A Model Debut: ASH Staging Makes Seattle Moves

 

Construction is complete and The Emerald is welcoming onsite and virtual tours of its eight new model homes in downtown Seattle, six of which have been delightfully decorated by ASH Staging, a division of ASH NYC. The New York and California-based company is known for combining historically compatible disciplines under one roof—including design, development, hotels, staging and products—and The Emerald marks the company’s debut in Seattle!

 

This collection of six luxury residences is located on the 24th floor of The Emerald’s 40-story tower featuring unrivaled views and access to an array of amenities, all within walking distance of Pike Place Market and the Seattle waterfront.

 

Often described as the “Rolls-Royce” of the staging industry, ASH’s residential staging projects include model apartments, sales or leasing offices in new developments, and private residences for sale or rent. In addition to furnishing these homes for sale, ASH Staging also designs and installs fully furnished homes for discerning clientele in need of a move-in ready space on a temporary basis.

 

“The inhabitants of The Emerald are expected to be multifaceted, like the eponymous gemstone itself,” said Andrew Bowen, Partner and Head of Staging for ASH NYC. “To that end, we crafted an array of model residences that captures this varied spirit, celebrating the diversity of personalities in Seattle that will be lucky to call this exceptional address home.”

 

We caught up with the design team to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at the design philosophy, some sage style advice, and a sneak peek into the personalities you’ll find in the model residences at The Emerald:

 

What is your philosophy when it comes to interior design?

 

When it comes to our model residence work, we ultimately believe in letting our imaginations run unabated in pursuit of an authentic human connection. Unlike traditional residential interior designers, the end-users are not our clients. So, it’s our job to bring an imaginary person’s home to life, filling it with various elements that tell a cohesive and interesting story. In doing so, we yearn to connect with the prospective buyers who will tour our work once it is complete and help them realize why this property is perfect for them. To do this, we’ve broken away the staging mantras of neutrality and instead believe in always creating something new, site-specific, and carefully layered — ensuring that no two models are ever exactly alike. In fact, the team at ASH has personified the model homes to line up with characters such as Adam Driver, Alia Shawkat, Idris Elba, Janelle Monae, Kris Jenner and Carrie Brownstein.

 

 

When touring 2402, think Adam Driver. To play off Model Residence 2402’s sharp angles, ASH opted to ground the living room with a round rug and curved sofa paired with a Robert Parry Lotus Chair carved in African walnut.

 

ASH imagined the northeast corner Model Residence 2401 for a seasoned bachelor with an appreciation for architecture and the energy of city life. The living room features a more monochromatic scheme replete with crisp whites and blacks, energized by notes of orange, rust and raw woods. While Model Residence 2404 features bursts of energy and color. Blue and yellow hues rendezvous with furniture by Marcel Breuer and art inspired by Basquiat, bringing to life the vision of a home for a spirited and youthful bon vivant.

 

In what ways was creating the ultimate space in Seattle different than Los Angeles or other West Coast locations you’ve staged properties?

 

Los Angeles is well known as the center for the entertainment industry and that spirit often makes its way into our work in the form of bold, eye-catching, sumptuous pieces. Most of our projects tend to be in single family homes, some with views of a vast, low-rise urban infinity, but many simply of the planted trees surrounding the properties. The tones of the landscape tend to be quite warm, and so we draw inspiration from desert and savannah palettes in our work there. Much of the same, with some variation, occurs in other areas we specialize in such as Orange County and Santa Barbara.

 

Here in Seattle, there’s a significant tech community, so a lot of our design speaks to a notably sleek, contemporary and almost futuristic lifestyle. We are in the beating downtown heart of the city, with floor-to-ceiling windows and views of the Puget Sound, so there’s an interesting tension of celebrating this fascinating human-made / natural world dichotomy. In our color choice, for many of the homes, we echoed the deep blue water, dark green foliage, and soft white clouds that make the Pacific Northwest so romantic.

 

Do you have any suggestions for new homeowners looking to add their own personal touch, where to start?

