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Interior Design with FF&E for Multifamily Amenities

Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh

This redesigned apartment complex on Capitol Hill gives off a nostalgic vibe inspired by Seattle’s music scene.

When apartment buildings experience a change in ownership, a repositioning and rebrand are often in order, and this allows for creative integration between the new brand and the interior design of refreshed multifamily amenity spaces. For its next evolution, this apartment complex in Capitol Hill was redubbed Jack, and our role was to reinvent the lobby, amenity lounge, and rooftop to suit.

Not only was the intention to design amenity spaces to foster a sense of community with residents, but to anchor the building to its location in Seattle’s Capitol Hill through references to the local music scene’s role in the history of rock and grunge, contrasting with the outdoorsy spirit of the Pacific Northwest. The style trends modern, peppered with vintage and audiophile accents.

Artwork highlights local Seattle music legends, like Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, Jimi Hendricks, Dave Grohl, Macklemore, and others. A working twin turntable DJ booth is available for use by residents and includes an LP library. Behind the bar, a massive mosaic mural spelling out “Cap Hill” is composed entirely of salvaged cassette tapes, glinting in the light.

Vintage radios, and a Jimi Hendrix album and art print lean on a shelf.
Audiophile Accents

Vintage radios and music memorabilia anchor the Capitol Hill building’s aesthetic in Seattle’s music scene. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Audiophile Accents

Vintage radios and music memorabilia anchor the Capitol Hill building’s aesthetic in Seattle’s music scene. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Leather bar stools in a row at the bar counter in an apartment lounge.
Bar Stools for Lingering

Cushioned, leather bar stools with backs encourage residents to stay awhile in a social lobby space. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Bar Stools for Lingering

Cushioned, leather bar stools with backs encourage residents to stay awhile in a social lobby space. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A rug with plus signs under a wood block coffee table.
Incorporating New and Reused Pieces

Before beginning design, we assessed existing furniture, fixtures, and finishes in the lobby for potential reuse, folding some older elements — like this painted wood block coffee table — into the new design aesthetic. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Incorporating New and Reused Pieces

Before beginning design, we assessed existing furniture, fixtures, and finishes in the lobby for potential reuse, folding some older elements — like this painted wood block coffee table — into the new design aesthetic. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A mosaic mural composed of salvaged cassette tapes reads,
Cassette Tape Mosaic Mural

Behind the bar, a large mosaic mural — by artist Sarah Robbins — is composed of salvaged audio cassette tapes. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Cassette Tape Mosaic Mural

Behind the bar, a large mosaic mural — by artist Sarah Robbins — is composed of salvaged audio cassette tapes. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A booth with leather-clad, cushioned seating and throw pillows.
Cozy Nooks

Comfortable booths are ideal for a little solo work time, or intimate gatherings with friends. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Cozy Nooks

Comfortable booths are ideal for a little solo work time, or intimate gatherings with friends. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Rustic ropes hang from the ceiling to create an enclosure for booths in a lounge.
Nautical Rope as Partition

Hanging ropes are not only visually appealing as they sway slightly with airflow, but they offer a feeling of enclosure for the booths, and help soften the acoustics of the large room. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Nautical Rope as Partition

Hanging ropes are not only visually appealing as they sway slightly with airflow, but they offer a feeling of enclosure for the booths, and help soften the acoustics of the large room. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Giant, decorative jacks adorn a coffee table.
Jacks in the Jack Apartments

Some of the decorative accessories play off of the name of the apartment building, like these giant, metal jacks. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Jacks in the Jack Apartments

Some of the decorative accessories play off of the name of the apartment building, like these giant, metal jacks. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Leather bar stools aligned at a bar in an apartment amenity space.
A Bar for Lounging

Now updated with new barstools and pendant lights, the aesthetic of the existing bar blends into the space’s new look with ease. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A Bar for Lounging

Now updated with new barstools and pendant lights, the aesthetic of the existing bar blends into the space’s new look with ease. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A lounge amenity area in a remodeled multifamily apartment building.
Reinventing a Room without Starting from Scratch

When possible, repurposing existing furniture into new arrangements (augmented with new pieces) not only helps stretch a budget, but also prevents unnecessary waste. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Reinventing a Room without Starting from Scratch

When possible, repurposing existing furniture into new arrangements (augmented with new pieces) not only helps stretch a budget, but also prevents unnecessary waste. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A large lobby amenity space is broken down into smaller seating areas. – Multifamily remodel by Board & Vellum
Smaller Spaces in a Larger Room

