Hopkins family mansion in Atherton is Decorators' show house Hopkins family mansion in Atherton is Decorators' show house (March 30, 2005)

An historic mansion, one of the "three sisters' homes" built in Atherton for Mark Hopkins' grandnieces, is this year's Decorators' Show House.

Built in 1904, the home at 41 Lowery Drive in Atherton will be open to the public from Saturday, April 2, through Sunday, April 24.

This is the 37th Decorators' Show House, sponsored by the Coyote Point Museum Auxiliary.

The home, a blend of Greek and Georgian Revival designs, was built for Edna Hopkins Taylor Lowery by her father, E.W. Hopkins, who built homes for each of his three daughters when they married.

It was designed by architects Bliss & Favrille, best known for the design of such San Francisco landmarks as the St. Francis Hotel, the Bank of California, the Geary Theatre, and the Palace of Fine Arts.

The 8,500-square-foot house boasts many architectural details, such as Ionic, Doric and Corinthian columns, and elegant plaster reliefs.

Built in 1904 for $25,000 on a 17-acre parcel by John McBain, the mansion has been known at different times as Oak Grove Estates, Lowery Acres, and Kellogg Woods.

The house was the center of many social events, including the marriage of the widowed Ms. Taylor to Stewart Samuel Lowery in 1921.

In 1951, after her children were grown, Ms. Lowery began to divide and sell off some of the property. She died in 1956. The mansion is now owned by Richard and Barbara Pivnicka.
The designers

Twenty-five Bay Area designers are taking part in the Show House. Local designers include: James Walker Jr. of Landsculpt, Menlo Park; Renee Prudhomme and Vicky Saxton of Flegel's Home Furnishings, Menlo Park; Jane Antonacci, Wendy Lloyd and James Tufts of Jane Antonacci & Associates, Menlo Park; and the Canada College ASID student chapter, Woodside.

The auxiliary was formed in 1953 to raise funds for the San Mateo County Junior Museum, as the museum was then called. In 1957 the first Decorators' Show House was held and the auxiliary became the museum's chief financial support.

Over the years, the auxiliary has contributed $4 million to the museum. Jacqueline Himes is president of the Coyote Point Museum Auxiliary. Lilley Yee and Kay Krouskup are Show House chairmen.
INFORMATION

The Show House will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from Saturday, April 2, through Sunday, April 24. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be closed Mondays. Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 for advance purchase from auxiliary members and selected retail stores. For more information, call 566-8175 or go to cpmashowhouse.org.

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