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Private tour of Dale Chihuly’s studio

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by

Caroline
in

Major imposter syndrome: I got a private tour of Dale Chihuly’s studio!! The Boathouse is on the north end of Lake Union, totally inconspicuous from the road, and it’s where all his work is made. I got to watch the glassblowers doing their thing, spinning a 2000 degree disk of melted sand and FWOOMP! flicking it toward the ground to create that distinctive wavy edge.

Mr. Chihuly himself showed up for the reception, and is much frailer than he appears in photos. He’s 84 and comes to work every day, still experimenting and trying new techniques.

The space is, naturally, fabulous. It used to be a live-work studio, until Mrs. Chihuly made them move to a proper house to raise their son. There’s a fantastic guest suite right on the water, with a door that leads straight to Mr. Chihuly’s favorite restaurant, Ivar’s, next door.

Leslie Jackson Chihuly, president and CEO, with her husband, Dale Chihuly.
Gorgeous room overlooking Lake Union. The table is made from a single piece of wood.
The bathroom with a collection of children’s books.
Guest bathroom with tin tile walls and an inset tub.
Some newer, flattish pieces that work like light boxes.
Collection of native baskets and Edward Curtis photos.
Hot shop
One of Chihuly’s sports cars, with a piece from his ikebana series.
Tiny windowless room with Chihuly sculptures in fish tanks. This was meant to be his son’s room, until Mrs. Chihuly put the kibosh on it.

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