Mercer Island, WA March 2026

HOME FIND YOUR

Home means something different at every chapter. It may be room to gather, space to simplify, or the ease of a beautifully designed condo close to it all. There is no single definition, only what feels right to you.

A LOCAL MOVE MADE WITH INTENTION

Michele Schuler Joins Real Residential

On Mercer Island, real estate is deeply personal. It is shaped by trust, timing, and nuance by knowing not just the numbers, but the streets, the light, the views, and when to lean in or hold steady. It is about people first, always. With that in mind, I am excited to share that The Schuler Team is entering a new chapter by aligning with Real Residential. This decision was not driven by scale or national branding. It was guided by a simple question. What best serves my clients and our community?

Real Residential is a locally rooted, boutique brokerage with a strong presence across Seattle and the Eastside, particularly in the luxury space. While it is the highest producing team based brokerage in Washington, it operates with the intimacy, flexibility, and accountability of a firm built for how real estate actually happens locally, thoughtfully, and with care.

That philosophy mirrors how I have practiced real estate for nearly two decades. During that time, I have guided Mercer Island buyers and sellers through every market cycle, representing homes across the Island, from waterfront estates to in town neighborhoods and new construction, always with a focus on clarity, discretion, and long term outcomes. This alignment allows my team and me to operate with fewer layers, greater flexibility, and closer collaboration, tailoring each strategy to the home, the moment, and the people involved. Because homes are not commodities. They deserve individual attention and experienced judgment.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, the mission remains unchanged: to help clients make smart, well-timed decisions with confidence and care. A new brokerage. The same values. And a continued commitment to Mercer Island—where details matter, and relationships endure.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of guiding more than 150 Mercer Island households through some of life’s most meaningful transitions—helping clients buy and sell homes through multiple market cycles with clarity and care. That work represents over $275M in Mercer Island sales alone and more than $700M in total career volume, built on deep local knowledge, steady judgment, and long-term relationships rather than shortterm wins.

If you are in need of real estate guidance on the island, I would love to have a conversation with you!

Letter from the Editor for the HOME Issue

Dear Neighbors,

Home is more than an address on Mercer Island — it’s something we thoughtfully design.

For me, home is the rhythm of familiar mornings, softened by spaces that bring ease and comfort to everyday life. It’s light through the windows, rooms that invite gathering, and quiet corners that offer rest. Design, at its best, supports how we live — creating beauty not for show, but for connection, warmth, and belonging. From interiors and architecture to the landscapes that frame our days, design shapes how home feels.

But home is not only the spaces we create — it’s the people within them. It’s the organizations, small businesses, and volunteers who contribute to the fabric of our Island and help turn neighbors into community. It’s the pride we feel watching our youth shine — whether through the inclusivity and joy of the MIHS Band, the energy and spirit of Sparkle Cheer, or the many ways our schools bring students together and help them feel they belong.

When my family made Mercer Island our home 15 years ago, we were drawn not only by the natural beauty of the Island, but by this shared commitment to care — in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our community spaces. Here, we invest intentionally: in our families, our lifestyle, and environments — both physical and social — that reflect who we are and how we want to live together.

Editing the annual “Home” issue celebrates the many ways home takes shape on the Island — through thoughtful design, timeless aesthetics, and the people and businesses who help create spaces and experiences that feel welcoming and connected. From individual homes to the broader community we share.

As you turn these pages, my hope is that you feel inspired — to make your home more comfortable, more beautiful, and more reflective of what matters most to you. Thank you for allowing Mercer Island City Lifestyle to be part of the spaces, stories, and relationships that connect us.

Warmly,

SHARON PEREZ, EDITOR

March 2026

PUBLISHER

Chris Ishii | chris.ishii@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Sharon Perez | sharon.perez@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Paulette Denman, Mark Elster, Rachel Schindler, Francis Baklinski, Jami Blumenstein

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Mike Jensen, Debbie Burke, Melissa Danielli, Jami Blumenstein

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kelsey Ragain

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Hannah Leimkuhler

city scene

PRIDE OF THE ISLAND MARCHES IN LONDON

On January 1, 2026, Mercer Island High School’s marching band, the ‘Pride of the Island,’ stepped onto the world stage for London’s 40th New Year’s Day Parade. Our 206 band students marched alongside 15 other American high school and college bands, as well as a wide assortment of international performers. The parade route led them through the heart of London, ending with a glorious sunset behind Big Ben.

