This northwest location of Palihotel has been popular with tourists and business travelers since opening in late 2018, and with a vantage point so near the water in the core of downtown Seattle, it’s no surprise. Set in a historic landmark building, the property debuted in 1900 as the Colonnade Hotel before it was revived by Avi Brosh, CEO of the Paligroup, as the Palihotel Seattle. “The hotel has a lot of history attached to it, and we were lucky enough to be able to dig up numerous historic images that we used as a frame of reference but not necessarily as a design direction,” says Brosh, who designs each property in-house.
The hotel was Brosh’s first foray out of California (since Seattle, Miami opened with Portland slated for fall 2020). As is true with all his properties, Brosh imbued the space with salient aspects of the local culture and landscape. “The hotel’s aesthetic represents our take on a Pacific Northwest vibe without compromising on taste level or our independent spirit,” says Brosh. He took Seattle’s epithet, the Emerald City, and distilled it, enlivening corridors and guestrooms with jade iridescent paint.
The 96 guestrooms further that bold look with headboards wrapped in a warm yellow-green fabric with a floral print, while some rooms are outfitted with sunny yellow desks. Many walls are bedecked with nautical art, a nod to local industry.
Green also reigns in the communal spaces. Both the reception and lounge feature emerald walls where honey-tan leather sofas surround driftwood coffee tables. A black and white checkerboard floor leads to the restaurant and coffee bar zone where green is swapped for whitewashed exposed brick. “We used wood detailing and lighter paint colors to emphasize the high ceilings within the space, so even when the weather is dark and gloomy, it feels inviting,” says Brosh, who modeled the eatery after the city’s famous public market. Even here, green sneaks in. Indeed, elegant banquettes in sage create color continuity.