Seattle Design 100+
Seattle 100: Crush
Food and guests provide the color at this Madison Avenue restaurant

When Nicole Wilson took her business partner and husband, Chef Jason Wilson, to see the gingerbread house on Madison at John, he was underwhelmed at best. Jason envisioned developing a large restaurant downtown, not converting diners to visit an isolated restaurant in a marginal locale.

One year later, the conversion of Jason-and said diners-is complete. Working with designer Shelley Buurman, the Wilsons created a crisp, modern interior, complete with a floating bar that fronts the kitchen and 1960 Verner Panton chairs.

"We designed a blank canvas," Nicole states, explaining the bare walls. "The food and people are expected to add the color."

With a contemporary menu boasting entrees like Sautéed Monkfish and Lobster-Potato Hash, people are coming in droves, figurative paint brushes in hand.

Crush  2319 East Madison St., (206) 30-CRUSH