 

I would say start by keeping close your non-negotiables, and then building a story around those items to ensure they have a proper place in your new home. Perhaps there’s a family heirloom that has been passed down generations, or a handmade memento created at an earlier stage in life; by incorporating and proudly displaying these items, we connect both ourselves and our visitors to the broader spectrum of our genuine selves. So it’s best to not leave them as an afterthought, as they then might not make it into the completed picture.

 

Are you seeing any décor trends as we move into unchartered territory?

 

We are certainly seeing the heyday of the home office nowadays. But rather than just being functional or beautiful as before, it now absolutely needs to be both. To that end, you’ll notice a variety of work-from-home spaces throughout the model residence collection at The Emerald.

 

Three must-follow Instagram accounts you’d recommend for design inspo?

 

@michaelbargo

@this_is_relevant

@sophiepinet

 

For high-style and practical design tips, be sure to add @ashstaging to your list for design inspiration!

 

 

The Emerald, Seattle’s Newest Luxury Waterfront Condominium Tower Set Above Pike Place Market, Celebrates Grand Opening



Forbes Magazine covers the completion of The Emerald in downtown Seattle, spotlighting a remarkably rare offering, The Trillion – one of the two top-floor penthouses in the building with unrivaled 360-degree vistas designed by the world-renowned, female-led Seattle-based team, Julia Nagele of Hewitt Architects and Susan Marinello of Susan Marinello Interiors.

Just completed, The Emerald is Seattle’s newest luxury condominium tower, located above downtown Seattle’s iconic Pike Place Market and the city’s newly reimagined waterfront. The 40-story faceted-glass building located at the corner of 2nd Avenue and Stewart Street is crowned with two luxurious top-floor penthouses, Trillion and Marquise. The Trillion, which measures approximately 3,948 square feet, is listed for $10.9 million, making it Seattle’s most expensive luxury listing along the city’s waterfront.

Designed by the world-renowned, female-led Seattle-based team, Julia Nagele of Hewitt Architects and Susan Marinello of Susan Marinello Interiors, the residential building unveils a striking collection of 262 signature studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences and penthouses with unrivaled 360-degree vistas. Views of Elliott Bay range to the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, the Space Needle, Mount Rainier and more.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this incredible milestone,” says Josh Nasvik, Managing Director at Polaris Pacific, who is marketing the residences. “The Emerald represents such a unique opportunity to buyers and prospective purchasers through carefully curated floor plans, designer finishes, and sweeping vistas all in an unparalleled location. The completion will surely attract a national audience for such a rarified product.”

He points to Seattle’s ongoing growth as a magnet for Millennials, as well as retirees.

“It is one of the country’s friendliest cities for outdoor activities of all kinds, including hiking, boating, cycling and so much more, and in Seattle, those activities are year ‘round.”

Read the full Forbes article: The Costliest Condominium On Seattle’s Waterfront Is On The Market For $10.9 Million

Why New Construction in Seattle is the Best Option

New construction of apartments and condos in Seattle has been booming. According to a 2017 study, the city has been growing faster than any other major city in the United States. In the decade up to that point, 21,000 new apartments had been built in the city, which means that 12% of all apartments in Seattle were new. The only other major city that came close was fast-growing Austin, Texas, at 10%. By comparison, in Long Beach, California, new apartments made up just 1% of the total. Today, Seattle’s record development boom, the building construction should yield 3,500 units this year and 5,600 in 2020, according to The Seattle Times.

seattle - the emerald

What type of new construction can be seen across Seattle?

According to government records, the city’s construction boom focuses heavily on condominium growth. As recently as 2018, only 350 condos in the city went up for sale, compared to the 2,000 condo average in most years. There’s a flood of apartments, and condos have become the hot-ticket item.

Seattle hasn’t seen growth like this since 2005, before the housing bubble. As of 2018, 2000 new condos had opened in Seattle, but new projects estimate 6,000 more condos will be coming on the market in the next few years, according to a study by Polaris Pacific. 1096 condos became available in 2019, and 2020 is expected to be the same, but that will increase by 50% in 2021 and increase 100% in 2022.

