Perched on a hilltop on Mercer Island’s North End, this family home enjoys sweeping territorial views of the Cascades and Lake Washington, as well as privacy and seclusion. The owners have lived here for decades, raising their children in this one-of-a-kind home, and as they planned for years ahead hosting family and friends, they couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. However, the home showed its age and the couple decided it was time to refresh the property to suit their current needs. The kitchen was the first room they wanted to tackle, as their existing layout was closed off and didn’t have a dining area that would allow for entertainment or family gatherings. They had some ideas about what they wanted but didn’t have the experience to design the project themselves, so they hired local designer Amy May of Artala Designs to help them achieve their vision.
The owners tell us that when they originally imagined renovating the kitchen they couldn’t see past white on white, which is often featured in so many magazines today, but by working with Amy they were rewarded with something completely different that is a true reflection of themselves. They explained that Amy’s listening and interpretive skills put them at ease, enabling them to share ideas, and respond to her suggestions, with an openness that allowed for genuine collaboration. As a result, they ended up not just expanding and redesigning their kitchen, but the entire first floor and primary suite as well.
Homeowner Terri explains, “Amy’s emotional intelligence, empathy, and organically evolving design method, changed my life perspective, and I really enjoyed the process. Every piece my eye lands on has a story, every moment of this growth encapsulated forever in our home.”
Amy describes her process as organic, soulful and collaborative. She spends time getting to know the owners, and understanding not only their design aesthetic, but also their lifestyle, personalities, and functional needs. Amy doesn’t take a siloed approach to design, but instead includes the owners in all the decisions, from selection of materials and fixtures to colors and textures, all in an effort to create clients’ own story. By getting consistent feedback from the owners Amy is able to help them refine their design into something that is a true reflection of their personalities and needs. It is through this process that what was originally expected to be a white-on-white kitchen turned out to be a stunning showcase of gleaming walnut cabinetry topped with blue Oceano stone countertops.
Clearly the decision to hire Amy and immerse themselves in the process resulted in more than they ever dreamed it could be. When you enter the main floor of the home you feel like you’ve been transported into a lakeview retreat which offers serenity and relaxation. The wall of windows frames a breathtaking view, which coexists with foggy hues of gray and blue saturating the natural interior elements. Natural materials such as stone, walnut, and wool, are integrated in a sophisticated modern motif that both echoes and celebrates the stunning landscape. The paint color creates the illusion that the mountains and lake are flowing into the walls themselves. Terri explains that they would have probably just painted the trim a traditional white, which would have broken the visual effect and distracted the eye from the view. Thanks to Amy’s design creativity, the owners were able to avoid what appeared to be obvious choices that would have prevented the outcome they achieved.
The new kitchen is open to the spacious dining and living area, which facilitates casual dinner parties and enables the cook to converse with the guests as they mingle and lounge. A floor to ceiling modern marble façade defines the fireplace and anchors the living area. Scrumptious seating invites one to sit back and relax while curled up with a book or just being mesmerized by the view. The dining area features a round table, which keeps the room from feeling chopped up and enhances the overall flow of the space. A glass chandelier, with a design evocative of rain, casts a warm light while also reminding us we are in the Northwest – once again weaving an organic motif inspired by the region.
One kitchen wall is flanked by double-sided walnut cabinetry that divides the kitchen from the entrance to the powder room. The result is an ingenious means of increasing storage while also creating an opulent and private entry for the small bathroom. The powder room itself is a true reflection of the collaboration between the owners and the designer, in that it features a beautiful Italian quartzite countertop, as well as Venetian glass sconces the owners sourced on a trip to Italy. Amy opted to continue the walnut cabinetry from the hallway into the powder room to uniquely connect the two spaces and create even more much needed storage.
This type of ingenuity carries itself through to the primary suite, which is equally endowed with views of the lake. The bedroom manages to be spacious but still feel cozy thanks to moody wallpaper, mercury glass lamps, and a garnet settee. Luxurious touches don’t stop there, but are also abundant in the spa-like bathroom – one which could rival the bathroom in any luxury hotel. The freestanding soaking tub is partially surrounded by a custom shelf and landing, making it easier to access while still accentuating the elegant contours of the tub. The floor features Italian stone tile which displays shell fossils captured in the natural stone. It’s easy to get swept away by the thoughtful details.
All of these lovely living spaces double as an art gallery. The couple has a wonderful collection of glassworks, and Amy made sure they are thoughtfully incorporated into the living area design. In addition, Amy worked with Laura Van Horne, owner of Gray Sky Gallery and a mixed-media artist, to offer the client paintings that would continue the story being told in the spaces they adorn. It was important to the clients that the home feature work by local artists, and connect the home to the natural environment, and Amy weaved them effortlessly into the new design of the house.
The space created now feels intentional and elegant, an extension of the outdoors while still being refined, just like the homeowners always dreamed of. One can imagine both curling up with a coffee and reading the paper in front of the view, as well as clicking champagne glasses with friends while celebrating life’s accomplishments. This special home does it all, and will serve its occupants well for life’s next adventures.
Pull Quote:
“Amy’s emotional intelligence, empathy, and organically evolving design method, changed my life perspective, and I really enjoyed the process. Every piece my eye lands on has a story, every moment of this growth encapsulated forever in our home.”