Over six days, London became both classroom and stage. The group enjoyed a Thames River cruise, explored the Tower of London, and performed in Russell Square Park, where the band entertained MI band families and awe-struck onlookers. They gave a high energy performance at Covent Garden for a massive, enthusiastic crowd, followed by an elegant evening at the theater seeing Wicked. Students toured Oxford University, with many leaving inspired, considering the possibility of one day studying abroad. The group rang in the New Year with an energetic party in their hotel featuring a DJ and dancing, then tried to rest in preparation for their parade the next morning.

The scale and spirit of the parade were unforgettable. Band members enjoyed seeing the skill and creativity of marching bands who also crossed the Atlantic for the event. Crowds waved and cheered as the MIHS band passed by with precision and their powerful sound. Their televised spotlight performance impressed the announcers and spectators alike, and ended by unfurling a huge banner reading “Thank You Parents!” In the hours after the parade, students relaxed with satisfaction, knowing their dedication and hard work had paid off.

Before boarding flights home, the group spent their final full day exploring Windsor Castle and the surrounding charming town. Spirits remained high despite the cold temperatures, buoyed by the shared knowledge that they had risen to the occasion and made their hometown proud.

The band’s ongoing focus on excellence extends beyond music and marching to include gratitude, accountability, and grit. Many positive comments followed the group throughout the trip. London Parade guide Cecilia, who accompanied the band throughout their stay shared, “Young people don’t learn these skills by accident. I could see how intentionally they were prioritized, and the effects were tangible in the kids.”

The ambitious trip was led by high school band co-directors Parker Bixby, Kyle Thompson, and Jacob Krieger, organizational lead Jen McClellan, a strong hierarchy of student leadership and 20 chaperones. Together, they guided all 206 students across six flight groups, two additional performances, and a globally broadcast parade. A year-long, 25 member parent committee and the ongoing efforts of the Mercer Island Band Boosters helped make the experience possible.

Students and families raised more than $85,000 in scholarships through car wash ticket sales, a successful rummage sale, community outreach, and the annual Band Together Auction, ensuring every student could participate.

Reflecting on the experience, McClellan shared, “Our MI community can be so proud of these students for their professionalism, musicianship, and kindness. They impressed not only parade spectators, but everyone they encountered along the way. We are deeply grateful to our community for its continued support of fine arts education and this remarkable band program.”

GO MERCER!

Paulette Denman is a band parent, chaperone, London Parent Committee co-chair, and member of Mercer Island School’s Band Boosters.

MIHS Sparkle Cheer

Where Spirit, Inclusion, and Community Shine Together

ARTICLE BY HEAD COACH JAMI BLUMENSTEIN

On Friday nights under the stadium lights, during packed basketball games, school assemblies, parades, and community events, one thing is always clear at Mercer Island High School: Sparkle Cheer brings people together through smiles, open hearts, and a kind of joy that warms everyone’s hearts.

Sparkle Cheer is a unique and deeply meaningful cheerleading team where students with and without special needs cheer side by side at school and community events. From football and basketball games to assemblies, parades, and local community events, Sparkle Cheer shows up with enthusiasm, heart, and a powerful message: everyone belongs.

Sparkle Cheer is approximately 30 cheerleaders, bringing together MIHS cheerleaders and students with a broad range of special needs, all cheering as one unified team. MIHS cheerleaders serve as mentors sharing cheers, routines, and encouragement but the learning flows both ways. As many Cheer Mentors quickly discover, Sparkle isn’t about teaching the perfect dance or hitting every count. It’s about learning patience, openness, flexibility, and how to truly show up for one another.

For many students, Sparkle Cheer has been truly transformative. Some join the program feeling shy or unsure, only to blossom over time as their confidence grows. Through Sparkle, these students become familiar, beloved faces throughout the school and community, high-fiving classmates in the hallways, feeling included at lunch, and proudly representing their team wherever they go.

Sparkle Cheer reminds us that cheerleading isn’t only about spirit it’s about heart. It’s about creating space for every individual to feel seen, valued, and celebrated. It’s about lifting one another up and showing what true inclusion looks like in action.

MIHS Sparkle Cheer - Head Coach Jami Blumenstein “Coach Jami”

“For me, Sparkle Cheer is more than a program, it has truly become my heart and soul.

