Painting the Story of Green Lake Jewelry Works: The Making of Our New Studio Floor
When you step into our new studio, one of the first things you’ll notice is our iconic hand-painted floor, a statement piece that captures the heart of Green Lake’s artistry. Hand-painted by our talented artists, the floor brings color, movement, and storytelling to every corner of the space. Each section reflects themes of love, creativity, and connection, coming together to celebrate the beauty of custom craftsmanship.
Explore how it all came to life!
“I hope people feel intrigued and curious when they first walk in. You can spend so much time exploring each element and finding little surprises and Easter eggs, the ring, the crow, even Jim’s dog.”
-Bench Jeweler Lumi
Compass & Phoenix
The compass design was carried over from our original Seattle Studio down the street to this new space and our Bellevue studio, symbolizing continuity and direction. It serves as a connection between our past and present, tying all of our spaces together. Nearby, the phoenix rises from the ashes, a symbol of renewal, transformation, and eternal life. Its fiery colors and energy make it one of Lumi’s favorite elements in the entire piece.
Bench Jeweler Lumi took on the Phoenix, painting it from start to finish. “Getting the colors right was hard; it kept drying darker and duller than we wanted,” she explained. “It looked almost auburn, not fiery enough. Eventually, we mixed in some neon orange to really bring that flame to life.”
Gem Bar
Just beside the gemstone bar, a honeycomb and bee motif takes shape, a nod to nature’s geometry and the harmony found in detailed craftsmanship. The pattern mirrors the hexagonal rhythm of the gemstone cases, blending organic inspiration with structured design. Scattered nearby are clusters of faceted gems in brilliant hues of Montana sapphire, ruby, tanzanite, and diamond, each one symbolizing the diversity and vibrancy of the stones we work with. Together, the honeycomb, bee, and gemstones create a lively connection between the artistry of nature and the sparkle of fine jewelry.
Blossoms, Hummingbird and Butterfly
Soft cherry blossoms sweep across the floor, filling the space with a sense of renewal and grace. A hummingbird hovers nearby, its blue eye painted as a subtle tribute to our Founder Jim’s daughters, designers Krista and Melissa, a small yet meaningful detail that brings warmth and connection to the design. The butterfly drifts gently among the blossoms, symbolizing transformation and creativity in motion. Together, these elements create a serene moment within the mural, celebrating beauty, balance, and the ever-changing nature of artistry.
Ferns
The ferns, mushrooms, and snail reflect some of the most beloved motifs among our clients, bringing a touch of the Pacific Northwest’s natural charm into the design. These earthy elements add texture and whimsy to the floor, grounding the brighter scenes with a sense of organic beauty. Bench jeweler Basil especially enjoyed painting the snail, adding a bit of personality and playfulness to this hidden corner of the mural.
Tree
At the heart of the design stands the great tree, a centerpiece Jim envisioned as a bonsai, symbolizing patience, growth, and balance. Nestled at its base lies Harry, Jim’s loyal shop dog, resting peacefully in a field of clovers. The clovers are a special nod to Jim’s granddaughter, Clover, a heartfelt detail that weaves family, legacy, and love into the artwork. This scene ties together nature and meaning, grounding the mural with a sense of connection that extends beyond the studio walls.
Rabbit
One of our talented painting artists and CAD designers, Kelsey’s favorite mugs feature a Scandinavian-inspired rabbit design, which became the creative spark for this section of the floor. The playful folk art style blends beautifully with flowing scroll patterns, a signature element in our hand engraving. These intricate scrolls, often seen on our custom jewelry, require remarkable precision and craftsmanship, a skill only the most experienced jewelers can master. Seeing this level of detail expressed on such a large scale is something our team is truly proud of, transforming a traditional technique into a striking artistic statement.
Celtic Knots, Lion, Clouds
The Celtic knots woven into the floor pay homage to a design element we often use in our jewelry — intricate patterns that symbolize eternity and interconnectedness. Their looping lines flow seamlessly into classic scroll patterns, much like the ones seen in our hand-engraving work. Together, these motifs reflect the timeless artistry found at Green Lake, blending heritage with craftsmanship. The Trinity knot paired with a golden ring adds an extra layer of meaning, representing unity, love, and the enduring bonds that inspire so many of our designs.
