Fall is just around the corner and with it comes the prestigious San Francisco Fall Show, which runs from Oct. 17 to 20 at San Francisco’s Fort Mason Center. Its 42nd year honors the sophisticated contrast of black-and-white tones that will be carried through in the chic offerings of more than 40 dealers from around the world.
Marin designer Suzanne Tucker of Tucker & Marks celebrates her 10th anniversary as show chair, and the honorary co-chairs are designers Aerin Lauder and Wes Gordon. The chic show, its four designer-styled vignettes in the grand hall and the dinner gala are all quite wonderful, but so are the stimulating lectures by a curated collection of stylish tastemakers. “The 2024 San Francisco Fall Show will feature an outstanding series of lectures and book signings featuring some of the most prominent names in the worlds of art, antiques, design, architecture and history,” Tucker says.
“This year’s series will bring new voices and fresh perspectives and aims to inspire, invigorate and enrich our show. It’s a must for anyone eager to learn about collecting, design, craftsmanship and connoisseurship.” Lecture tickets cost $22.
79 each, in addition to the show entrance ticket. Each talk is immediately followed by book signings of many of the guest speakers. They sell out quickly, so if you’re interested, you might want to sign up soon.
This year’s presentations include: • Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, daughter of the 11th Duke of Marlborough whose family seat is the fabulous Blenheim Palace in England, joins two other acclaimed English-born designers — Veere Grenney and Martyn Lawrence Bullard — in a panel discussion on English heritage in European decorative arts. Moderated by decorative arts expert Martin Chapman, “The British Are Coming: The Enduring Influence of English Style” discussion will take place at 11 a.m.
Oct. 17. • Town & Country magazine Editor-in-Chief Stellene Volandes will engage Aerin Lauder, founder and creative director of luxury lifestyle brand AERIN, and Wes Gordon, creative director of Carolina Herrera, in a talk about “The Power of Style: Aerin Lauder and Wes Gordon on the Intersection of Fashion & Design” at 2:30 p.
m. Oct. 17.
• Mayer Rus, the West Coast editor of Architectural Digest, will interview designers Michelle Nussbaumer, Pamela Shamshiri and Geoffrey De Sousa on their creative processes designing beautiful spaces in “Creating Compelling Design Narratives: A Sanctuary for the Senses” at 4:30 p.m. Oct.
17. • Ellie Cullman and Young Huh will speak with landscape architect Ed Hollander at “Finding Harmony: The Landscape of Home From Classic to Contemporary,” moderated by Alisa Carroll, at 11 a.m.
Oct. 18. • In a discussion billed “as effervescent as champagne and as stylish as a Parisian runway,” “France: Inspirational and Irresistible, Its Many Influences on Our Life in Design” will take place at 2:30 p.
m. Oct. 18.
It promises spirited banter between Charlotte Moss, who’s known for her elegant interiors and wonderful gardens, and Timothy Corrigan, who’s known for his opulent design and chateau chic, along with their anecdotes, insights from their extensive travels and tips on how Francophile style can transform spaces with sophistication and charm. • A panel composed of an interior design patroness (Katherine Bryan), a designer with a love of classic design (Amanda Lindroth) and the president and a designer at a century-old design firm (McMillen Inc.’s Ann Pyne and Elizabeth Pyne Singer, respectively) will discuss “Iconic Interiors from the 20th Century and Their Influence Today” with moderator Mitchell Owens of the Magazine Antiques at 4:30 p.
m. Oct. 18.
• Alexa Hampton, daughter of the esteemed designer Mark Hampton, and Markham Roberts take the stage at 11 a.m. Oct.
19 to discuss their longtime friendship and them both working at Hampton’s father’s eponymous design firm. “Lived and Learned: Growing Up in Design” will touch on their harmonious design philosophies and careers. • Interior designer Bunny Williams and Gil Schafer, Williams’ longtime friend and collaborator, will tease out what makes a dream house and the important intersection of great architecture, interior design and landscape.
Moderated by Suzanne Tucker, “For the Love of it All” takes place at 2:30 p.m. Oct.
19. • Mark D. Sikes, a designer and the 2024 Fall Show vignette designer, will share his passion for beauty and American style, as well as advice garnered from his design work on homes here in America and beyond, at noon Oct.
20. • Three experts will make the case for “Collecting: The Maximalist Approach” in a lively discussion — moderated by Zahid Sardar — and counterpoint to the popular minimalist aesthetic. Sarah Wendell Sherrill of Christie’s, designer Rodman Primack and Rudy Weissenberg, the co-founder and co-chair of the Guggenheim Latin American Circle, will share tips on curating collections with style and confidence at 2:30 p.
m. Oct. 20.
“For anyone interested in art and design, furniture and the decorative arts — buying, collecting or simply learning about art and antiques — this show is not to be missed,” Tucker said in a prepared statement. “It’s a Bay Area must-do of the fall social season with four wonderful, vibrant days filled with terrific dealers, fascinating lectures and gobs of eye candy.” • Details: The 42nd San Francisco Fall Show is from 10:30 a.
m. to 7 p.m.
Oct. 17 to 19 and 11 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Oct.
20 at the Festival Pavilion at Fort Mason Center at 2 Marina Blvd. in San Francisco. Show admission tickets cost $22.
79 per day and lecture tickets are an additional $22.79. For more information, call 415-445-6701 or go to sffallshow.
org . The opening night gala is Oct. 16.
Tickets start at $372.59. Start times are either 6 or 7 p.
m. depending on the ticket level. Show off If you have a beautiful or interesting Marin garden or a newly designed Marin home, I’d love to know about it.
Please send an email describing either one (or both), what you love most about it, and a photograph or two. I will post the best ones in upcoming columns. Your name will be published and you must be over 18 years old and a Marin resident.
PJ Bremier writes on home, garden, design and entertaining topics every Saturday. She may be contacted at P.O.
Box 412, Kentfield 94914, or at [email protected]..