I’ve been coaching with the Mercer Island High School Cheer program for over 10 years, and Sparkle Cheer has grown into something incredibly meaningful. Watching our cheerleaders with

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special needs blossom, has been a great joy of my life. I’ve seen students learn to clap to the beat for the first time, master a simple routine, step onto the floor with confidence, or simply smile and make a friend.

I’ve also watched our MIHS cheerleaders grow in ways that go far beyond cheer. Through Sparkle, the Cheer Mentors learn to lead with kindness, leave the pressures and drama of high school behind, and connect in a genuine, down-to-earth way with teammates of all abilities. There is so much laughter, joy, dancing, and fun and those moments are what make Sparkle so special.

We celebrate often, through team parties, performances, and shared milestones and each celebration reflects just how much growth happens along the way. Sparkle Cheer has had the honor of performing at Special Olympics events, college halftime games, and many community gatherings, which are some of my favorite moments. Seeing familiar faces in the crowd light up as Sparkle Cheer takes the floor never gets old.

People often tell me how nice it is that coach Sparkle Cheer. But the truth is, what I receive in return is priceless. One smile means the world to me. Those smiles full of pride, joy, and belonging are everything.

Sparkle Cheer reminds me every day why inclusion matters, why connection matters, and how powerful it is when everyone is given the chance to shine. When everyone cheers, everyone wins!”

PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Mariya, Sasha’s Mom – Sasha Sparkle Cheerleader

“Because of Sparkle Cheer, Sasha’s dream of becoming a cheerleader came true. Sparkle Cheer has become her happy place a place where she feels welcomed, supported, and truly part of something special.

She loves Sparkle Cheer because she’s made so many friends, which is what she always wanted. Watching her perform with such joy, seeing how warmly she is embraced by her teammates, and witnessing her confidence grow has been incredibly meaningful for our entire family.

This experience has been truly life changing, and we are deeply grateful for this opportunity.”

Andrea, Gavin’s Mom – Gavin is a Senior “Sparkle Cheerleader”

“Sparkle Cheer has opened a whole new world for our son, Gavin. He began as a freshman who was nervous to join the team and has since transformed into a confident young man, capturing the attention of the entire crowd and proudly igniting school spirit.”

“Being a Sparkle mentor has completely changed the way I see cheer and the way I see people. I thought I was

there to mentor, but I’ve learned so much more about patience, kindness, and joy from my Sparkle teammates. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up, supporting each other, and having fun together.”

Kate, Team Captain

“Being part of Sparkle Cheer for four years has truly changed my perspective on why I cheer. It became this extra, unexpected part of cheer that I now can’t imagine my week without. Performing with them in front of their families and seeing how much they’ve grown to love cheer the same way my teammates and I do has been incredibly special. Sparkles gives every athlete the chance to be part of something big, and watching their confidence grow through each routine and performance has been one of my favorite parts of every week. I’ll be so sad to leave next year when I go to college, but I can’t wait to watch them continue to grow this amazing program — and I’ll be cheering for them from the stands!”

The Sparkle Cheer team is open to new highschool-age students with a broad range of special needs who may be seeking connection, confidence, and friendship. Sparkle welcomes individuals across all levels of the spectrum, as well as those who may simply be looking for a place to belong and build meaningful friendships.

For more information about Sparkle Cheer, please contact: Coach Jami Blumenstein jamiblumenstein@gmail.com

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Meet the Minds Behind the Insights

ARTICLE BY SHARON PEREZ AND CHRIS ISHII PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS

Homes shape our lives in ways that are often felt before they are understood.

Beyond style or scale, a well-considered home supports how we move through our days—how we gather, rest, focus, and reconnect. It reflects not only personal taste, but values, rhythms, and a relationship to place.

For this Home Issue, we invited a small group of professionals whose work places them close to that lived experience. Architects, builders, designers, realtors, and home service experts—people who spend their careers observing what truly endures once the doors are closed and life begins.

What follows is not a list of services or credentials. It’s a collection of perspectives. Insights shaped by time, repetition, and care. Ideas that rarely announce themselves, but quietly define how a home feels to live in—day after day, year after year.

Together, these voices form a conversation about comfort, longevity, and belonging. About the details that matter most, even when they’re hard to name.

This is a look behind the scenes—at the minds shaping the homes that shape us.

