Education
Elkins had the tendency to mix time periods and styles in nearly every room she completed.
Elkins had the tendency to mix time periods and styles in nearly every room she completed.
She was the sister of architect David Adler. Their travels together in Europe inspired her passion for design. She found inspiration in the work of Jean-Michel Frank and Alberto Giacometti.
She developed an eclectic and bold style through the use of color and furnishings.
During the 1930s, Elkin"s reputation spread, giving her the title "decorator of choice" in San Francisco. By the end of her career, she had collaborated with Adler to complete fifteen large scale houses.
Frances Adler Elkins was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1888. They had 3 children together: Frances Adler Elkins, Katherine F. Elkins Boyd and Charles West. Elkins.
She turned to design to make a living, becoming quite popular in California.
She designed residential areas such as the Haas Apartment (California), the North Shore House (Illinois) and the Winslow House (California) as well as commercial buildings like the Delegate Monte Properties Company (California). She died aged 64 in San Francisco.