Putting together any room can be a daunting task. That’s why our special décor exhibition, “Make Room: Modern Design Meets Craft,” returns this year with a new twist: We’ve tapped six Bay Area designers to create entertaining spaces using a suite of fine craft from the show.

From cocktails in the kitchen to an outdoor oasis, here’s a sneak peek of the stylish settings you’ll see on-site. The exhibition just might inspire you to spice up your own gathering spaces by incorporating a few handmade finds that strike your fancy.
 

 

Designer
John K. Anderson

Design firm
John K. Anderson Design

Inspirations
Elliot Stith, coffee table
Kris Marubayashi, clay sculpture

Design style
My style is relaxed, tailored, and thoughtfully layered to tell a client's story. I like understated rooms with complex details and strive for a sense of timelessness on every project.

Vision
My design is inspired by the organic yet structured qualities of Elliot Stith's wood and steel table and Kris Marubayashi's Caldera that inhabit the room. Their shapes and lines are echoed two-dimensionally, wrapping the space like paper to punctuate their three-dimensional forms.

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Designer
Tyler Dawson

Design firm
Tyler Dawson Design

Inspiration
Victor DiNovi, dining chair

Design style
I work to create environments that reflect the spirit of their inhabitants, and I believe that the most rewarding projects stem from a willingness to take risks and assume trust between designer and client. My aesthetic is warm, layered, and innovative, and it's guided by the utmost appreciation for beauty and comfort. I strive to create interiors that feel as though they have evolved over time.

Vision
I was inspired by the curved lines of the dining chair by Victor DiNovi. To highlight this beautiful piece, I chose elements that accentuate the organic, elegant quality of the design. Texture and line play especially important roles in their relationship to the strength and finish of the wood and gracefulness of the shape.

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Designer
Chad DeWitt

Design firm
Hwang DeWitt Architects

Inspiration
Lilith Rockett, nested bowls

Design style
Hwang DeWitt Architects find a great level of excitement in simplicity and purity. For us, it’s the little, subtle details that matter: the care taken when something is assembled in a unique and thoughtful way, the patina of natural materials aging gracefully and the unexpected tactility of material, like a textured bathroom tile or a leather-wrapped stair handrail. Our ultimate goal when creating a home for a client is creating calm, highly personal spaces that act as refuges from today’s hectic lifestyles.

Vision
Entertaining for so many of us involves cooking for our friends. As architects, we feel that the kitchen is the most important space inside the home, both in function, as an entertaining space, and as a natural place to showcase beautiful, functional crafts. We’ve created a kitchen space that many of us can envision ourselves in, having lively conversation with our friends, assisting the host with preparation of the meal, and enjoying a glass of wine.

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Designer
Jiun Ho

Design firm
Jiun Ho Interiors

Inspirations
Kathy Colt, wall hanging
Emily Dvorin, basket

Design style
I create sensuous interiors that blend a minimal aesthetic with global inspirations. Balance and harmony are the hallmarks of my vision. Lively contrasts — textures against clean lines, rich woods against sumptuous fabrics and shapes that are both challenging yet inviting — characterize my work. My designs are flirtatious, elegant, tranquil, and classic.

Vision
I took my cue from the rugged nature of Northern California. With an unexpected touch, I highlight the outdoors as a magical place to entertain by creating a diorama of an exposed wood-frame house, window, and forest. My installation contrasts the raw and elemental with the machine-made and opulent. The work  of Kathy Colt and  Emily Dvorin brings intriguing texture and handmade qualities to the enchanted scene.

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Designer
Alison Damonte

Design firm
Alison Damonte Design

Inspirations
Ealish Wilson, wall hanging
Lilith Rockett, bowls

Design style
Bold colors, graphic patterns, and simple, geometric shapes have always influenced my work. As a designer, I use these elements to create spaces that are happy and exuberant. I have never met anything glittered, glam, or bright that I don’t like. More is more.

Vision
This room is intended to be fantastical and kaleidoscopic — a place where the familiar is simultaneously unexpected. Ealish Wilson’s work transforms everyday materials into abstract compositions full of pattern, texture, and color. Juxtaposing this vibrant work with the simple yet bold geometric forms of Lilith Rockett’s vessels creates an interesting tension that truly highlights each artist’s work.

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Designer
April Powers

Design firm
April Powers Interior Design

Inspiration
Shelley Martin, black matte vases

Design style
We create transitional spaces with an aesthetic that is clean-lined and classic. Influenced by many styles, we typically incorporate a mix of found pieces with custom and new, ranging from rustic and relaxed to modern and elegant. We layer texture and color to create an environment that is relevant today and tomorrow.

Vision
We were drawn to the gorgeous simplicity and timelessness of Shelley Martin’s handmade pieces. Our vision is to incorporate the beautiful hues of her vases into the overall palette of the room. Our goal is  to create an  environment where her craft is not only highlighted, but accentuated by  the surrounding  textures and  materials.