RACHEL SCHINDLER, PRINCIPAL & MANAGING BROKER RE-VESTA GROUP

1. What’s something professionals notice about a home that’s hard to describe, but easy to feel?

We tend to notice how a home  feels the moment you step inside—its solidity, balance, and quality of construction. Are

floors level, how does sound carry from room to room, and even how the outside noise is absorbed are all things that professionals should be paying attention to. These subtleties are hard to articulate, but they immediately signal comfort, care, and craftsmanship.

2. What do people often overlook about a home at first—but come to value most over time?

The community. While buyers often focus on the home itself, it’s the people around you that shape daily life. Taking the time to meet neighbors—knocking on a door, exchanging a smile, saying hello— before you make the move can help ease any transition. we often do this with our clients to make it a bit easier.

3. Looking beyond design or price, what makes people feel genuinely settled in a home here?

A sense of connection. While the home provides a personal retreat, it’s the surrounding community and the relationships you build that create a deeper feeling of home. Getting involved, forming friendships, and feeling part of something larger than your front door is what ultimately makes people feel grounded and settled here.

MARK ELSTER, MANAGING DIRECTOR AOME ARCHITECTS

The choice of architect is the single most powerful decision you’ll make in a custom home—it literally shapes how every day feels.

WHAT REALLY MAKES A HOME ON MERCER ISLAND

SPECIAL AND UNIQUE IS THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT.

- GREG ROSENWALD  COMPASS REAL ESTATE

Key daily influencers architects control:

• Natural light and views — Strategic windows and orientation that lift mood and energy all day (especially vital in the Pacific Northwest’s variable skies).

• Flow and circulation — Intuitive layouts that make movement feel natural, not forced, reducing daily stress.

• Scale and proportion — Rooms that feel generous yet intimate, never overwhelming or cramped.

• Material tactility — Surfaces and textures that delight the senses over years of touch.Rush it, or pick based on the wrong priorities, and you risk a lifetime of subtle frustrations: awkward space relationships, poor daylighting, spaces that fight your routines instead of supporting them.

Get it right, and the home quietly elevates everything—from the way morning sun greets your coffee to how effortlessly family life unfolds.

MICHELE SCHULER, MANAGING BROKER REAL RESIDENTIAL | THE SCHULER TEAM

1. What’s something professionals notice about a home that’s hard to describe, but easy to feel?

When you walk into a well-designed home, there’s an immediate sense of ease. The proportions make sense. The light lands where you expect it to. The rooms relate to each other naturally.

With experience, you develop a sensitivity to quality and cohesiveness. You notice when architecture, materials, layout, and craftsmanship are working together instead of competing with each other. It’s not about luxury or style. It’s about integrity in the design and execution.

The best homes feel settled and balanced. They don’t announce themselves. They simply feel right.

2. What do people often overlook about a home at first—but come to value most over time?

Early on, most people are drawn to finishes and visual impact. Over time, what they value far more is the quality of the architecture and how the home actually functions.

Thoughtful design shows itself quietly— in circulation, ceiling heights, storage, natural light, and a floor plan that continues to support daily life. Good architecture ages well. Good construction reveals itself over years, not months.

What people come to appreciate most is that the home still works. It’s comfortable. It’s durable. It continues to make sense as their life evolves.

3. Looking beyond design or price, what makes people feel genuinely settled in a home here?

On Mercer Island in particular, what settles people is a sense of belonging.

It’s knowing your neighbors. Building friendships. Having routines that tie you to the community—school drop-offs, familiar faces at the grocery store, someone knowing your coffee order and delivering with a smile.

A home becomes meaningful when it’s part of a larger life. When you feel connected not just to the house, but to the

neighborhood and the lifestyle around it. That sense of community and connectedness is what truly makes people feel at home here.

GREG ROSENWALD, FOUNDING BROKER, COMPASS REAL ESTATE SEATTLE/EASTSIDE

Having grown up on the Island and worked in real estate here for the past 25 years, I’ve learned that the best homes are easy to feel but hard to describe. It’s the light, the flow, and how a house lives day to day — but what really makes a home on Mercer Island special and unique is the community around it.