Koi, Waterlily, Lily Pads
The love story within the mural is inspired by an ancient Japanese and Chinese legend of the koi fish that swims upstream and leaps over the Dragon Gate, transforming into a dragon as a symbol of perseverance, strength, and destiny. The dragon’s warm brown eyes were painted as a tribute to the founder’s wife, a small personal touch that brings the legend to life. Around this scene, each artist added their own creative mark: Cody painted the dragonfly, Pia brought the lotus to bloom, and Aiden began the koi fish, setting the foundation for one of the most meaningful stories woven into the floor’s design.
Dragon
Completing the koi’s journey is the dragon — a powerful symbol of transformation, strength, and perseverance — greeting you as you enter the studio. Surrounded by swirling auspicious clouds, inspired by the traditional Xiangyun motifs found in Chinese art, the scene radiates energy and good fortune. The clouds, with their elegant, flowing forms, frame the dragon in motion as a celebration of determination rewarded. Painted in bright, bold colors, this striking focal point was brought to life through the collaboration of Founder Jim, jeweler Henry, and CAD modeler Kelsey, whose combined creativity and craftsmanship turned the legend into a breathtaking work of art.
Leading you into more PNW influence…
Crows
The crow section was inspired by the flocks that often soar over the UW Bothell campus and above Jim’s home, a familiar and personal sight. In the mural, the crows take on a mischievous twist, depicted as playful thieves swooping down to steal pieces of jewelry. It’s a nod to their clever, curious nature and adds a touch of humor to the floor, blending local inspiration with a bit of sparkle and storytelling.
Ferry Boat
Salmons
Orcas and Mountains
The Goddess
The Goddess embodies the heart of divine femininity and timeless beauty, inspired by Aphrodite with flowing brown hair and an aura of Art Nouveau elegance. Surrounding her are subtle easter eggs that invite discovery, purple forget-me-nots, a peacock, and a snake, each carrying its own layer of symbolism for love, renewal, and transformation. The Chinese character for double happiness is woven into the design, celebrating joy and unity. Around her neck, the Goddess wears a pendant shaped like a scarab holding an egg, a powerful emblem of fertility and new beginnings. Together, these details create a scene rich with meaning, strength, and grace.
Kelsey worked on the Goddess figure, one of the most intricate parts of the design. “Drawing people is always difficult,” she said, “but she became such a powerful focal point once it came together.”
Keep reading to learn more about the painting process:
Mapping the Design
The floor design started long before a single brushstroke hit the concrete. Jim created a CAD model to visualize where the jewelry cases would go, giving everyone a sense of how the artwork would interact with the space. Chelsea referenced her original design sketches, which Kelsey traced to build out the framework for the updated layout. From there, the team reimagined and expanded the concept, keeping some of the original motifs while adding new elements as the design evolved.
“Jim always says, ‘Click the elevate button,’” they laughed, recalling his enthusiasm for bringing ideas to life in three dimensions. This time they wanted brighter, bolder colors that would instantly catch the eye. Chelsea sketched everything out in Procreate, experimenting with shades until the palette felt just right.
Laying It Out
Once the artwork was finalized, projectors were used to map every line and curve onto the floor precisely where it needed to go. This ensured each detail transferred perfectly to the full-scale layout, turning digital designs into real-world art that flowed seamlessly through the studio.
The Layering Process
The painting itself was an experiment in creativity and chemistry. The team used an acrylic base paint mixed with concrete powder and pigment, something that required plenty of trial and error.
“There was definitely a learning curve,” they shared. “But the great thing about this medium is you can always paint over it. Mistakes can turn into sparkles or new textures, it’s all part of the process.”
Lumi especially loved the acrylic blend they used, often mixing colors by eye to find the perfect shade that complemented the natural light in the studio. The lighter tones like yellows were particularly challenging since they tended to dry ashy and dull, so the team had to adjust ratios of pigment to rice powder to achieve the vibrant look they wanted.
By the final sections, they felt like they had mastered the technique. “By the end, we joked that we could start our own floor painting business,” they said.
Staying Motivated
Painting for hours on end took both physical and mental endurance. “There were definitely days when our backs hurt,” they said, laughing. “We had to take breaks, stretch, walk around, it really helped to reset our energy and keep the creativity flowing.”
Seeing the Finished Floor
When asked how it feels to see their work permanently part of the new studio, they both smiled.
“It’s amazing,” they said. “We really made our mark.”
Beyond the details, the artists hope visitors feel something deeper. “There’s a lot of imagery about marriage, love, and family throughout the floor,” they explained. “We hope people find pieces that resonate with them — something that reminds them of home or inspires them to create something of their own.”