Why choose new construction?

There are various reasons why many new buyers or renters opt for a new construction building, especially when looking for a luxury residence.

For starters, luxury condos are very low maintenance (and will have much fewer maintenance fees) as everything is new, and everything is high-end. They’re built to please and to last, and you’re not going to be kicking the radiator to get heat because of drafty windows.

New construction can also put you in an area that you couldn’t get with an older condo. If there’s a location that you have your eye on in a particularly popular area, such as near Pike Place Market or the Amazon campus, you’ll be strapped to find a new high-quality luxury condo in that location.

When speaking about cleanliness, a ground-up, new construction tower provides owners a fresh, clean slate. Many future residents opt for a complete blank canvas as a way to truly make a residence their own.

Regarding luxury, new buildings often offer a higher level of design, finishes and amenities. Often luxury towers will feature designs from a notable interior designer, not typically found in older buildings. Additionally, brand-new stainless-steel finishes compliment the sleek interiors. Lastly, new buildings offer the best in amenities including fully equipped resident lounges, state-of-the-art fitness centers, convenient pet-spas, and more!

Lastly, a new luxury apartment will more often rise in value making it a great investment for the future.

What are the newest luxury condos in Seattle?

Some of the hottest properties in Seattle are just coming on the market, or are in the final stages of construction. They offer luxury amenities, sought-after locations, and beautiful designs that make you drool. Some of these soon-to-be unveiled luxury apartment and condominium buildings are:

The Emerald
Rising 40 stories above Seattle’s most coveted location, The Emerald sits just one block from the iconic Pike Place Market, moments from the waterfront and all of the magnificent restaurants, bars and nightlife. Offering a hotel-inspired living experience via a partnership with award-winning management company, Columbia Hospitality, The Emerald offers 262 luxury condos and penthouses with unrivaled views and the best-in-class design and finishes. Luxury amenities include full-floor rooftop amenity space with indoor/outdoor lounge offering panoramic views of Elliott Bay and downtown, a resident media room with catering kitchen, state-of-the-art fitness center with open terrace, yoga room, outdoor pet run and spa, and more. Through a unique partnership, The Emerald also offers owners exclusive offerings at adjacent Thompson Seattle hotel, as well as on-demand luxury electric vehicle carshare through Envoy.

new construction seattle

The 8 Tower
This 42-story condo tower in the Denny Triangle neighborhood, which gives it gorgeous views of Denny Park, the Space Needle, Lake Union, and Elliott Bay. The condos will range from one- and two-bedroom units and penthouse suites. The architects say that the design was meant to bridge between the growing South Lake Union and Belltown neighborhoods. It’s already a foregone conclusion that the building’s distinctive shape and sculpted roofline will add another landmark to the Seattle skyline.

Spire Luxury Condominiums
This building, originally planned for apartments but later changed to luxury condos, stands 440’ tall. With real estate at a premium, the Spire is in a narrow site that borders Uptown, South Lake Union, and Denny Triangle. The design was intended to complement and enhance the look of the revitalized 6th Avenue. It will have 360 units, and be approximately 400,000 square feet.

1200 Stewart Street
This pair of luxury condo buildings are designed to have a “continuous sculptural balcony” that will look like a wave across the north side of the two towers, the balconies bedecked with manicured trees. The project will have 876 condos. Originally planned as part of a hotel project, that was later scrapped, but the building will keep its main floor retail space.

BB6 Apartments
The BB6, named for Bell, Battery, 6th Street, will be a 42-story tower that will house 479 units, including a massive 7-story below-ground parking garage. Located near the Amazon campus, the building is expecting to draw upscale downtowners. The building, which splits into two towers part way up, is expected to have commercial space available on levels 11 and 12.

Why is new construction better than older buildings?

There are so many reasons why new construction is better than old, especially when you’re looking for luxury.