NADINE STELLAVATO BROWN, STUDIO STELLAVATO

Interior design quietly directs how people live, move, and feel in their homes each day. The scale, layout, and transitions between spaces influence daily rhythms—from where conversations naturally gather to where someone can retreat for focus or rest. With the advent of open-floor-plan living, homes have become larger and more visually connected, but they can also feel overwhelming or lacking in intimacy. My approach is to shape these expansive environments into a collection of purposeful moments. By introducing defined yet inviting spaces—like a formal library or a breakfast nook—families find balance: places to come together and places to be still. Thoughtful design transforms a vast home into one that supports movement, comfort, and meaningful daily rituals.

ANDREW BAKLINSKI, BAKLINSKI HOME IMPROVEMENT

“The renovations that help a home live well for decades come down to three intentional decisions. First, thoughtful timeless design—choosing layouts and finishes that not only solve today’s needs but will still feel right and function beautifully 10 or 20 years from now. Second, carefully curating durable, high-quality materials that withstand our Pacific Northwest climate while reflecting the homeowners’ personal taste and lifestyle. Finally, approaching the project with reasonableness and a sense of enjoyment—much like building a championship Seahawks team, where patience, smart choices, and trust in the process create something greater (and more enduring) than any single season’s highlight. The real joy is knowing the home will continue to serve and delight its family long after the tools are packed away.”

The Navetta 68, “The Absolute Vision”, is one of a kind sea creature able to capture the eyes of the most demanding and passionate navigators on the planet who let themselves be embraced by the most intense emotions.

Location: Seattle Washington

The 68 Navetta layout offers incredible volume for its size, featuring a bright and airy salon, a true on-deck master, and guest accommodations thoughtfully arranged for privacy and comfort. This vessel features a 4-cabin, 3-head layout plus a dedicated crew cabin aft with additional access into the engine room for convenience. Engines:

DESIGNED FOR LIFE ON MERCER ISLAND

ARTICLE BY CHRIS ISHII

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS

INSIDE THE EXPERIENCE OF HOME ON MERCER ISLAND

THE FRAMEWORK OF DAILY LIFE ON MERCER ISLAND

Before finishes are chosen or furniture is placed, architecture quietly sets the terms of daily life. It determines how light enters a room, how spaces relate to one another, and how a home responds to its surroundings. On Mercer Island, where landscape, water, and neighborhood context all play a role, architecture becomes less about statement and more about stewardship.

Architects understand that the most influential decisions are often the ones residents stop noticing altogether. Ceiling heights that allow spaces to breathe without feeling cavernous. Sightlines that connect rooms while still offering moments of privacy. Windows placed not just for views, but for how morning and evening light move through the house over the course of the day.

In homes that live well, architecture creates a rhythm. There is an ease to movement—between public and private spaces, between indoors and out. Rooms unfold naturally, supporting both gathering and retreat. The experience feels intuitive, even when the planning behind it is anything but simple.

On Mercer Island, architectural choices are also shaped by place. Sloped sites, wooded lots, waterfront exposure, and neighboring homes all demand thoughtful response. Rather than imposing a design onto a setting, successful architecture here tends to listen first. Orientation, scale, and material choices work in concert with the environment, allowing the home to feel grounded rather than performative.

What often distinguishes strong architecture is restraint. The decision to simplify rather than overbuild. To let proportion and light do the work instead of relying on excess detail. These choices may not command attention at first glance, but they reveal their value over time—through comfort, durability, and a sense of calm that endures.

Architects also think beyond how a home looks on move-in day. They consider how spaces will be used years later, how families might change, and how daily routines can be supported without friction. When architecture anticipates real life, a home adapts gracefully rather than resisting change.

In the end, good architecture doesn’t ask to be admired. It asks to be lived in. It fades into the background of daily routines while

A WELL-BUILT HOME DOES

quietly shaping them—making a home feel balanced, considered, and deeply connected to its setting.

It is this unseen framework that allows everything else—design, construction, technology, and care—to fall into place.

BUILT TO BE LIVED IN

A well-built home doesn’t announce itself all at once. It reveals itself gradually—through how it ages, how it responds to its setting, and how it supports daily life long after construction dust has settled.

Builders see homes differently than most people do. They’re involved long before finishes are chosen and long after plans

are finalized. Their perspective spans years, not moments. And when you listen closely, their insights tend to cluster around a few enduring truths.

1. The Long View: What Endures Over Time

The most important decisions in a home are often the least visible. Structural choices, material selection, and construction methods rarely make a first impression—but they shape everything that follows.