The lobby lounge is quite large — breaking it down into smaller areas of varied seating types allows the spaces to feel more human-scaled, encouraging residents to spend time there, rather than simply pass through on their way elsewhere. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Smaller Spaces in a Larger Room

The lobby lounge is quite large — breaking it down into smaller areas of varied seating types allows the spaces to feel more human-scaled, encouraging residents to spend time there, rather than simply pass through on their way elsewhere. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

In a room as large as the amenity lounge, creating inviting, human-scaled subspaces can be a challenge. And, besides the impact a large open room can have on how the space feels in inhabit, there is also the unavoidable impact large spaces have on project budgets — larger walls simply mean more area for refinishing. Of course, these design challenges deserved creative solutions. The black brick accenting with a wood shelf to gather vignettes of decorative items at a viewable height goes a long way towards helping the spaces feel more intimately scaled. For a line of booths, nautical ropes hang from the ceiling, not only adding a textural element offsetting the plain walls, but creating a sense of privacy — a space within a space.

Giant metal jacks decorate a coffee table.

Some art, furnishings, and accessories play on the Jack name — such as Jack London books, giant jacks on a coffee table, or a Jack Russell Terrier — whereas others add to the nostalgic vibe, as decorative and functional objects including vintage glassware and a collection of vintage radios.

A rooftop bar with a red awning, surrounded by a roof garden.

On the roof of the apartment complex, the large area is also partitioned into smaller subspaces. With much of the layout remaining from the existing deck, our site design team designed an array of planters to soften the harder spaces, and substantially expanded the selection of plantings.

As the weather cools, some residents may gather around a fire pit, sinking into cushioned seats, and enjoying an intimate chat. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the roof, an array of picnic tables might house groups playing board games, or a growing crowd at the BBQ grills.

At the central node, a rooftop bar inspired by the feel of Parisian street cafés adds a unique touch to this rooftop amenity space with an expansive view of the city.

A rooftop bar space inspired by street cafés in Paris.
A Parisian Vibe

Far above the lobby, the expansive rooftop amenity space features a rooftop bar inspired by Parisian street cafés. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A Parisian Vibe

Far above the lobby, the expansive rooftop amenity space features a rooftop bar inspired by Parisian street cafés. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A rooftop amenity space on an apartment building in Seattle.
Room for Gathering

Beyond the covered bar area, there is plenty of space for groups large and small to gather for varied activities. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Room for Gathering

Beyond the covered bar area, there is plenty of space for groups large and small to gather for varied activities. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Vintage glass bottles decorate a counter.
Decorative Elements

Salvaged glass and metal vessels support the aesthetic of a café with some history. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Decorative Elements

Salvaged glass and metal vessels support the aesthetic of a café with some history. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

An extendable red awning over a rooftop bar.
Shelter from the Rain and Sun

An extendable awning provides residents with an exterior space sheltered from the weather. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Shelter from the Rain and Sun

An extendable awning provides residents with an exterior space sheltered from the weather. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A rooftop bar and roof garden on an apartment building.
Rooftop Bar

Surrounded by rooftop gardens, the rooftop bar amenity is an attractive location for residents to gather with friends. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Rooftop Bar

Surrounded by rooftop gardens, the rooftop bar amenity is an attractive location for residents to gather with friends. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Railings separate planted areas from pedestrian traffic on a roof deck.
Passages

The existing rooftop layout remains, with a series of functional amenity spaces connected via pathways. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Passages

The existing rooftop layout remains, with a series of functional amenity spaces connected via pathways. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A fire pit on a rooftop with a sun flare shining through the trees.
Social Nodes

With the fire pit located in its own space, the large rooftop can host many separate gatherings at any one time. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

Social Nodes

With the fire pit located in its own space, the large rooftop can host many separate gatherings at any one time. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A rooftop fire pit with a view of the city skyline.
A Fire Pit with a Skyline View

From the fire pit, bordered by new planters introducing additional greenery and flowers, residents can enjoy a sweeping view of Seattle. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

A Fire Pit with a Skyline View

From the fire pit, bordered by new planters introducing additional greenery and flowers, residents can enjoy a sweeping view of Seattle. Jack Apartments: Amenity Refresh | Photo by Tina Witherspoon.

What did this project look like before we started?

Quite a bit different!

Grab the slider below to switch between “Before” & “After” images so you can experience the transformation for yourself.

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The The
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Notes & Credits
“Cap Hill” cassette tape mural in the bar area — and mural map in the lobby showing destinations in Capitol Hill, Seattle, and beyond — by Sarah Robbins.
Some furniture, finishes, and fixtures from this building’s previous incarnation by Robin Chell Design are incorporated into the new aesthetic.
Photography by Tina Witherspoon.

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