For starters, luxury condos are very low maintenance (and will have much fewer maintenance fees) because everything is new, and everything is high-end. They’re built to please and to last, and you’re not going to be kicking the radiator to get heat because of drafty windows.

New construction can also put you in an area that you couldn’t get with an older apartment. If there’s a location that you have your eye on in a particularly popular area, such as near Pike Place Market or the Amazon campus, you’ll be strapped to find a high-quality luxury apartment in that location.

And let’s just talk about luxury: if you want the best of everything, moving into an apartment from ten or twenty years ago will give you the best of back then, not the best of now. Older appliances without all the features, older amenities–fitness rooms, spas, pools–that just don’t live up to the amenities you can get from the latest and greatest.

Finally, if you’re expecting to move in a few years, a new luxury condo will be easier to sell, easier to get a better price for, and better to recoup your investment. New condos will only go up in price, giving you a better ROI.

How busy is new construction in Seattle?

Frankly, the construction business in Seattle is moving like a rocket. Seattle hasn’t seen growth like this since 2005, before the housing bubble. As of 2018, 2000 new condos had opened in Seattle, but new projects estimate 6,000 more condos will be coming on the market in the next few years, according to a study by Polaris Pacific. 1096 condos became available in 2019, and 2020 is expected to be the same, but that will increase by 50% in 2021 and increase 100% in 2022.

And the boom is in condos, not apartments. In fact, much of the growth is coming in buildings that were originally slated to be apartments that changed to condos during development. And this is because, despite all of this growth, there’s been a shortage of condos. As recently as 2018, only 350 condos in the city went up for sale at all–compared to the 2,000 condo average in most years. There’s a flood of apartments, and condos have become the hot-ticket item.

For information on The Emerald luxury condos, please visit https://theemeraldseattle.com and follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @theemeraldseattle.

Everything a Luxury Apartment in Seattle Should Offer

Every prospective buyer in Seattle has a list of amenities that they’re looking for in a luxury apartment, and when you’re making a purchase, you shouldn’t have to settle. Seattle is an amazing town, but there are some choices that are better than others–some locations that offer everything you could want, while others fall short.

 
The Emerald, a luxury high-rise apartment and condominium complex combines all of the things you’re looking for in one sleek package, making it the ideal living space for the Seattle lifestyle. The Emerald has been designed with one goal in mind: to make it the perfect living space for you. Here are just a few of the many benefits of living in The Emerald Seattle.
 
 

A Perfect Seattle Neighborhood
 

You don’t have to sacrifice neighborhood and amenities just because you’re living in one of the nicest, newest highrise condos in town. While you may think that such a building must have been built on the outskirts of Seattle, that couldn’t be farther from the truth–it’s right down in the cultural heart of the city. Located at Second and Stewart, you’re in the center of downtown Seattle, with all that has to offer, and you’re only one block from the iconic landmark that is Pike’s Place Market, with all that comes with it. Great restaurants, great fresh food, great cut flowers–and you’re only a walk up the hill from the waterfront, featuring everything from the aquarium to the ferries to fabulous oyster bars and The Old Curiosity Shop. Everything you’d want in a Seattle experience is right outside your door.
 

But that’s just in one direction! What about heading east? Coffee shops like Anchorhead Coffee and Victrola Coffee Roasters are just a quick walk into the city, and for fine dining try RN74 or Patagon–or a dozen other places within walking distance. This is a city designed for walking, and The Emerald Seattle is in the center hub of all the action.
 
 
T-Mobile Park Seattle
Nearby Attractions
 
With the views offered from your condo, you may never wish to leave it–breathtaking seascapes of Puget Sound on one side, and snow-capped mountains on the other: Mt. Ranier, the Cascades–you are in the center of a panorama of beauty. But should you wish to venture out and experience more of what the neighborhood has in store, you could do worse than to walk or bike to any of the clubs, cruises, tours, and concert venues. There’s always something to do around the city, whether that’s admiring the city from the Space Needle’s 520-foot high observation deck or catching a laser show at the Pacific Science Center. Brewery tours, cocktail cruises, and food married to music are all common fare for Downtown Seattle.
 
