W Hotels, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has 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 transformed, completing the multi-phase renovation that included the hotel’s living room (the W brand’s take on the traditional hotel lobby), Trace restaurant and meeting spaces.
Host Hotels & Resorts, owners of W Seattle, partnered with design firm Krause + Sawyer, along with 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, as well as hotel guests, to record while on the road.
The hotel’s design is influenced by Seattle’s history as a logging town, as well as its roots in the grunge music scene. Guestrooms are host to 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 is found on each 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.”
The 415-room hotel includes nine suites and is spread across 26 floors. The property is located in Seattle’s financial, retail and entertainment district.