Seeking Symmetry

Out of classical thought came the idea that beauty lies in proportion, for without proportion, there is only chaos. Nested in that idea is longing for symmetry. Whether it’s flowers, furniture, or faces, the more symmetrical an object is, the more the human eye perceives beauty. Home architecture is no exception. When it comes to …

2017 Home Design Trends

2017 is drawing to a close, and we’re looking back at the design trends that have emerged in the past year…and how those trends will impact new Seattle home design in 2018. Market Trends We constantly evaluate the affordability of housing. Unfortunately, Seattle-area home prices are rising. It’s a tough market for home buyers, and …

Sweet Seattle Architecture

It’s undeniable now: the holidays are here. (We hope you enjoyed a full and festive Thanksgiving!). We have a couple favorite holiday traditions at GHDA. One of those is our annual holiday card, and we’ll share this year’s design soon. The other is the JDRF Gingerbread Village, a showcase for Seattle architecture. Each year, our …

Asian Ambiance: A Home for Art

We love the art of architecture. It allows us to seek beauty and craftsmanship every day. Better yet, it allows us to tell our clients’ stories through their homes. Several years ago, Bellevue architect Scott Hommas partnered with a homeowner to remodel a lakefront house. In their initial conversations, the homeowner shared his love of …

Permanence: Stone, Wood, and Glass

“Home” is a deeply personal concept. The visions, smells, sounds, and textures it conjures in the imagination are unique to each individual. It’s personal, yet it’s also universal. Maya Angelou writes that, “the ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” …

Wisteria in the Virginia Woods

One of the hallmarks of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative residential architecture is his insistence on a unified home. Prairie homes eschew the compartmentalized Victorian style and prefer rooms that flow one to another. A poetic cadence weaves every space in the home together. When Seattle architect Curtis Gelotte designed Prairie House in the Virginia Woods, …

The Future of Home Design

Each year, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) holds a home design competition for collegiate architects. They inspire students to design innovative residential spaces along a specific theme. This year’s theme: “Here + Now.” AIA encouraged student architects to envision homes in light of “context, culture, and vernacular, but fully embracing 21st century technology and …

Bark Art: Canines and Colleagues

We take our tagline–the art of architecture–seriously. We believe that the better artists we are, the better architects we are. We also don’t mind having a little fun with our art! Each year, Luxe hosts Bark Art–a charity event that brings home design experts together in support of the Assistance League of Seattle’s Operation School …

A Pinch of Green

Infuse the color green into your home design!

O Romeo, Romeo: The Delights of a Juliet Balcony

GHA explores the merits of a Juliet balcony in a Seattle storybook home.