Whether you gravitate toward quiet nights on the Puget Sound or a rock concert with friends, a truly luxurious apartment keeps you close to the action you crave.
 
 

Ideal Commute
 
A person’s day-to-day commute is one of the most important factors when choosing a new place to live. The time you spend commuting can add up significantly over the year, so having that extra time to spend doing things you enjoy can make a surprising difference when you move to a better location.
 

With dozens of public transportation options, from light rail to buses and electric bikes, Downtown Seattle is an ideal place to live with various job opportunities, grocery stores and entertainment options in close proximity, regardless of whether or not you prefer to drive. For those with a permanent car-free lifestyle, various car-sharing options are easily accessible all-around town. At The Emerald, a luxury condo high-rise in Downtown Seattle, owners have instant access to carshare options through an exciting partnership with Envoy, an on-demand service offering electric Tesla Model S or X vehicles.
 
 
First Hill Seattle University
Close to Nature
 
Despite being in an urban center, Downtown Seattle is unique in its proximity to a variety of incredible parks and a range of varying natural habitats.
 

The Puget Sound features Elliott Bay, where locals can go wildlife watching and kayaking to all sorts of sights and islands. There’s also the nearby Mt. Rainier where hikers, climbers and campers can enjoy the great outdoors.
 

Seattle itself features beautifully groomed parks with everything from Victorian-esque greenhouses to Japanese gardens. A cozy downtown location replete with a beautiful view of the bay and its twinkling piers at night is a feature you can only find with luxury options in Seattle.
 
 

Staying In
 
Let’s face it. We’ve just lived through a quarantine that has cooped us all up in our homes for months. Sometimes you can’t go to the restaurants or the waterfront. But what you can do is enjoy all of the amenities of a luxury condominium.
 

Aside from the magnificent vistas (viewable through floor-to-ceiling windows), the condos have so much more for those who are choosing to stay inside: custom wood cabinetry, quartz counter tops, Bosch appliances–refrigerators, cooktops, ovens, and dishwasher–and a Whirlpool washer and dryer. And our bathrooms are every bit as luxurious as the kitchen and living space.
 
 
The Emerald fitness
Beautiful Community Spaces
 
How much can you get out of a luxury apartment building’s community space? At The Emerald, the building features a full-floor rooftop amenity space, the Olympic Room, where owners have an unparalleled view of the city and bay while cooking at an outdoor grill surrounded by warm firepits. When comparing fitness areas, does the building provide the necessities to keep up your preferred healthy lifestyle? It’s much easier to stay fit in communities like The Emerald that feature a fitness center, yoga studio, and outdoor pet run.
 

The Emerald, Seattle’s newest and most luxurious buildings, has announced a partnership with Columbia Hospitality. This premier hospitality management group will ensure that the service level for all residents will exceed expectations. This award winning West Coast hospitality firm is recognized as a leading provider of incomparable concierge and property management services.
 
 
Reliable Security
 
Luxury locations also mean technology that can help keep your property safe. Buildings such as The Emerald offer Latch keyless entry systems, which use controls from a smartphone for secure and convenient access. 24/7 concierge service is also a true luxury to help you with concerns and services offered by your community. You can find all these features and more at The Emerald. For more information, feel free to visit our website or contact us today.

Downtown Seattle Neighborhoods with Luxury Apartments

Downtown Seattle Neighborhoods with Luxury Apartments and Condos

Luxury living in the Pacific Northwest has few equals, and there’s no better place to establish roots than right in the center of it all: downtown Seattle. With a quarter of a million residents and over 35,000 residents in downtown alone, Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. In the 2010s, Seattle was one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, and through the middle of the decade it sustained a growth rate of over two and three percent, making Seattle one of the most desirable places to live in the U.S. In fact, WalletHub published a report last year naming Seattle among the Top 3 Best Big Cities to Live.

