In addition to actively listening to our clients, our design team gains great insights in reading responses to our Programming Questionnaire. They reveal deeper notions of family dynamics, individual personalities, lifestyles and goals. This tool helps us get to know those whom we’re serving more personally, so that we can move forward aligned with their values and convictions.

Take, for instance, our charming client from California, who asked us to revamp his penthouse condo overlooking Puget Sound sunsets in Seattle. When asked to select key words that describe his values, he responded with heartfelt terms as Sanctuary, Beauty, Creativity, Healing and Balance. How wonderful. The SZ Design Team was charged to create a welcoming place for self-reflection, safety, growth and belongingness.

But, the Programming didn’t end there. Delightfully, our client also shared with us his love of music, live performance, production and the display of his vast rock & roll memorabilia. Suddenly, an energetic, creative, almost rebellious, vibe emerged, in stark contrast to the calm retreat initially imagined.

So, how do we find the balance between these seemingly disparate worlds?

On December 1st, we kicked off the holiday season with festive cocktails, live harp music by 14-year-old, Carla Mory, sweet treats and even sweeter friends. The SZ Gallery was adorned with twinkly lights, paper flowers & holiday ornaments creating a magical vibe within our Persian Garden exhibit, by Monir & Mehdi Ghanbeigy.

Monir & Mehdi Ghanbeigy
PERSIAN GARDEN

11.03.2017 - 12.31.2017

‘Persian Garden’ is an exhibit that tells culturally rich stories of Persian culture through contemporary and classically-influenced pieces. Monir and Mehdi Ghanbeigy from Iran have created multimedia artwork together since 1970, combining Mehdi’s detailed work with Persian miniatures and painting, Monir’s background in ceramics and pottery, and their mutual love and appreciation for the history of Persian art.

‘Persian Garden’ showcases a variety of Mehdi and Monir’s collaborative pieces: plates inspired by historical Iranian ceramics, large ceramic panels with modernized miniatures in gold and platinum foil, sculptures of oxen and horses inspired by ancient cave drawings, and unique vases fired in temperatures up to 2500°F heat. Handcrafting their own clay, glaze, and even their kilns all from scratch, their ceramic pieces have a distinct quality that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.