Persian Garden - To Make Peace in the World

December 20, 2018

“To make peace in the world” - the motto of artist couple Mehdi and Monir Ghanbeigy. This is the second year their work has been showcased at the SZ Gallery, and I feel honored they make time to be an artistic part with the Mercer Island community.

The work of Mehdi and Monir is unique. If you caught the Persian Garden last year, then you saw the impact their artistry had on the community: vibrant sculptures, decorative plates, and traditional Persian form (miniature), with a modern bent, enraptured the audience. This year was no different.

Holiday Party 2017! [PERSIAN GARDEN]

December 11, 2017

On December 1st, we kicked off the holiday season with festive cocktails, live harp music by 14-year-old, Carla Mory, sweet treats and even sweeter friends. The SZ Gallery was adorned with twinkly lights, paper flowers & holiday ornaments creating a magical vibe within our Persian Garden exhibit, by Monir & Mehdi Ghanbeigy.

Monir & Mehdi Ghanbeigy
PERSIAN GARDEN

11.03.2017 - 12.31.2017

‘Persian Garden’ is an exhibit that tells culturally rich stories of Persian culture through contemporary and classically-influenced pieces. Monir and Mehdi Ghanbeigy from Iran have created multimedia artwork together since 1970, combining Mehdi’s detailed work with Persian miniatures and painting, Monir’s background in ceramics and pottery, and their mutual love and appreciation for the history of Persian art.

‘Persian Garden’ showcases a variety of Mehdi and Monir’s collaborative pieces: plates inspired by historical Iranian ceramics, large ceramic panels with modernized miniatures in gold and platinum foil, sculptures of oxen and horses inspired by ancient cave drawings, and unique vases fired in temperatures up to 2500°F heat. Handcrafting their own clay, glaze, and even their kilns all from scratch, their ceramic pieces have a distinct quality that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

SZ | GHI | LB :: Holiday Party! [12.01.06]

December 26, 2016

A huge thanks to all those who joined our Annual Holiday Party! We're so grateful for our wonderful community of Clients, Creatives & Collaborators, since our official launch on March 31, 2016. Keep an eye out for upcoming announcements of all that we've got brewing at SZ... Promises to be a fun & fruitful 2017 - CHEERS!

Learn more about our Constellation of Creatives:
* Suzanne Zahr [art & architecture]
* S Z Build [general contractor]
* Gary Henderson Interiors [interior design & furnishings]
* L+B Design [visual experiences beautifully delivered]
* Anna Skibska [featured artist]

Bubbles & Bites, provided by The Islander

Thank you Bell-Anderson & PURE Insurance for your event sponsorship!

Bell-Anderson employs some of the most knowledgeable and experienced professionals; providing coverage for high-value homes, automobiles and Life insurance to name a few. PURE is a policyholder-owned insurer dedicated to creating an exceptional experience for responsible high net worth individuals and families. As sponsors, both are providing us with long time insurance expert Mike Donnelly, their VIP Client Advisor, to participate in our First Thursday tradition. Mike can be reached at 360-676-2578 or miked@bell-anderson.com.

Latest & Greatest

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June 29, 2026

Do you DADU? | Podcast Series with Shakiba Ahmadi, Architect.

June 29, 2026

Across the Greater Puget Sound region, communities are evolving towards greater density, flexibility, and multigenerational living. One emerging housing type that is gaining traction but still remains shrouded in mystery for many homeowners is the Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit (DADU): an independent, self-contained residential structure located on the same lot as a primary single-family home. As interest in DADUs grows, so do questions about zoning, site conditions, cost, design decisions, and overall feasibility. SZ Design | Build is dedicated to helping homeowners navigate this shift with clarity, design intelligence, and care.

We are excited to announce our new summer podcast series “Do you DADU?”, hosted by SZ Architect Shakiba Ahmadi. This 8-episode series offers a detailed breakdown of the entire DADU process and timeline to answer some of the most common questions faced by homeowners. Each weekly episode will tackle a specific aspect of DADUs, with a dedicated field professional serving as a guest speaker to share their expertise on the subject - ending with the SZ team’s unique approach to DADU design and construction. With these series, we hope to give homeowners a deeper insight into the DADU typology and the confidence to explore their property’s potential to create a home that aligns with their future, families and lifestyles.

The series will release every Thursday at 10 AM, launching July 9 on the SZ Design | Build website, as well as on our YouTube channel. See below for a sneak preview of the episode schedule and be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel below for series updates.

June 29, 2026

Summer Sahras at Suzanne's with Ya Hala!

June 29, 2026

Not every gathering is about the occasion. Sometimes it’s about the stories shared with an old friend or someone new, or the simple comfort of being surrounded by people who make a house feel like home.

In a heartbreaking world that moves quickly, gatherings remind us to slow down, regroup and create moments to hold on to.

