Convenience.
Durability.
Beauty.
This is the definition of good design, put forth in Ancient Rome by Vitruvius and codified in the 16th Century by Andrea Palladio in The Four Books on Architecture.
At STUDIO Q we look to these ancient standards through a modern lens. We embrace an inquisitive approach that distills individual experience into cohesive vision, so that each project reflects the considered desires and aspirations of our client. Our goal is to transform your space into something that feels good to you, that in turn can improve your life and enhance your outlook on the world.
The spaces we create and the surroundings we invent reflect a decades-long obsession with textiles, furnishings, photography, painting, music and architecture. As the founders, co-founders and creators of three culturally significant Seattle institutions — Shibuya HiFi, Havana and The Saint — we know that a successful space is equal parts meaningful, intentional and fun. This knowledge deeply informs our residential projects: We covet heirloom quality goods — hand-knotted rugs and custom furniture crafted in small workshops — for their beauty and for their durability. We want you to have fun with your beautiful things, and we want you to buy them once.
Quentin Ertel holds an Associates in Arts in Interior Studies with High Distinction from Bellevue College and a Bachelor of Arts in Literary Journalism from Hampshire College. He is the co-founder of Shibuya HiFi and the founder of Havana and The Saint, and of Havana Hospitality Group, Inc., a bar and restaurant operations and design consultancy. He established his interior design practice in 2016. He is a writer, musician, recording artist, record producer and co-founder of the orchestral indie rock ensemble Clouds of the West. In the late 1990s early 2000s he co-founded, performed with and recorded two full length records with The Tremens; played guitar for and recorded with “Seasick” Steve Wold, Brent Arnold and the Spheres, and Brent Amaker. His new record with Clouds of the West, Glass Radio, will be released on vinyl in February 2026.
Quentin is a native of Brooklyn, NY, where he grew up in a renovated 19th century brownstone. He lives in Seattle, WA, with his wife and son, and the nicest dog in the world, Cosmo.