A Seattle Penthouse Renovation Built Around a Collection: When Art Leads the Way

Designer Whitney Maehara Transforms a Downtown Seattle Penthouse Into the Perfect Canvas for Northwest Art, March 2020.

Some homes are designed around a sofa. Some around a view. This downtown Seattle penthouse was designed around a painting — and the result is nothing short of spectacular.

When Mia Doces and Mike Harrington first walked into their future city home, they had to look past dark wood, mustard countertops, and bamboo floors. Still, they could see what it could be. The bones, after all, were undeniable: floor-to-ceiling windows, concrete walls, and exposed ductwork. There was also one of the largest wraparound decks ever seen on a Seattle condo, with sweeping views of downtown and Elliott Bay. From there, designer Whitney Maehara of NB Design Group, along with her partner Nancy Burfiend, took on the renovation with a clear mandate. Together, they would strip it back, let the industrial architecture breathe, and make room for the art.

The design challenge was as much about mediation as aesthetics. Mia wanted the home to showcase her inherited collection of works by Pacific Northwest notables. Mike, however, didn’t want to feel like he was living in a gallery. The solution, in the end, was elegant: lighten everything. So the team chose pale neutral walls, soft gray oak flooring, and muted finishes throughout. Even so, the design didn’t hide the ductwork and concrete — it honored them. Against that quiet backdrop, the artwork took center stage exactly as intended. It began at the front door, with a Galen Garwood painting that Maehara describes as the “unveiling experience.” From there, it drew visitors deeper into the space.

Seattle Art Source served as art advisors on this project. Throughout the home, we feature artist Jennifer Gauthier’s work — a natural fit, since we made every design decision in service of the art on its walls. In the end, the penthouse is a love letter to the Pacific Northwest’s creative legacy. It’s also a tribute to a father’s collection finding its forever home. Above all, it reflects the idea that the best interiors don’t compete with art — they celebrate it.

Read the full feature on Luxe Interiors + Design here.