Tom and Sally had been living in their downtown Seattle condominium for several years when a high-rise went in nearby, effectively blocking the couple’s view of the Space Needle. Shortly thereafter, they learned about another new building, not too far away, called the Rainier Square Tower.
Completed in 2020, Rainier Square Tower rises 58 stories and occupies a prominent position in Seattle’s skyline, with street level commercial, office space, and luxury apartments. At the time of its construction, it was billed as the highest residential building in the city, offering 360-degree views from its uppermost floors. Not only could the couple regain their lost sightlines to the Space Needle there, but the building facilitated even loftier aims. “Their main goal in life was to live above the clouds,” says Danielle Krieg, interior designer with Studio AM, the architecture and interiors firm that worked with the couple on their new home in the Tower.
The homeowners acquired three units on the fifty-seventh-floor, and collaborated with the Studio AM team and Toth Construction to combine them into one spectacular home that capitalizes on those wraparound views. The contractor’s attention to detail was key to executing the firm’s vision and overcoming the challenges of coordinating a remodel in a high-rise building. “Toth Construction does a high caliber build and they are detail-focused,” says Aaron Mollick, co-founder of Studio AM. “A project like this has to be executed with a lot of precision.”
For their part, the team at Toth Construction appreciated Studio AM’s inventive design. “Despite some challenges with having to conform to the building structure that we could not alter, Studio AM was able to imagine and create a beautiful space taking full advantage of the home’s panoramic views,” says superintendent at Toth Construction, Steve Widener.
To start, the owners “wanted to be able to stand anywhere in the home and see North, South, and West,” says Michael Troyer, co-founder of Studio AM. Yet with an over 4,000-square-foot layout in the apartment, the team knew that leaving the interior open and undefined wouldn’t feel comfortable. “Interior wise, we didn’t want the space to feel like one giant warehouse,” says Mollick.
To resolve this, the firm specified movable, as opposed to fixed, walls to blur the boundaries between rooms. While the main living spaces are clustered together in an open realm, and bathrooms and utility areas have traditional enclosures, other rooms were treated differently. For instance, a guest suite off the dining room has a twelve-foot-wide wall that pockets seamlessly behind the kitchen, opening the suite—and its windows—up to the rest of the plan. A second entry door to the suite pivots and holds open so that the room’s windows can be seen through a hallway.
Thus, if the owners are alone, walls and doors remain open to maintain the viewshed. But when company occupies the guest suite, everything can be closed for discretion. “With fixed walls, the client wasn’t able to see completely around corners and through different spaces,” says Troyer. “The movable walls were very important toward accomplishing that.”
Along with the movable walls, the team used “layering devices” in open spaces. “The layering devices allow the spaces to feel defined and comfortable, yet visibly open to everything,” says Mollick. To that end, custom screens anchor the ends of beds, a glass fireplace column separates an office from the living room, and a bespoke sculptural brass light fixture, its components mimicking the shape of musical notes that hum down from the ceiling, provides a boundary for the music room, where Tom’s prized acrylic and gold piano sits.
While the piano is a natural focal point, the rest of the material palette was inspired by Sally. “She always had a glamorous style to her,” says Krieg. “She would come to meetings in sparkly dresses, jewelry, and shoes, and that was her personality. She just sparkles.” The Rainier Square Tower, with its distinct swooping exterior shape likened to the silhouette of an inverted high heel, was a natural space to incorporate that one-of-a-kind glamour, from the lighting and fabric choices, to the primary bathroom’s custom acrylic art wall. “There’s this layering of finishes where you get both reflection and a soft sheen,” says Krieg.
Take the kitchen. The ceiling has a mother of pearl finish for luster, while an Ann Sacks tile mosaic backsplash combines brass and marble for elegance, and a polished granite counter reflects light. All of the shine is anchored by a suite of oak cabinets, fabricated by Northwest Custom Interiors. “There’s glamour, but there’s also materials that invoke warmth, coziness, and grounding to help balance the space,” says Mollick.
Across the room, a custom cast glass counter is a spot to drink coffee and start the morning, gazing over city, water, and sky. “The casting of the glass was laid out so that it looks like cloud forms,” says Troyer, a lovely reminder of how the homeowners’ dreams for their home have been realized. Backlit, the table even glows at night, to offer a glimpse of the clouds no matter the time of day.
PROJECT SOURCES
ARCHITECT & INTERIOR DESIGN
Studio AM Architecture & Interiors
studioamarchitects.com
CONTRACTOR
Toth Construction
tothconstruction.com
CABINETRY
Northwest Custom Interiors
nwcustominteriors.com
FLOORING
Eurocraft Hardwood Floors, LLC
eurocrafthardwood.com
PAINT
Benjamin Moore
benjaminmoore.com
RUGS
Driscoll Robbins Fine Carpets
driscollrobbins.com
Shoptalk - Danielle Krieg
Danielle Krieg, Interior Designer, Studio AM Architecture & Interiors studioamarchitects.com
You “cut your teeth” at several notable design firms. What knowledge has been most helpful to your clients at Studio AM?
Establishing and nurturing client trust is invaluable. I learned early on that successful design isn’t about imposing my vision but, conversely, understanding the client’s. I use this knowledge as the foundation of every new project, taking time to discover who my client is, what they love, and tailoring the design to fit their desires.
How do you like to work with your design clients?
Establishing trust and fostering free-flowing communication is key. I stay in regular contact with clients through emails, texts, and calls. I also encourage them to share visual examples of their preferences with me, whether it is an image from a magazine or a photo from Pinterest, which allows them to feel heard and keeps them engaged throughout the process. Because interior design is multifaceted, I like to encourage my clients to go visit various showrooms, galleries, and antique stores with me, locally or out of state. It becomes a collaborative journey—we create better together!
You offer a full-service team; what benefits does a high-caliber firm provide your clients?
A design project has many moving parts, and working with a full-service team like ours offers instantaneous collaboration, which elevates our ability to offer a seamless, efficient, and more cohesive, refined outcome. Every moving part works in harmony, ensuring the final design is a true reflection of collective expertise.
You specialize in custom furniture, decorative lighting, art procurement, and installation. Where does one start to achieve a client’s personal vision?
It starts with understanding the client’s “why” as well as their preferences. I like to compile visuals that outline a client’s likes and dislikes, creating a visual “dream folder” that we can revisit throughout the process. Patterns will usually emerge from this exercise, helping to guide the design process and shape their ideal space.
What influences are inspiring you now and how does that impact your work moving forward?
The Pacific Northwest offers an ideal palette from which to be inspired and to create. I love working with local artisans, whose unique offerings add unmatched layers to a design project. Our region is filled with so much creative talent, incorporating hints of PNW design into a project, when aligned with a client’s vision, can enhance an already incredible design.
In your opinion, what is the most fundamental element of interior design? Where do you start on a new project?
I believe that functional space is the most critical element of interior design and perhaps the foundation of all design. Understanding how a homeowner intends to use their home is paramount. Every project begins with considering the purpose and function of the space.
You’ve built a notable body of residential work. What are some major takeaways from designing homes?
I make it a practice to never impose my own personal tastes on a client and always verify a design direction with a client before proceeding. Doubling back to ensure everyone is on the same page is never a waste of time. Also, taking the time to listen to a client about their daily routines, their space requirements, and design wishes, creates a successful outcome.
What are a few indulgences you like integrating into a space?
Incorporating unique, unexpected pieces that will surprise clients. It is a charming conversation starter with their guests.
Favorite way to spend a weekend in the Northwest?
I love my family, so anything that surrounds me with them is my preference. We spend time at the horse barn with our daughter or cheering on our son at sporting events.
