STYLIZED SOPHISTICATION

When clients asked interior designer Michelle Dirkse to bring the midcentury glam of a favorite Palm Springs hotel to their Seattle home, she successfully reinterpreted the style for Northwest living.

By Rachel Gallaher Photographed by Aaron Leitz

Like most interior designers, Michelle Dirkse likes to begin a project by asking clients for inspiration images— photos of furniture, interiors, color schemes, and art that they are drawn to. Often, couples will embark on this assignment together, presenting a united vision for their home. For Dirkse, this is the end goal, but before reaching it, she’s interested in learning about each person’s individual tastes.

“I tell them, ‘I really want you to be selfish,’” she says. “‘Think of yourself as a kid in a candy store and you have three minutes to grab your favorites—you’re not thinking if Skittles go with

M&M’s, just grab what you love.’”

While there usually isn’t a huge contrast between what partners present to her, Dirkse notes that when the exercise is done together, one

person will often pick items that skew toward the taste or style of the other, even if it isn’t something they would have chosen for themselves.

“Oftentimes we’ll look at their images and see common themes they don’t even know are there,” the designer says, “such as they really hate sofas with legs, or prefer furniture that has a more rounded shape, and we help bring it all together to create a space they both love.”

In the case of Amy and Francois, a pair of busy professionals in Seattle, the inspiration boards overlapped with shots of classic 1960s furniture, minimal lines, and—the biggest aesthetic influence—the Parker Palm Springs hotel, which is a shared favorite getaway.

“The Parker is elegant without taking itself too seriously,” Amy says. “The resort estate has midcentury bones with a sensual 1970s tactile element. As Gen Xers, maybe it’s a subliminal callback to our youth? The fabrics and surfaces beg to be touched and lived in, but put off an air of exclusivity. There’s a comfort and familiarity while also being exclusive and exotic—like living inside a Slim Aarons photograph.

“Both of us are modernists,” she continues. “I am more midcentury, and Francois is more contemporary. I was drawn to the midcentury aesthetic well before Mad Men made it chic and en vogue. My attraction is mainly because it makes sense. Midcentury design has purpose that is influenced by its function—there’s beauty in that simplicity.”

“I love contemporary modern,” Francois adds. “Clean lines, minimalist, and simple. At the same time, I love graffiti art and designers like RETNA, Kaws, WhIsBe, and Damien Hirst. As Amy notes, it’s about being elegant and fun, sophisticated without taking yourself too seriously. I used to say that I wanted my house to be like the lobby of a W Hotel—a place that’s inviting, where people want to hang out, that invites conversations.”

Dirkse, who had previously worked with the couple on an interiors project for their apartment in New York, wanted to capture the sophistication and sensuality of the Parker, but also make the style work for the region—bright desert décor would feel out of place in Seattle, especially during the winter months—and the architecture: The house was built in the early 1950s. Midcentury would work, but too much glitz would clash.

“We didn’t want it to feel kitschy or too matchymatchy, like it was a midcentury museum,” Dirkse says, “so we were careful to choose classic pieces that could be Northwest-modern and mix them with contemporary items in fabrics and colors that were more of a neutral palette.”

Working with Vilma Garshae, an associate at her firm, Dirkse started in the living room with an iconic Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa, upholstered in a durable dove-gray dyed-acrylic velvet. “I have always wanted to use this sofa in a project,” Dirkse says, “and finally that client came along.” Adding a dash of color are two Platner chairs that bring glamour to the space, along with one of the couple’s two artworks by Damien Hirst. Fabric drapery sheers with »

“SOMETIMES YOU SEE THESE DESIGNS THAT LOOK BEAUTIFUL BUT FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE IN A MUSEUM AND AREN’T COMFORTABLE. IN OUR CASE, EVERY ROOM IS COMFORTABLE. YOU CAN LOUNGE AND RELAX OR DRESS IT UP AND

MAKE IT ELEGANT.” —FRANCOIS, HOMEOWNER

A smoked-glass mirror installed over the built-in sideboard and rich brown velvet upholstered chairs infuse the dining area with a swanky, hotel lounge atmosphere. A Jonathan Adler chandelier, which the couple already owned, nods to that designer’s makeover of the Parker Palm Springs a few years back.

One of the pieces the couple brought to the project is a classic Noguchi coffee table, which found a home in the media room. OPPOSITE: A Damien Hirst piece hangs above a Holly Hunt sectional. Black-and-white throw pillows tie together the room. The area rug is from Driscoll Robbins Fine Carpets.

“THE FORMAL LIVING ROOM IS THE MOST SURPRISING, AS THIS IS WHERE YOU’D EXPECT IT TO BE STUFFIER. IT’S NOT. I LOVE HANGING OUT THERE, READING A BOOK, DOING SOME WORK, AND DRINKING

SOME WINE.” —FRANCOIS, HOMEOWNER

a chain-link-esque weave add a touch of industrialism, though the couple are still divided on the choice. “I think it’s the texture I like best,” Amy says. “They are so different and really finish the room.” Francois is still not convinced: “It’ll take me a while to get used to them.”

A dining area adjacent to the living room features a sleek black Gubi table with LawsonFenning chairs upholstered in a chocolatecolored soft-textured velvet. A gold Jonathan Adler chandelier, which the couple already owned, completes the look, which is reminiscent of a ’70s-era lounge. Dirkse installed a smoked mirror above the built-in sideboard—an unexpected choice that ended up being a favorite of Amy’s. “There’s a sexy cheekiness to it,” she says. “I was skeptical at first but fell in love the second it was installed. It’s a creative way to dress up a blank wall space other than with wallpaper, paint, or art. It also adds an elegant dimension to the space.”

In the primary bedroom, Dirkse amplified the pattern and texture with a graphic wallpaper and area rug, but kept them from overwhelming the space by keeping tones black and white. A media room embraces the midcentury theme with an orange Womb Chair, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1948 at Florence Knoll’s request for “a chair that was like a basket full of pillows.” A Damien Hirst butterfly artwork hangs above a Holly Hunt sectional covered in a cranberryhued fabric. The Noguchi coffee table is a beloved piece that the couple already owned— its timeless silhouette and simple materials encapsulate the spirit of the project, which seamlessly blends eras and styles to create an elevated, chic, and livable home.

“Michelle is a gifted designer,” Amy says. “She has pushed us in the right directions and has drawn us just enough out of our comfort zone while staying true to who we are. She has an uncanny way of taking our words and ideas and really nailing the vibe, energy, and aesthetic perfectly.” h

In the primary bedroom, Dirkse evoked the glam ’70s with dark tones, brassy accents, and persimmon-colored bedding. The nightstand is vintage, and the rug is from Kush. OPPOSITE, FROM TOP: In the powder room, another bold wallpaper—Jupiter 10’s Atlanta—is a graphic statement. Kelly Wearstler’s Cascadia wallpaper in Noir makes for a dramatic backdrop in the primary bedroom.