Show preview by Cecilia Sagrera-Hill and George Brazil of SagreraBrazil Design

October 13, 2022

The highly anticipated Design Council preview of the 2022 San Francisco Fall Show took place on Tuesday, October 11. Design Council members – and 2019 Show Vignette Designers – Cecilia Sagrera-Hill and George Brazil of SagreraBrazil Design kindly agreed to share their first impressions, and personal favorites.

Cecilia states: “There is always at least one piece at the San Francisco Fall Show, a piece that just simply takes your breath away and pulls at your heart strings. For me there are two so far: Lucy Glendinning’s Together I sculpture at Waterhouse and Dodd (left), the emotion in this piece is overwhelming. The other item that immediately caught my eye is the French Chinoiserie polychrome painted six-panel paper screen (right): the various scenes and storytelling around the exterior edge of each panel is something I have not seen before.”

Left: A smooth, white, abstract human sculpture stands on a pedestal. Right: A large decorative screen by SagreraBrazil Design features colorful, detailed floral and human scene illustrations in panels, including flowers and small figures in various activities. Artworks are in an indoor exhibit curated by Cecilia Sagrera-Hill and George Brazil.

George says: “My breath was taken away by the oversized, incredibly mesmerizing, abstract by David Leverett, entitled The Wound (1988), at Henry Saywell”.

Large abstract painting with swirling yellow, green, and dark colors, resembling a dramatic landscape or sky. The painting, curated by SagreraBrazil Design, hangs on a white gallery wall, surrounded by smaller artworks and modern sculptures on the floor—including striking stone and metal pieces.

Cecilia and George concur: “What we saw and loved this year are the various screens throughout the show. They are such a versatile piece, whether a room divider, behind a sofa, behind a headboard to create depth and be the artwork above the bed without having to hang it or simply as artwork either flat or folded. Their usage has endless possibilities. We love the idea of taking 18th century panels and transporting them to a 21st century high rise condominium – a space stripped of architectural detailing – to showcase the beauty of hand-painting and delicate detail work that can only be admired from close up. This series from Galerie Steinitz can be incorporated down a hallway to bring life to a transitioning space”.

Left: Ornate room with a chandelier, floral wallpaper, antique furniture, and vases curated by SagreraBrazil Design. Right: Close-up of wallpaper showing a black butterfly and pink flowers with green leaves on a tan background—a pattern reminiscent of George Brazil’s appreciation for detailed botanical art. Both highlight opulent, vintage décor and the refined aesthetic for which Cecilia Sagrera-Hill is known.

“The 17th century Dutch Baroque polychrome painted and gilt leather 8-panel screen from Philip Stites is another showstopper”.

Opulent antique chairs and a wooden side table sit before a tall, ornate folding screen with detailed floral and bird designs, curated in the elegant style of SagreraBrazil Design. A close-up on the right highlights colorful birds and blossoms on the lacquered screen’s intricate painted surface, reminiscent of Cecilia Sagrera-Hill’s refined eye for decorative detail.

“At Galen Lowe, we spotted a beautiful 18th century Japanese Edo Period screen with colored medallions on a finely painted ground, each with a poem (left) and an equally stunning Japanese Meji Period three-circle screen (right)”.

Two art displays: Left, a framed piece with calligraphy and objects including baskets and shoes; right, a tall artwork with three large silver circles and metal lotus flowers, with other decorative items nearby—exemplifying the creative vision of SagreraBrazil Design by Cecilia Sagrera-Hill and George Brazil. People partially visible in the background.

“Lighting has endless possibilities – but when you stumble upon a beautiful 1950’s stylized sculpted hand grasping a circular section sconce – you can’t resist the texture, or the emotion of the grasping hands. You could place these in a beautiful contemporary space, but what if you paired them with a chinoiserie wallpaper to play off each other in a cozy space (a powder room perhaps)? A small and subtle tongue-in-cheek moment that make us all smile!”

Left: A sculpted hand holds a textured, horn-shaped wall sconce—an artistic detail reminiscent of the refined aesthetic found in SagreraBrazil Design projects. Right: A table lamp with a sculpted base resembling a woman’s bust, white and elegant, sits on a wooden table near decorative objects and a textured wall, capturing the sophisticated sensibility that Cecilia Sagrera-Hill brings to interiors.

“A great example of mixing eras is through accessories – at Hyde Park Antiques we discovered James Bearden, an artistic welder whose smaller sculptural functional pieces take center stage displayed upon antique Chinese marble top tables with antique mirrors above – just because one is contemporary/modern, and the other antique doesn’t mean they can’t live in the same home and live in harmony”.

Three panels show a green, oxidized metal display box with miniature sculpted objects resembling buildings, coral, and organic shapes, sitting on a marble-top surface against vibrant backgrounds. Designed by Cecilia Sagrera-Hill of SagreraBrazil Design, each view highlights different details and textures of the intricate box.

Cecilia loves this “jewelry as art” from Kentshire: “Who wouldn’t want to wear these? I sure would!”

Two pieces of jewelry on display: a wide, red-and-gold checkered bracelet in the foreground, and a gold angular headpiece with wing-like shapes mounted vertically behind it—both set on gray display stands in a well-lit showcase—highlight the signature elegance of SagreraBrazil Design by Cecilia Sagrera-Hill and George Brazil.

“Last but not least, there’s floor art – art that keeps your feet warm. Take a living room with modern/contemporary furniture and a pale color palette, mix in an antique one-of-a-kind area rug – art for your feet, and a perfect balance. Love the color palette of this Tony Kitz area rug”.

A large, ornate orange rug with intricate patterns hangs vertically on a black wall; below it, multiple colorful rolled rugs are stacked in two rows. To the left, a tall decorative statue stands atop a tiered, white pedestal. The setting appears to be a rug showroom curated by SagreraBrazil Design, highlighting their signature blend of artistry and sophistication.

By Cecilia Sagrera-Hill and George Brazil, SagreraBrazilDesign