Fans of minimalism, travelers interested in cutting-edge local artists, and anyone who wants to feel like a rock star will be very happy with the Max, a superstylish hotel that swears it has created a new design esthetic, "Maximalism." The hallway of each floor is dedicated to a different local photographer and giant black-and-white photos cover each door; scenes range from Americana to live concert shots from Seattle's grunge heyday (fifth floor). A few paintings from local artists (different in each room) are all that decorate the gray walls of the guest rooms; a few carefully placed accent colors like an orange bedspread or a red cushion on a stool save the rooms from being drab. The beds are huge and heavenly—a surprising bit of substance from a hotel that prides itself on appearance. The only downside to the Max is that some of the rooms are on the small side—owing more to the constraints of being in a historic building than to tenets of minimalism—and bathrooms have very little counter space. A few rooms, however, are large enough to include black leather couches.
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