Kingston wedding venue changes name, adds design residency program

Many residents of the area are familiar with the Kingston House, a wedding venue and vacation rental that has long focused on making changes toward sustainability within the wedding industry. But now the venue is preparing to launch its biggest change yet – the addition of a design residency program and changing the name to Anker in honor of its architect.

Kingston House has undergone many changes since it was purchased from the original residents, Merlin and Louise Knapp, by Kinam Sohn back in 2003; with the building of a large garage and event space, the planting of an orchard that includes more than fifty apple, plum, pear, and persimmon trees, and the establishment of it as a wedding venue in 2008.

While they will still be committed to hosting weddings, Anker is shifting and expanding its vision. This change in direction comes from current owner Matt Kelley, Sohn’s son, who has been involved with the business since 2015 and has been the owner and operator since 2022.

The goal behind the design residency is to create a space for people to use art to solve problems. The first residency took place last year and drew artists and designers from all over the country.

“Growing up, I never thought of myself as an artist, but I feel like a designer. …Design solves more problems in the world,” Kelley said. At the first residency, the participating artists and designers created many of the elements of the new brand for Anker, including website design, photography and videography.

Kelley explained that “what is really interesting about the residency is that these are very present people, but they are still very detached from nature. It (the residency) gives them the opportunity to be part of nature…the point of this place is to support people so they can flourish in some capacity.”

The name change comes from a desire to honor Anker Molver, the Seattle architect who designed the house. Molver was born in Norway and immigrated to the United States at the age of 8. After World War II, Molver travelled to Japan and became inspired to study architecture. His designs, including the original Kingston House, were meant to highlight and promote harmony with nature.

Moving forward, Anker plans to continue to honor that in the design elements of the garden and the Anker House gallery, which includes a botanical sculpture and many other pieces created on site by local artists. Anker is launching a Clandestino Event series intended to highlight the inspiration people can take from other tumultuous times in history.

“For me, it feels like a personal emergence from a post-pandemic malaise,” said Kelley, in regards to creating the gallery and event series, “and finding joy again after running an event center during COVID.” He hopes that others will find that at Anker.

Kelley also stated that the pivot to this new direction is partially to move away from the transactional nature of our society. “The goal of this rebrand is to create more space within our community to create and design in a way that is not all about revenue.”