Summer Sahras (gatherings) at Suzanne’s home on Mercer Island will be Fridays, July 10, 17 & 31, 6-9PM. Bring a plate to share, clippings from your garden for a centerpiece bouquet and/or an instrument to play. Suzanne has a piano & darbuka!

Ya Hala will be serving refreshing Spritzers for suggested donations. Will have cards, backgammon sets, and dominoes on hand, along with a houka or two…

Goal is to pause, breathe and be together. Yalla, join us!

June 29, 2026

Catalog of Art | We Are Palestine.

June 29, 2026

Delaney's Back!

June 29, 2026

After three long but rewarding years, Architectural Intern Delaney Carmen has finally graduated with a Master’s Degree in Architecture at the University of Washington and has returned to SZ Design | Build to kick off her professional career.

I feel very lucky to have been a part of UW's Master's of Architecture program. Architecture is an ocean of knowledge an inch deep, and I feel that I've at least got a sea's worth by now. Through this program, I've come to understand the things I'm passionate about: craft, storytelling, and intentionality. In an age where AI, corporate greed, and conformity dictate so much of our lives (and consequently, our built environment), I have used my education to learn how to actively fight complacency and ensure that my work as an architect is purposeful and authentic. A few of my favorite works throughout the program have been largely driven by those same passions.

Get a glimpse into her experience at UW through her reflection below.

June 29, 2026

March 5, 2026

PICHA - Women Shaping Creative Spaces

March 5, 2026

SZ Gallery has had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with Josiane Faubert, Artist and Photographer, born in Gabon. She is also the Founder of PICHA, a stock photo agency that brings curated, diverse visuals to brands and business looking to tell richer stories, inclusive of Afrocentric communities. Together, soulful exhibitions ranged from showcasing talented photographers selected during PICHA’s annual call to artists, Afrofuturism and SKIN, to a presentation of Weaving Stories, a visual storytelling book that celebrates the beauty, reslience and vibrancy of Afrocentric communities across the globe.

For International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, PICHA is preparing a special series highlighting women shaping creative spaces. It’s their way of not only celebrating creative talent, but also leadership, influence and impact. Suzanne Zahr has been invited to participate. She was asked these very thought-provoking questions below. How would you respond?

Who are five women who have shaped the way you see, build, or create?
How does your identity as a woman influence the way you work?
What is one structural change you would love to see in your industry that would meaningfully shift access or equity for women — especially women of color and intersectional voices?
What do you believe is your creative superpower?
What would you tell your younger self — or a young woman entering your field today?

March 5, 2026

How to care for your diasporic and immigrant friend…

March 5, 2026

This is a care guide for people who are still protected by some form of privilege, and who have immigrant and diasporic friends, partners, colleagues, employees, neighbors, etc. who are cut off from their home and support systems, and who are forced to navigate normality while being torn apart on the inside.

Experiencing war and disaster while in the diaspora is isolating, distressing and harrowing. Watching horror unfold back home while people around you fall into silence without extending actual care is also traumatic.

Care is deeply political. We know this because care can be commodified, weaponized and withdrawn as a form of punishment. If care is political, then choosing not to care is also political.

This is a care guide to make sure you don’t cause more harm.

March 5, 2026

January 28, 2026

Should I Stay or Should I go? Design & Permitting Process.

January 28, 2026

Ever wondered if it is better to substantially remodel and/or add-on to your existing home, rather than sell and buy another? Real estate values have gone up considerably, and in our current seller's market, it's the buying-back-in that can be costly if it's not timed just right.

Considering the resources involved in the design, permitting, & construction process, is it worth it to leverage the appreciation gained in your current house and transform it into your dream home?

The simple answer is: It depends. Each property is unique, and each family is different. The best thing to do is explore all options and make informed decisions with the help of your professional real estate, design, & build community.

We recently ventured down this decision-making process with our Mercer Island clients. They purchased a lovely 1,800 SF lakefront home a few years ago, but it didn't meet their family's personality & lifestyle. They selected Suzanne Zahr as their Architect to help lead them down a path of discovery that would ultimately result in an informed "go / no-go" decision.

With each phase of the design process, new insights were creatively explored and considered. Here's a brief summary of our collaborative journey in creating their 4,500 SF dream home.

January 28, 2026

December 16, 2025

Tour: Architect's Home + DADU on Mercer Island

December 16, 2025

Enjoy a sneak peek into an Architect’s new home on Mercer Island. Perched uphill from her recently built 750 SF Guest House, Suzanne Zahr’s beautiful 3,300 SF family home is organized around a featured ‘spine wall’ running North-South, paying homage to an indigenous rammed earth building methodology. A split ridge roof with clerestory windows is seated above, allowing for natural light to travel through the main living areas from dawn to dusk. Thoughtful site orientation and efficient space planning enable passive solar design to maximize heat retention and minimize energy use, which ultimately offers a general sense of ambient well-being. Taking advantage of the sloped site, the stormwater gravity flows into an on-site detention tank, minimizing the impact to municipal stormwater drainage system that flows into Lake Washington.

December 16, 2025