We love to revisit projects and pull back the curtain on specific spaces that give us so much joy designing. We consider not only the space but mostly our client’s needs, their lifestyle and their loves. This particular project is located in Bellevue, WA. It’s a stunning penthouse apartment that offered up some incredible opportunities and, of course, a few design challenges.
The space itself is a dream – huge windows, high ceilings, and expansive views of the Pacific Northwest city life. The layout is a true open plan, where the kitchen, dining area, and living room all flow together. While we love an open concept, the challenge is always making the individual zones feel distinct and cozy without breaking that beautiful flow.
Today, we focus specifically on the living room area, which really became the heart of this home.
Before we get to the final reveal, I wanted to share a little bit of our process. We started with a mood board to nail down the vibe (think “sophisticated calm”), moved to a quick watercolor sketch to visualize the color balance, and finally presented the client with a detailed board of fixtures and furnishings.
When designing this living space, our biggest inspiration was the architecture itself. With those massive floor-to-ceiling windows, natural light pours into this room all day long. We absolutely didn’t want to fight that.
To let the light and the view take center stage, we kept the foundation of the room incredibly clean and neutral. We selected modern furnishings with clean lines – like those two super-comfortable beige sofas – and paired them with a large, sleek tan leather ottoman that doubles as a coffee table. It keeps the vibe airy and sophisticated. Seamlessly transitioning into the kitchen and dining area, the furnishings and palette remain consistent with the living room.
But, if you’ve followed us for a while, you know our design philosophy: a neutral room needs a “pop” of life to keep it from feeling flat and with a lack of personality. You need that one element that adds personality and energy.
For this Bellevue penthouse, that energy comes courtesy of the accent pillows. We used the incredible Kelly Wearstler District pillows, and honestly, they make the room. They are bold, colorful, and abstract, featuring a fantastic geometric pattern of oranges, teals, and creams. Against the quiet backdrop of the beige sofas and that textured blue rug, they just sing. And fun punch of color on the upholstered counter stools brought a little character to the simple palette in the kitchen.
Accents like these – whether it’s pillows, a funky lamp (like the geometric one on the side table!), or a piece of art – are essential for bringing a clean, neutral foundation to life.
Here is the complete look at the finished living space:
See the full project here!
We are so thrilled with how this turned out. It feels luxurious and modern, but thanks to those pops of color and texture, it’s still warm and inviting.
Kindly,
Michelle
