By Rachel Gallaher
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel’s restaurant reopens in Seattle with a sophisticated design that embraces the property’s rich heritage.
Last spring’s opening of the George restaurant at Seattle’s Fairmont Olympic Hotel marked the completion of a two-phase renovation of the historic downtown property, which opened in 1924. Formerly known as the Georgian Room, the space was reimagined as a modern brasserie by Barcelona-based design firm Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio, with MG2 serving as the architect of record. Original architectural details, from elegantly curved windows to decorative moldings, were retained to preserve the original character of the dining room, which features a palette of soft pinks and shades of green with gold accents. The design team created a balanced, vintage-meets-contemporary look with curvy velvet-upholstered chairs, giant modern circular chandeliers, and marble floor tiles set in a bold zigzag pattern. A new bar with a carved marble countertop and wooden, multi-tiered bottle storage feels Parisian, but simple décor and a muted color palette keep its design grounded in the Pacific Northwest.