When planning the renovation of this penthouse in downtown Seattle, the owners weren’t entirely sure what they wanted. However, it was clear to the young cosmopolitan couple what they didn’t want: the segmented floor plan and muted, white-and-gray color palette of the existing space. “Before the remodel, the residence didn’t have a Northwest aesthetic,” recalls designer James Fung, who worked with coprincipal Whitney Maehara. “They saw the opportunity to introduce a playful and bold style while still making it feel timeless and livable,” Fung adds.
Although the original color scheme could be described as 50 shades of gray, the term means much more in this storied unit. In the novel Fifty Shades of Grey, this was the residence of fictional protagonist Christian Grey. While the clients appreciated the expansive city and water views emphasized by the restrained palette, their lifestyle and tastes called for something different. “They travel frequently, and there is a very European sensibility to them,” Maehara says. The directive became to open the space and layer in color and texture to give the home a warm old-world feeling.
To achieve this, the designers worked closely with general contractor Rob Hoxie and superintendent Derek Hagar, along with a cadre of highly skilled local craftspeople. The first order of business was removing several interior walls. “Even though it is a big unit, it felt like a bunch of little spaces,” Fung explains. “There were no 90-degree angles; instead, it was lots of circles and rotundas.” The primary suite was the most meandering room, with an inefficient U-shaped bathroom dividing the sleeping area from the closet.
While Hoxie and his team set about opening up the footprint, Fung and Maehara worked with the clients to develop interiors that would reflect their young, vibrant energy and a lifestyle that is quite literally fast paced, as the wife is a race car driver and travels frequently on the international racing circuit. The new mix of warm, rich materials punctuated by moments of shiny lacquers inspired by automotive finishes are found in every room—even pantries and closets.
The now contiguous living and dining areas are grounded by floors and casework in dark brown walnut that wrap the spaces in warmth and elegance. Wall paneling is in the same wood but installed in a chevron pattern. The level of expertise needed to execute this detail seamlessly is indicative of the overall design, where every element has been carefully considered. “The word ‘collaboration’ is overused nowadays, but this technically difficult project required the highest level of collaboration between us, our subcontractors, fabricators and installers,” Hoxie says.
One of the most eye-catching spaces now is the bar, which was designed to be a focal point. A new set of glass-paneled pocket doors can close off the area from the adjacent home office or open it to create one continuous room. The bar itself features brass countertops, glass-and-quartz- crystal sconces by artist Joseph Pagano, and shelves backed with hand-cut embossed leather panels in rich blue and crimson hues. But it’s the backsplash that is the true showstopper: a backlit panel of sparkling blue Italian agate. “Whitney and I took the clients to a couple stone yards early in the process,” Fung recalls. “We noticed they responded to onyx, agate, malachite—those kinds of more specialty slabs.”
Dramatic stone also figures into the bathrooms, where Hoxie and his team shaped a massive slab of dark green onyx into a custom powder room sink and book-matched the same stone in a guest room shower. Stonecutters also fashioned pieces of black, white and gray marble into a custom graphic pattern for floors in the entryway and primary closet, creating a rich Italianate feel. Throughout, bold patterns in textiles and wallcoverings along with sculptural furnishings and light fixtures give the home a bespoke, art-like quality. “It is a journey of discovery,” says Fung, noting that each room offers moments of colorful surprise.
Ultimately, the penthouse is a jewel box of Pacific Northwest craft. “It doesn’t necessarily feel like a Northwest home, but this is a wonderful region for woodworking, tilework, stonework and glass, and it reflects that,” Maehara explains. “We needed these local skills in order to pull off such a high-touch sensibility.”
