What are the offices of those who design them like? We have asked ourselves this question to investigate the work spaces of those who are in charge of designing them. Here begins a series of publications to check whether in “blacksmith house, stick knife” or, on the contrary, office designers and architects they lead by example from his own office. We tell you that, without a doubt, they lead by example.
Our first stop is at the offices of the interior design studio Susan Marinello, in Seattle, an elegant space Sqm 1.500 where the interior designer deploys all her weapons and good taste to create environments sophisticated and luminous, in the purest American classic-contemporary style.
When the study celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021, there were still echoes of the pandemic, a fact that led to the need for a change of location. The old office was located in a neighborhood that had lost its luster. Thus began the search for a new space that would once again house the twenty employees who had been teleworking for months. The new study had to be in the heart of the city and have abundant natural light: a open loft, bathed in light, which became a space full of antiques, art and music.
The chosen place was Alaska Trade Building, a historic place located in the Pike Place Market neighborhood, offered such a space. The building, from 1909, is built entirely of reinforced concrete. It was the first fireproof building of its kind in Seattle at the turn of the century.
The transformation began with the complete emptying of the space, 1.500 square meters, to start from scratch and establish a new aesthetic. Planning and construction took five months. Balancing the vision and budget with the reality of supply chain delays due to the pandemic also represented a challenge.
Susan Marinello's Offices: Design and Elegance in Seattle
The result is an interior environment with lots of natural light and art, that encourages creativity, well-being and joy. That mix of emotions and design is transmitted in the entry, which has a table Jacobean refectory coming from England, a chrome arc lamp of the seventies, a vintage Oushak rug, with a faded appearance, and a mirror ball like those in discos.
The open plan office is decorated in white tones, that reinforce the atmosphere of tranquility that seeks to convey its gentle character and encourage the process creative how to be a blank canvas to display art and pieces of furniture.
The large rectangular space ends in the conference room and the library, which offers views to Elliott Bay and the mountains. In this way, Susan Marinello's offices function as sample of its style, design and manufacturing, but they also discover the best of Seattle and why it is one of the most pleasant cities in the United States to live in.
At library, Ethel (the office mascot) is sitting on a vintage wing chair, between armchairs midcentury and a lamp old glass On the right, a work by Matthew Wetschler hangs over a vintage bar cart from Sweden.
In short, the new office of the interior design studio by Susan Marinello celebrates the best of the city: the iconic turn-of-the-century buildings, the stunning views of the bay and the elegance of timeless classic American interiors. The location has transformed the ethos of the studio, providing a constant source of inspiration both for the work of the studio and for the way employees perceive their work.
In the words of the interior designer: “Since our beginnings, our philosophy has always been Improve Life Quality. In collaboration with architects and craftsmen Renowned around the world, our spaces are renowned for transforming mood and mindset, improving the way people live, work and feel.”