Builders consistently note that homes which “live well” over time are those designed with patience in mind. Not just for current owners, but for future ones. Thoughtful framing, careful

waterproofing, and systems planned for access and longevity quietly determine whether a home feels effortless— or demanding—years later.

These choices don’t shout. They support.

2. Industry Shifts That Change Daily Life

From energy efficiency to smart systems, the building industry has shifted dramatically in the past decade. But builders point out that the most meaningful changes aren’t about novelty—they’re about usability.

Homes today are expected to do more while asking less of their occupants. Better insulation, improved airflow, and integrated systems mean fewer adjustments, fewer surprises, and greater comfort. When done well, technology fades into the background, allowing the home itself to feel calm and intuitive.

The goal isn’t complexity—it’s ease.

3. Relationship to Place

A home that ignores its surroundings will always feel slightly unsettled. Builders working across varied sites—waterfront, wooded, or urban—understand that orientation, exposure, and topography are not constraints but opportunities.

Natural light, views, prevailing winds, and seasonal changes all influence how a home feels from room to room. Builders emphasize that when a house responds to its site—rather than imposing itself—the result feels grounded and intentional.

Place isn’t decoration. It’s structure.

4. Landscape as Living Space

Outdoor areas are no longer secondary. Builders increasingly see landscape, patios, terraces, and transitional spaces as integral to how people live day to day.

The most successful homes blur the line between inside and out, creating rhythm rather than separation. Covered outdoor spaces, thoughtful grading, and materials that weather gracefully extend the life of the home beyond its walls.

A home doesn’t end at the door.

5. The Quiet Mark of Craft

Perhaps the most consistent builder insight is this: the best work often goes unnoticed.

When doors close softly years later, when floors remain quiet underfoot, when a home settles without complaint— that’s craftsmanship at work. Builders measure success not by compliments at completion, but by silence afterward.

A home built well doesn’t demand attention. It earns trust.

WHAT PROFESSIONALS NOTICE FIRST

There’s a moment that happens quietly, often before a buyer can articulate it. A pause. A breath. A sense of recognition. Realtors see it all the time.

Long before decisions are made on price or layout, something registers. And while buyers may describe it later as “a feeling,” professionals know it’s the result of many small, layered details working together.

The Things That Don’t Photograph Well

Realtors are often the first to point out that the most meaningful qualities of a home rarely show up in listings. Flow, light at certain times of day, how spaces connect— these things reveal themselves only through experience.

A home may look impressive online, but it’s how it feels when you move through it that matters. Sightlines, ceiling height transitions, and natural light patterns quietly shape comfort in ways buyers don’t immediately name— but always notice.

Comfort Over Impression

Homes that endure in memory tend to privilege comfort over drama. Realtors observe that buyers often come to value warmth, usability, and ease more than bold statements.

It’s not uncommon for people to fall in love with a space they hadn’t expected to—because it feels right. These are homes that support routines without friction, where daily life fits naturally.

Comfort, it turns out, is persuasive.

What Time Reveals

With hindsight, professionals see patterns buyers can’t yet anticipate. Certain features matter more after living in a home: storage that’s actually usable, layouts that allow privacy as well as connection, and materials that age gracefully.

Realtors hear it from clients months or years later—the appreciation for details that didn’t stand out initially, but now feel essential.

Homes reveal their value slowly.

The Intangible Sense of Belonging

There’s an intangible quality professionals learn to recognize. A sense that a home is aligned with its surroundings. That it belongs to its neighborhood, its light, its pace.

This isn’t about style. It’s about fit. When a home feels settled in its environment, the people inside tend to settle too.

What’s

Easy to Feel, Hard to Explain

Realtors know that buyers often struggle to articulate why one home feels different from another. But professionals recognize the signs: relaxed body language, unhurried movement, the instinct to linger.

These are the moments when a house begins to become a home—before anyone says it out loud.

THE HOMES THAT WORK QUIETLY

Some of the most important aspects of a home are the least visible. Home service professionals—those working in technology, systems, and specialized construction— understand this better than anyone.

Their work isn’t meant to impress. It’s meant to disappear.

When systems are designed well, homeowners stop thinking about them entirely. Security feels seamless. Sound moves naturally. Climate adjusts without effort.

Performance You Feel, Not See Technology that works best doesn’t call attention to itself. Professionals note that comfort, security, and ease are felt in the absence of friction—when lighting responds intuitively, sound supports rather than overwhelms, and systems integrate quietly into daily routines.

