Sorrento Sessions Recap: Pacific Northwest Design Now

Last week GRAY launched its five-part conversation series at Seattle’s historic, newly updated Sorrento Hotel with a panel exploring regional design. The sold-out event, presented in partnership with IDSWest, attracted more than 75 attendees who mingled in the Fireside Lounge, sipped cocktails, and listened as the panelists discussed ways in which our region’s evolving culture, industries, population, and resources have influenced the emergence of unique interiors, architecture, and products. Panelists included George Suyama, architect and cofounder of Suyama Peterson Deguchi; Jennifer Navva Milliken, curator of craft at the Bellevue Arts Museum; Richelle Nolan, managing director at Interior Architects in Portland; and North Vancouver–based furniture designer and artist Brent Comber.

Tickets for the May 5 panel, “Remix Culture, Collaboration, and Cross-Disciplinary Design,” are on sale, along with future panels on topics ranging from fashion to graphic design. Space is limited, so secure your tickets now!

GET TICKETS HERE.

The historic Sorrento Hotel opened its doors in 1909 and has been one of the city’s cultural mainstays ever since. Recently the hotel renovated its lobby-side Fireside Lounge and restaurant, The Dunbar Room.

The evening’s panelists included George Suyama, Jennifer Navva Milliken, Richelle Nolan, and Brent Comber. 

        GRAY account executive Kim Schmidt and GRAY editorial director Jaime Gillin outside the Fireside Room at the Sorrento Hotel; two stylish guests wait for the panel to begin.

Editorial director Jaime Gillin with panelists Suyama, Navva Milliken, and Nolan, GRAY editor Rachel Gallaher, panelist Comber, and GRAY Special Projects Director Stacy Kendall. 

Attendees flip through the latest copy of GRAY while sipping wine and waiting for the panel to start.

Jody Phillips, Senior Event Manager of IDSWest, chats with Jennifer Navva Milliken about regional design. 

Jared Lovejoy from Magnetic ERV talks to an Jared Meisler, the restauranteur behind the Sorrento's new Dunbar Room.

George Suyama with interior designer Christian Grevstad and showroom owner Terris Draheim.

Tamara Codor and Sterling Voss of Codor Design. 

Kathy Lilleness of Best Plumbing with account executive Kim Schmidt and GRAY publisher and founder Shawn Williams with a design enthusiast. 

Jaime Gillin with Darin Montgomery of Urbancase. 

Gillin leading the panel discussion in the newly restored and redecorated Fireside Lounge. 

Images Courtesy of Belathée Photography.