Paul Duchscherer (1952-2017) joined Artistic License in 1985 and distinguished himself through the design of historic interiors, and especially magnificent designs using Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers. A graduate of the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design, Paul lived and worked in San Francisco for over three decades specializing in period-style projects for historic buildings. A proponent of historic preservation, his professional activities included lecturing, writing, and teaching about historic design. Paul’s expertise led to frequent appearances on various television programs, including the PBS series “This Old House,” and the HGTV series “Curb Appeal.” Paul authored numerous books, including The Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Home, Inside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Interior, and Outside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Garden. For his luminous career as well as his tireless work in furthering the goals of Artistic License, Paul Duchscherer will be well-remembered, along with his kindness, his beautiful singing voice, and his signature laugh.
Paul Duchscherer’s books include The Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Home (1995), Inside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Interior (1997), Outside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Garden (1999), and Victorian Glory in San Francisco and the Bay Area (2001), all featuring photography by Douglas Keister, are all published by Penguin Putnam Inc. Also, beginning in 2003, a new series of small-scale books, to be called Bungalow Basics, will be published by Pomegranate. The topics of the first four titles to appear will include: Fireplaces, Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Living Rooms.
Paul Duchscherer’s books include The Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Home (1995), Inside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Interior (1997), Outside the Bungalow: America’s Arts & Crafts Garden (1999), and Victorian Glory in San Francisco and the Bay Area (2001), all featuring photography by Douglas Keister, are all published by Penguin Putnam Inc. Also, beginning in 2003, a new series of small-scale books, to be called Bungalow Basics, will be published by Pomegranate. The topics of the first four titles to appear will include: Fireplaces, Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Living Rooms.
Living Room, Segers House (1915), Los Altos, California: Paul Duchscherer designed the 2003 restoration and remodel of this imposing Craftsman style home. The fireplace surround and hearth, with its inlaid mosaic tile, was adapted from a Greene and Greene design; the leaded art glass windows by Theodore Ellison share this influence. Handcrafted tiles by Diane Winters, tile installation by Riley Doty, pillows by Dianne Ayres of Arts and Period Textiles, painting and wood finishing by Robert Dufort/Magic Brush, Inc. Photo by Linda Svendsen
Once the original kitchen, the dining room’s new scheme accurately recreates the vintage home’s Craftsman style. The newly-created millwork, including the built-in cabinetry, is crafted of solid mahogany. Commissioned to make art glass for the room, Artistic License member Theodore Ellison was inspired by the work of Greene and Greene in his designs for the rectangular ceiling fixture, pair of wall sconces, and two pairs of china cabinet door panels. Guild members Debey Zito and Terry Schmitt designed and crafted a custom handcarved cabinet and center table that is partly seen through the wide doorway. Seen through the smaller doorway, their work for this project also included a set of handcarved folding doors above a stone fireplace in the family room, which conceal a flat-screen TV.
Turkish Parlor of “Mableton” (the McDonald Mansion, 1879), Santa Rosa, California.
Conceived in the 19th century Aesthetic Movement tradition of exotic smoking parlors, this newly created room features delicate Moorish-Revival millwork, and a unique Persian-style wallpaper scheme with a stepped central dome ringed by beveled mirrored panels.
Steve Rynerson Rynerson O’Brien Architecture; Paul Duchscherer, Historical Design Consultant; faux bois by George Shadow/Classic Art and Design, Inc.; Steve Bauer/ Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers; wallpaper installation by Heidi Wright. Mark Citret, Photographer