The goal is not control, but confidence.

DESIGNING FOR REAL LIFE

Homes evolve. Families grow, routines shift, and technology changes. Service professionals emphasize planning systems that can adapt over time, avoiding solutions that feel outdated or intrusive within a few years.

Flexibility and foresight matter more than novelty.

The Value of Thoughtful Integration

When systems are considered early—rather than added later— they become part of the home’s fabric. Wires are hidden, controls are intuitive, and spaces remain uncluttered.

AOME Lakefront Glimmer Fireplace

Good systems don’t dominate spaces. They support them.

Longevity Through Simplicity

Ultimately, professionals agree: simplicity lasts. Homes that live well over time are those where systems are reliable, understandable, and built to serve daily life quietly. The best compliment is never hearing about it at all.

LIVING INSIDE THE DESIGN

Interior design isn’t just about how a home looks—it’s about how it feels to move through it, live in it, and return to it each day.

Designers understand that small decisions compound. Furniture placement, material choices, and transitions between spaces influence mood, movement, and comfort in subtle ways.

Design as Rhythm

Well-designed interiors guide movement naturally. They allow spaces to open and close at the right moments, creating both connection and retreat. Designers often focus less on individual rooms and more on how the home flows as a whole.

Comfort as a Design Principle

Beyond aesthetics, interiors succeed when they support daily life. Softness where it matters. Durability where it’s needed. Light that shifts gently throughout the day.

The most successful designs feel lived-in from the start.

Emotion Over Ornament

Designers often say that the goal isn’t to impress—but to calm, ground, or uplift. Interiors shape how people feel when they wake up, gather, and wind down. When design aligns with life, it quietly becomes part of the family.

ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN JENKINS, AMANDA PROUDFIT

MID-CENTURY WARMTH, REIMAGINED

There’s a certain moment when a house stops feeling new and starts feeling like home. It isn’t marked by square footage or finishes alone. It is something quieter, more emotional. In this home, designer Kate Manz set out to do exactly that: give a newly built home a heartbeat and a soul.

Rather than treating the house as one sweeping statement, she approached each room as its own story, layered with meaning, memory, and texture. The result is a home that feels collected, personal, and deeply lived-in.

“Tackling each space and room as its own story and concept is how to make a new space feel personal,” Manz explains. “But bringing it all together cohesively is always the challenge.”

Her solution? Warmth, intention, and a strong belief in the power of people. In new builds it can take years for a home to shed its newness. For this project, the goal was to fast-track that sense of belonging by layering in pieces with history and heart. Vintage market finds, local artists, and meaningful objects play a starring role throughout the home.

“My love for design goes hand in hand with the people and stories that bring it to life,” she says. “I absolutely love seeing the evolution from concept to completion and all the elements and people that help bring those ideas to reality.”

That philosophy becomes especially important in the home’s expansive open-concept living area, where scale could easily overpower intimacy.

THE OPEN CONCEPT, REIMAGINED

The main living space is defined by bringing the outside in with sweeping outdoor views and generous proportions. Rather than fighting that openness, embrace it.

“The big open concept room really highlights the expansive outdoor views,” she says, “but making intimate spaces within that open room was really important.”

A layered niche wall, created in collaboration with the interior architect Nick Flower, brings both structure and softness to the room. It introduces texture, depth, and a place for unique objects and family heirlooms to live, turning negative space into a personal gallery.

ENTRYWAY: A WARM WELCOME

The entryway sets the tone with a simple but powerful goal: Welcome to my home.

Natural stone underfoot grounds the space, while a soft vintage rug and living greenery immediately soften the experience. Art with personal meaning invites guests to linger rather than rush through.

POWDER BATH: SMALL ROOM, BOLD SPIRIT

If there’s one place Manz encourages clients to take risks, it’s the powder room. Here, she leaned into terracotta earth tones, layering textures and tile sizes for visual interest and warmth. Patterned and solid tiles work together, while textured wall coverings and a sculp tural stone sink elevate the space from functional to delightful.

LOUNGE: A STUDY IN CALM AND DEPTH

Designed as a counterpoint to the openness of the main living area, the lounge is a cocoon, both peaceful, layered, and deeply versatile. It’s a place for reading, movie nights and slow mornings.

