Mercer Island: An Architect’s Perspective

Luxury home designed by Mercer Island architects
Our architects provide custom home design services for the Mercer Island region.

Welcome to Mercer Island

Mercer Island is one Western Washington’s most desirable areas. The smattering of natural beauty, sweeping 360-degree views of Lake Washington, and the vibrant, tight-knit community that inhabit its borders make Mercer Island one of Washington’s most desirable places to live. Mercer Island’s reputation is well earned, and we are honored to serve as Mercer Island architects.

Mercer Island Highlights

  • Top tier school system: Mercer Island is part of the greater Mercer Island School District and is consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation. It includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
  • Named a “Best Place to Live”: Mercer Island is well known as one of the best places to live in the United States, let alone Washington. The standard of living, safety ratings, amenities, and livability scores are all exceptional.
  • Ample recreation: Mercer Island is home to numerous beautiful parks, beaches, and recreation areas. The encounters with Lake Washington are unavoidable and, with a plethora of activities, views, and scenes to choose from, anyone who loves being by the water will feel immediately at home here. From Luther Burbank Park to the South Mercer Playfields, outdoor adventures abound on this island.

Life in Mercer Island

Mercer Island custom architecture design by Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl
As architects, we draw inspiration from the natural beauty that dominates the Mercer Island community.

The world is quickly discovering that life in Mercer Island is exceptionally good, leading to substantial growth. Mercer Island offers the best of all possible worlds: suburban amenities, major city access, and a beautiful natural environment—perfect for raising a family. The homes are stunning, and the city is heavily planted with beautiful trees and thoughtful landscaping.

Just a short drive from any point on the Island one can admire the stunning views of Lake Washington and the surrounding landscape. Downtown Mercer Island has much to offer with local coffee shops, eateries, and bars scattered about. The City Center is the main gathering spot for islanders, whether to enjoy a shared meal at a local restaurant, to meet for a group fitness class, or to shop together at the local home decor or bookstore.

Surrounding Area

Nestled on Lake Washington directly in between Bellevue and Seattle, Mercer Island has easy access to the Pacific Northwest’s largest city via the I-90 Bridge. Breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and proximity to the scenic Sammamish Plateau and vineyards of Woodinville make destination seeking and discovery a common part of the Mercer Island resident experience. Being centrally located between two major cities makes Mercer Island an ideal place for professionals who prefer suburban to city life.

While maintaining its own city charter, Mercer Island can also be considered a part of the larger Bellevue city ecosystem. The surrounding Bellevue neighborhoods are all exceptional places to live and visit. Bookended by Bridle Trails to the north and Newport Hills to the south, most neighborhoods have high livability scores and low rates of crime. The Eastgate neighborhood was added as a part of a recent annexation and is considered one of the most family-friendly of the suburbs. Meydenbauer is one of the oldest areas of the city and boasts some of the highest property values in the state.

Mercer Island Architects Provide Home Design Suited to your Tastes

Indoor pool designed by Mercer Island architects
Granduer abounds in this Mercer Island residence.

Mercer Island architecture is just as diverse and dynamic as the residents who dwell here. Early Mercer Island architects were the English settlers who saw the purpose of their homes primarily in terms of the function that they served. The homes were simple and were designed to satisfy their inhabitants’ need for leisure and family connection after a long day’s work.

In the late 20th century, the tech explosion took over and Mercer Island became the choice neighborhood for many professionals. Mercer Island architects now freely adapt their designs to suit the complex tastes of the clients that they are designing for. These residential architects often lean into contemporary modern design aesthetics—tasteful and chic. They also find demand for traditional designs and pull inspiration from the natural environment. Sprawling mansions developed with total creative originality and cutting-edge technology dot the shoreline and highlight the beauty and diversity of thoughtful architecture.

Custom home designers are always in high demand from residents seeking to make a statement in this beautiful neighborhood. Mercer Island’s luxury architects have made their mark with spectacular homes from Roanoke to Mercery Way.

Featured Project: Mercer Island Residence

Entrance to a Mercer Island custom home
Grand doors open to the pillar lined entrance of this Mercer Island home.

At Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture, one of our favorite Mercer Island custom projects is our Mercer Island Residence home. Mercer Island Residence is the quintessence of luxury. The Greek revival estate offers a comprehensive retreat from Seattle’s nearby furor. Within and without, the home exemplifies symmetry, and columns and curves unite the residence into a single work of art.

Waterfront views on a custom home from Mercer Island architects
This custom Mercer Island home sits on the water - a perfect oasis for relaxing and entertaining.

Yet the home’s grandeur does not forsake comfort and intimacy. Defined breakfast nooks and clusters of couches encourage a sense of home and comfort. Indoor and outdoor kitchens and bars, home offices, and a craft room ensure space for community, productivity, and creativity.

Mercer Island Architects for Your Home

As local Mercer Island architects, we constantly pursue the art of architecture as the calling for our work. The constantly evolving community of Mercer Island provides us with endless opportunity to answer this calling in original and dynamic ways.

We delight in the process of merging the preferences and imaginations of our clients with the distinct character of the location that they select to build their dream home. Every project presents a new opportunity to consider more deeply how to merge form with function, and to paint a portrait in architecture of our clients’ unique lifestyles.  Serving that purpose is our life’s work and greatest honor.

To learn more about designing your custom home, contact us.