W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, completed the $18-million renovation of the W Seattle. Inspired by the hotel’s Pacific Northwest location, all 415 guestrooms and nine suites have been updated, completing the multiphase renovation that included the hotel’s Living Room hotel lobby, Trace restaurant and meeting spaces.
Host Hotels & Resorts, owners of W Seattle, partnered with design firm Krause + Sawyer and the design team from W Hotels to reimagine the hotel. Also involved in the renovation was Portland OR-based Skylab Architects, which designed the hotel's public spaces and created the over-all decorative themes.
The W Seattle will also soon be home to the first W Sound Suite in North America, a private music studio and writer’s room for professional recording artists, studio musicians and hotel guests to record in while on the road.
“W Seattle is an iconic part of the city’s social scene; a place for guests to relax and enjoy the W brand’s signature cocktail culture and somewhere for locals to let their hair down,” said Anthony Ingham, global brand leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “Along with commitments from our ownership groups, the renovation of W Seattle is part of an overall W brand strategy to continue investing in our North American portfolio.”
The hotel’s updated guestrooms evoke a sense of an ‘urban lodge’ through a color palette derived from the blue hues of Seattle, with pops of purple, teal and yellow gold incorporated into a grey canvas. The focal point of each room is the headboard ‘Lodge Wall,’ connecting creative design to nature through stacked wood beams backlit by LED lights.
Guestrooms also have plaid accent pillows and a Pendleton pattern reflected in the silver, white and gray Mylar wallpaper created exclusively for the guest rooms. Details mimicking Seattle’s aviation history influenced materials and finishes – polished, aerodynamic shapes for wall and desk lighting, as well as the design of the desk chair. The throw blanket pattern comes from a Boeing 747 model kit on scale, and a pillow with a jet image punctuates each bed.
Each room and suite has W amenities including Bluetooth-enabled TV, access to high-speed Wi-Fi, the Bliss Spa sink-side six bath amenities and the W Hotels Bed.
“The inspiration for the rooms and suites of W Seattle is shaped by the juxtaposition of Seattle culture and outdoor recreation,” said Kajsa Krause, principal, Krause + Sawyer. “Before we took on the design, we spent time observing the lifestyle of the city. We could see that Seattleites are naturally connected to their region, with a close relationship between urban and rural. We wanted W Seattle’s design to mirror the city’s widespread tech innovation, yet make deference to the area’s inherent beauty.”