Rich tones and varied textures do the heavy lifting here, creat ing depth without heaviness. Soft lighting and custom upholstery make the room feel both intentional and effortless.

At its core, this home is a reminder that design isn’t about per fection, but rather it’s about feeling. By treating each room as its own narrative while weaving in warmth, history, and human con nection, a space was created that already feels loved.

PROJECT CREDITS

Builder - Buildwell

SUSTAINABLE FASHION SHOW

Architect and Interior Architect - Flower Architecture

Designer - Kate Manz IF YOU ARE READING THIS... SO IS YOUR BEST CLIENT.

UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

Where Does It Go? With Recology’s Waste Zero

Mercer Island Library 4400 88th

Have you wondered how you can help reduce waste? Mercer Island Library hosts Recology’s Waste Zero Coordinator to help kids answer the question... “Where does it go?” Come to the library 3:003:45 March 1 to participate in some fun activities while learning how to make a positive impact on the environment!

Registration not required.

Mosiac MI Open Mic

Aljoya Mercer Island 2430 76th Ave

7-9 pm All are invited to listen, musicians high-school age and over are invited to join the lottery to perform in a songwriter-focused gathering; a listening space as much as a performance space. Hosted by local singer,

Bread Winner,  AlBarrels Wine  provide homemade baked goods and wine.  Bring something to share too! mosaicmusicmi.com

Mercer Island First Friday Art Walk

Mercer Island Town Center | 5:00 PM

ArtWalk is Mercer Island’s monthly celebration of creativity, community, and culture. Local businesses and galleries in Town Center showcase fresh, exciting works by emerging and established artists.

Join us 5-8pm for an inspiring evening of art, connection, and fun in the heart of our community.  ArtWalk is powered by volunteers and supported by local businesses, artists, and neighbors like you.

MARCH 6TH

Youth Theater NW Presents: CHICAGO Teen Edition Musical

Parish Hall Emmanuel Episcopal Church | 7:00 PM

YTN presents the Teen Edition of the classic musical, Chicago, March 6-22. In “Roaring Twenties” Chicago, Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess,” Velma Kelly, vie for the spotlight – and the headlines – in search of fame, fortune, and acquittal. Recommended for ages 12+

Tickets and show schedule @ youththeatre.org/on-stage/chicago -teen-edition

MARCH 10TH

MIYFS Seniors Living Alone Group

Mercer Island Community and Event Center. | 1:30 PM

Living Alone - A community for seniors living alone. The group meets the second Tuesday of every month 1:30-3:30pm to:

• Provide and receive neighborly support.

• Discuss ideas, concerns, & questions about daily life.

• Gather information & resources from MIYFS staff.

For information and to join call the Youth & Family Services Confidential Voicemail line at 206-275-7657 or email MIYFS@mercerisland.gov

MARCH 12TH

MIYFS Parent Lab -

Supporting a Neurodiverse Child 6-12 Grade

Mercer Island High School Library 6:30 PM

In-person interactive workshop for MI parents/caregivers of middle and high

CONTINUED

school (6-12 grade) students 6:308:00 pm.  Parenting a neurodiverse child is a unique experience filled with joy, energy and connection, alongside everyday challenges that can feel overwhelming. Join other Island parents for support and connection. YFS facilitators: Kayla Bocek, Intern and Corinne Alef, Clinical Therapist. Register and info@  mihealthyyouth. com/parent-lab-2025-26

MARCH 14TH

Seattle Jewish Film Festival

Stroum Jewish Community Center (SJCC)

The 31st annual Seattle Jewish Film Festival will be held March 14-29, 2026. SJFF showcases the vibrancy and diversity of global Jewish life through cinema to build connections, illuminate perspectives, increase understanding, and offer experiences that amplify profound Jewish experiences for everyone. Information @ seattlejff.org

MARCH 17TH

MIYFS Parent LabSupporting a Neurodiverse Child K-5th Grade

Lakeridge Elementary School Library | 6:00 PM

A in-person interactive workshop for MI parents/caregivers of K-5 students 6:00-7:30pm.  Parenting a neurodiverse child is a unique experience that can be filled with joy, energy and connection, alongside everyday challenges that can feel overwhelming. Join other Island parents and Youth and Family Services Counselors and Staff to find support and connection. Register and info@ mihealthyyouth. com/parent-lab-2025-26

Serving your Mercer Island neighbors since 1984

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