What Grayscale Design Studio does

Grayscale Design Studio is a boutique architecture and interior design firm founded in 2015 and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The firm was founded by Jennifer Thuma, former Principal of LMN Architects' Interior Design group, and operates with a team of approximately five professionals. It provides architecture, interior design, product design, custom furniture, and wayfinding services to high-end residential clients and sophisticated commercial clients across Washington State and adjacent markets including Portland, OR and Serenbe (Atlanta, GA area). Notable projects include the $46 million 800 Fifth Avenue lobby renovation for Hines (completed 2017), Symetra Center amenities, and the Northwest Harvest food bank and community center delivered in partnership with Allied8.

The firm's technical differentiation rests on in-house fabrication capabilities that include 3D modeling, CNC fabrication, glass blowing, and 3D clay printing. These enable production of custom furniture, lighting fixtures, and architectural elements that are difficult to replicate at scale and create cross-sell between design and physical fabrication. The studio has received industry recognition including NAIOP's 2016 Redevelopment/Renovation of the Year for the 800 Fifth Avenue project and an IES Illumination Award in 2018.

Grayscale operates on a project-based, quote-based pricing model typical of professional services architecture firms. Revenue sources are diversified across four customer segments: high-end residential, sophisticated commercial real estate (e.g., Hines), non-profit organizations (e.g., Northwest Harvest), and public/institutional clients (e.g., Seattle Public Library). Distribution is direct and referral-driven, supported by a portfolio of approximately 22 documented projects. The firm is independent, with no disclosed outside funding, and in February 2025 spun off Pentograph as a separate product design venture to commercialize its fabrication capabilities beyond project commissions.

Name

Grayscale Design Studio

Legal name

Grayscale Design Studio

Website

https://grayscaledesignstudio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Grayscale Design Studio is a Seattle-based boutique architecture and interior design firm providing architecture, interior design, custom furniture, and product design to high-end residential and commercial clients across the Pacific Northwest and select adjacent markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architecture and Interior Design Services

NAICS

Interior Design Services (541410), Industrial Design Services (541420)

akta.pro primary industry

Interior Design Services (BPAHAKAB)

Keywords

• Architecture services
• Interior design
• Custom furniture design
• Building repositioning
• Wayfinding design

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Architecture and Design Services: Project-based professional services for architecture, interior design, product design, and wayfinding. Services include building repositioning, renovations, new builds, custom furniture and finishes, and furniture selection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Grayscale Design Studio is a boutique architecture and design firm providing architecture, interior design, custom product and furniture design, and finish specification services. The studio offers in-house fabrication capabilities including 3D printing, CNC work, and glass blowing to produce custom furniture, lighting, and finishes for high-end residential and commercial projects across the Pacific Northwest.

Product overview

Grayscale Design Studio is a boutique architecture and design firm offering a unified suite of services centered on architecture, interior design, product design (custom furniture and finishes), wayfinding, and furniture selection. Projects span high-end residential and sophisticated commercial clients across Washington State and Portland, OR. The portfolio includes office tower renovations (Symetra Center, 800 Fifth Ave., Seattle Tower), residential projects (Serenbe Residence, Pear Point Residence, Olive Street Residence), amenity spaces, and community facilities (Northwest Harvest food bank, Seattle Public Library). Custom product design and illumination design represent specialized offerings within their core design services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Services
• Interior Design
• Custom Product and Furniture Design
• Wayfinding Design
• Furniture and Finish Specification

Quantifiable outcome

• Led redesign of 800 Fifth Ave. lobby as part of $46M renovation project
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PentographminorOthers · 1 February 2025Pentograph is a new product design company inspired by Grayscale Design Studio's custom projects. Grayscale introduced Pentograph as an innovative venture born from their creative efforts. Custom light fixtures were designed in collaboration with Pentograph for Symetra Center.
• Perkins & WillcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Design collaboration with Marcos Ancinas of Perkins & Will on Olive Street Residence historic home remodel. Grayscale partnered with the prominent architecture firm for this 1904 Seattle home renovation and modern addition.
• Allied8coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2019Ongoing design collaboration with Allied8 architects on multiple projects including Northwest Harvest food bank and community center, Pear Point Residence in San Juan Islands, and San Juan Home and Guesthouse. Allied8 serves as shell and core architect on several residential projects while Grayscale handles interior architecture.
• SHKS ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnered with SHKS Architects on Seattle Public Library Lake City Branch renovation. Grayscale provided interior design services for this public community space.
• LMN ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2018Collaborated with LMN Architects on 800 Fifth Ave. lobby renovation ($46M project). LMN designed the architecture while Grayscale provided interior design services. Also teamed up with LMN for Illumination Award-winning lighting design.
• GLY ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2017General contractor for 800 Fifth Ave. lobby renovation. Worked alongside Grayscale's interior design services during the year-long renovation completed while building was occupied.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Ken Fulk Studio: San Francisco-based design studio specializing in hospitality, residential, and branded commercial interiors with a custom fabrication emphasis. Comparable boutique creative-services model.
• Olson Kundig: Seattle-based boutique architecture and design firm with comparable custom residential and commercial work, in-house fabrication sensibility, and Pacific Northwest market overlap. Similar size and brand-led positioning.
• Studio Sofield: NYC-based boutique interior design and architecture practice with comparable custom furniture, hospitality, and luxury residential projects. Mirrors Grayscale's craft-driven, one-of-a-kind positioning.
• Aidlin Darling Design: San Francisco Bay Area architecture and design studio emphasizing craft, custom fabrication, and integrated architecture/interior work, paralleling Grayscale's boutique custom approach.
• Commune Design: Los Angeles boutique interior and product design firm with a similar custom furniture and finishes emphasis serving high-end residential and hospitality clients.
• SHKS Architects: Seattle architecture firm collaborating with Grayscale on Seattle Public Library Lake City Branch. Operates in the same boutique-to-mid commercial and institutional architecture space in the PNW.
• SkB Architects: Seattle boutique architecture firm with a similar custom residential and commercial portfolio in the PNW, often collaborating on interior-rich projects.
• Allied8: Seattle boutique architecture firm and recurring design partner to Grayscale on Northwest Harvest, Pear Point, and San Juan projects. Similar scale, residential/commercial mix, and Pacific Northwest footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Perkins&Will: Global architecture and design firm collaborating with Grayscale on the Olive Street Residence. Larger incumbent whose interiors practice overlaps with Grayscale's custom residential and commercial offering.
• LMN Architects: Large Seattle architecture firm where Grayscale's founder Jennifer Thuma was previously a Principal. Acts as both architect-of-record partner on flagship Grayscale projects and a broader incumbent offering overlapping interior design capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grayscale-design-studio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Grayscale Design Studio