 
Downtown Seattle
 

As the jewel of the Pacific Northwest, Seattle is home to dozens of luxury condo high rises. Whether you’re looking for a place in Belltown, Denny Triangle, the financial district, Pioneer Square, International District, Capitol Hill, First Hill, Queen Anne, or the western flank of First Hill west of Broadway, you have many options when it comes to luxury apartments in downtown Seattle. But not every neighborhood has the amenities and lifestyle you’d expect from a true luxury condo in Seattle.

 
 

Introducing The Emerald in the Pike Place Neighborhood

One crowning achievement in the highly desirable Pike Place Market neighborhood offers the latest and greatest in luxury living in the area with no compromises. Just blocks from the iconic Pike Place Market, where you can watch fishmongers throw the catch of the day in front of locals and tourists alike, sits The Emerald, a 40-story luxury condo building with residences featuring units listed at $500,000 reaching up to $10 million-dollar penthouses to delight even the most discerning buyer. With some of the best access to of the bustling nightlife and unique culture in the highly desirable downtown Seattle neighborhood, as well as breathtaking views of Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains, The Emerald puts you just steps from the city’s best culinary and cultural destinations at Second and Stewart, which is definitively the epicenter of Seattle.

 
seattle emerald aerial
 

Unlike other Seattle luxury apartments and condos, inside buildings that are decades old, each of The Emerald’s residences are newly constructed, so you’ll get to experience true luxury living in your condo for the first time, without having to deal with someone else’s luxury leftovers. And with The Emerald’s rooftop retreats and various outdoor spaces that extend your home into a boundless luxurious experience, you’ll be able to entertain, take in the sights or just relax in the comfort of your downtown Seattle luxury escape, all without setting foot outside the building.

 

From the full-floor rooftop amenity space with indoor and outdoor lounges to catered media rooms and outdoor firepits with al fresco dining, you’ll find countless reasons to just stay in while the world bustles around you outside. Additionally, the building’s fitness center, open-air terraces and yoga studio means you can get a workout in at any time. When you decide to venture out, a 24/7 concierge and ground-floor retail — and countless other shops, restaurants and retail within blocks — means you don’t have to go far for the best that the city has to offer. If one you’d like to get out and explore greater Seattle over the weekend, The Emerald offers resident only on-demand electric Tesla Model X and Model S vehicles through a partnership with car-sharing company, Envoy. Clean, sleek and efficient vehicles will be there at the touch of a finger through the Envoy app. Additionally the Emerald has partnered with The Thompson Hotel to provide resident only benefits featuring discounts at the restaurants and bar, a special cocktail menu and discounts for hotel stays, parking, and more!

 
 

Owning At The Emerald

Dwell recently called The Emerald “the city’s most highly-anticipated condominium building” in “its beautiful surrounding landscape” and a “fundamental awareness and characteristics of the architectural design” that drives the overall design aesthetic. With only 262 residences, residences at Seattle’s defining address, The Emerald, are selling fast. It’s hard enough to find the perfect luxury apartment or condo in Seattle, much less have the opportunity to buy brand new. With unrivaled views and breathtaking amenity spaces, The Emerald puts you just blocks away from Pike Place Market and the Seattle waterfront, without the inherent risks of buying in an older building. Even if you’d prefer to stay home, your friends and family will appreciate the central location and copious amenities, never mind the meticulously designed and sprawling residences that give you privacy and quiet when you need it and an easy escape into a world of rich culture as soon as you exit this majestic building.

 
luxury condos in seattle
 

But don’t just take our word for it. Dujour recently profiled one of our stunning Pike Place listings, fawning over the latest $1.7 million condo listing and calling it a “stunning Seattle residence” inside the “tallest waterfront high rise on the west coast.” Aspire Design and Home devoted some coverage to The Emerald as well, discussing the challenges that went into what turned out to be a unique and picturesque design.

 

For more information or to schedule a virtual tour of The Emerald, please visit theemeraldseattle.com or call 206-453-6800. Remember to also follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @theemeraldseattle.