium condos seemed slower than they should be, and when I spoke with interior designers who weren’t as busy as they are talented, and when I looked at the different local charities that needed funding to fill in some gaps, I thought this Icons of Design would be a triple-win for everyone.
“Having worked with Diana Nelson and Sean Jeffries a few years ago creating a Showcase at the Four Seasons for the Fall Antique Show, we were able to put this whole project together quite quickly. There were no rules, no presentation boards. There is a high level of new energy and enthusiasm throughout the design community as a result. I look forward to its opening with great expectations.”
Ken and crew have pulled together twenty-nine of the most coveted designers around and secured the four Grand Residences on the 52nd floor of the majestic Millenium Towers for them to showcase their talents in, to spectacular results. Of particular note as regards the unique opportunity the showcase provides viewers—in addition to the vast views provided by the location—is seeing the results when designers have complete freedom to express their vision.
“The people running this event, most notably Ken, have worked with high-end design for years, and they understand the needs of the designer,” says participating designer Nancy Van Natta, owner of Nancy Van Natta Associates. “They’ve made sure designers have all the support they need to do their best work. They’ve given me complete freedom to do whatever I want to showcase my latest design direction. They’ve also done an amazing job of lining up support with the showrooms. The showrooms are eager to have you borrow their latest and most interesting furnishings and art because they know who’s involved, and they know the design is going to be great, and they want their things to be part of it. As a designer, you can’t ask for more than that!”
Of course, the crowning bonus (and oh, so Bay Area element) is that all proceeds go to nonprofits. Organizations benefiting from these grand efforts, through the tours and several invitation-only fundraisers, are: San Francisco Opera Guild, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and American Heart Association (greater Bay Area chapters), Berkeley Repertory Theater, Museum of Performance and Design San Francisco, and Symphonix, among others.
In addition to Van Natta, featured designers include: Alexandra Owen Interior Design, Ann Brown Interiors, Ann Getty & Associates, Applegate Tran Interiors, Art Haus, Black Mountain Construction/Development, Butler Armsden Architects, Chantal Lamberto Interior Design, Closets Van Go, De Sousa Hughes, Eden Wright Design, Henderson Design Group, Hendler Design, Hepworth & Howard, Jeff Ryan Interiors, Jurow Design Associates, Kensington & Associates, Martha Angus Incorporated, Martin-Richards, Michael Merrill Design Studios, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy Design, Reba Jones, Scheiber Design Group, Shelby De Quesada Interior Design, Studio Becker, Sutro Architects, The Charles de Lisle Workshop, and Wiseman & Gale.
Your Tour
Showcase tours take place each weekend of November (as well as the last two weekends of October) and are open to the public for $25 per person. Hours as follows: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last tour begins at 6 p.m.), and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last tour begins at 4 p.m.). Complimentary valet parking provided; tickets can be purchased in the Grand Residences Lobby at Millennium Tower (301 Mission at Fremont). Each weekend benefits a different organization. For additional details, visit iconsofdesignsf.com.
