Photo credit: Metaphor Edge,
Location: Private Residence, Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California,
Wood Highlights: Crown moulding, baseboards, S4S, ogee moulding, wine rack

SF Decorator Showcase: Grapevine Tales Speak In Trim

Tucked into the entry level of this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase, a moody and magnificent wine tasting room offers a lesson in sensory indulgence. Outfitted with deeply hued millwork, lit bottle displays, and sumptuous finishes, the space redefines what’s possible in a residential cellar—offering both visual gravitas and inviting intimacy.

Designed for the 2025 Showcase at 2935 Pacific Avenue in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood, the room was transformed by Shirley Robinson of Shirley Robinson Studio with a narrative-driven approach to custom trim and cabinetry and styled by Lan Jaenicke. The result? An atmospheric interior where light dances across time worn textures and hand-applied finishes, conjuring the ambiance of an old-world estate—right in the heart of the city.

Where Craftsmanship Meets Character

This wine tasting room is a study in tactile beauty and precision. Bottle racks and cubbies are embedded into dark wood casework, their rhythmic repetition echoing the traditions of European wine libraries. A rich stain emphasizes the grain of the wood, while the carved crown moulding brings historical resonance to the perimeter of the space.

Look closer, and the elegance lies in the simplicity: each bottle rests on a modest curved ogee moulding profile, attached to an S4S (surfaced four sides) board and arranged in repeating vertical columns. The result is a refined, modular storage system that feels both architectural and bespoke—transforming utility into quiet artistry.

S4S boards also reach the ceiling below the crown moulding, providing subtle depth and visual order while complementing the textured finishes and smoky-metal cabinetry beneath. From the wall-hugging bottle alcoves to the centered antique chairs and low-slung tasting table, every detail in this space is carefully considered by the designer and the team—and elegantly restrained.

A Room That Tells Its Own Story

The space includes curated touches that invite lingering: hand-blown glass lighting with teardrop pendants, silk floral branches adding vertical lift, and antique seating that brings history and warmth. At the elegant bar sink, a mirror subtly doubles the display of bottles, deepening the room’s perceived scale.

While this room feels designed for wine, it’s also about connection. With just two chairs facing each other over a shared table, the room is less about entertaining crowds and more about savoring a story, a bottle, and a moment. The tales spoken here would seem to fill volumes.

Supporting the Showcase—and the Students

The San Francisco Decorator Showcase, now in its 46th year, brings together top designers across the region to transform a historic property in support of San Francisco University High School’s Financial Aid Program. With over $19 million raised to date, this initiative continues to open academic doors for talented students from all backgrounds, benefiting our community annually.

The home—originally built in 1902 and extensively renovated in 2009—is a large 9,400-square-foot, five-level residence with sweeping Bay views and standout design moments on every floor. The well designed layout is so carefully orchestrated you might not realize its scale.

Trim That Elevates Specialty Spaces

Whether you’re creating a wine tasting room, a cigar lounge, or a bespoke bar, solid wood architectural trim brings superb sophistication and cohesion to the design. Lowpensky’s custom moulding solutions—including classical crown profiles, S4S boards, and detailed baseboards—are ideal for specialty spaces that require both beauty and precision. Our natural wood moulding profiles made to order are designed to work with bespoke custom cabinetry and vintage-style finishes, enhancing any project with warmth and heritage.

Looking to bring old-world elegance to a new build or remodel? Our trim experts at Lowpensky will help you place your order from your sample or sketch, or from our catalog, so you can have the perfect moulding made for your wine cellar, cocktail lounge, and every space in between.

Related Reads:

• The Art of Trim: Showcasing Classical Moulding High Style
• We Found the Best Design Ideas at the 2025 San Francisco Decorator Showcase by House Beautiful
• Piedmont Home Features Local Award Winning Moulding Manufacturer Lowpensky

 

Photo credit: Metaphor Edge,
Location: Private Residence, Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California
Wood Highlights: Tall, double crown moulding, baseboards, S4S, ogee moulding, door casing