Ballard Businesses Form Collaborative Home Design ‘Hive’
A quartet of home design companies finds synergy across the courtyard.
By Elaina Friedman June 28, 2017
When John DeForest, founder of DeForest Architects (Ballard, 1148 NW Leary Way; 206.262.0820; deforestarchitects.com), first saw that a building on Ballard’s Leary Way was for lease, he knew it was more than double the amount of space his business needed. Then he thought, “Our practice is built around collaboration—with clients, colleagues and contractors. What could be better than a building built around three courtyards and handpicked cotenants?”
Now, DeForest shares the sunny sustainable space with three other design businesses: landscape architects SCJ Studio (206.708.1862; scjstudiola.com), interior designers Ore Studios (206.789.1939; orestudios.com) and project managers Lumberjill (206.486.2251; lumberjill.com). DeForest ultimately chose the tenants based on chemistry. While the respective businesses often meet with clients outside the building, visits to 1148 can offer the convenience of consulting with several residential design professionals in one stop.
This “hive” of businesses shares a micro lobby, conference rooms, small kitchen, shower, bathrooms and one main courtyard of three. And while quarters are close, the hive members see sharing space as a way to stay connected—to other design professionals and to the community. Plus, the courtyard provides a little refuge. “Year-round, the courtyards offer an abundance of natural light, greenery, visiting birds and a visual break from the computer screen,” says DeForest. “As a profession, and as a society in general, we spend a great deal of time in virtual worlds these days. Shared space and a connection to the outdoors help keep us whole and human.”
Follow Us
Noir Lux Lights Up Fourth Avenue
The Seattle candle brand’s new two-level pop-up brings workshops and community gatherings downtown through September.
It’s often said that good things come in threes, and for Colina Bruce, founder of the lifestyle and home fragrance brand Noir Lux, that’s certainly proving true. With a flagship shop in Belltown and an outpost in Ballard, Bruce is rounding out a Noir Lux trio with the opening of the Noir Lux Collective on…
Better Together: This Take on Co-Housing Emphasizes Quality and Community
The Seattle project presents an out-of-the-box model, where investors are also residents, and the design focuses on longevity and tenant retention—not profit.
Growing up in rural Detroit, Chad Dale spent many after-school and weekend hours playing with neighborhood kids in an open lot near his house. It’s an experience he always hoped his children would have someday, but by the time he became a father in Seattle, land was at a premium: either already developed or prohibitively…
A Different Kind of Mattress Store
Photos courtesy of Bedrooms and More. If you’re looking for the best mattress shopping experience in Seattle, the right choice often comes down to materials, transparency, and expert guidance – not just price or brand names. Bedrooms & More specializes in natural and organic two-sided mattresses and offers a no-pressure showroom environment where customers can…
Craft Value: The Founder of Henrybuilt Reflects on What He’s Learned in 25 Years of Business
In 2001, after 15 years of working in publishing—where I was a founding team member of two venture-funded technology companies—I decided to start a different kind of company: one that made physical products. This company, Henrybuilt, would combine product innovation and craft under one roof and sell directly to the end user—the homeowner—so that we…