Sor Juana

Exterior facade Sor Juana
Color-washed purple bathroom with unexpected red pops
Purple color-washed bathroom with a tile pedestal
Tiled bar with arches and bright red bar stools
Wide shot of the restaurant and bar featuring a tiled column
Bar close-up with custom steel shelving and wood bartop
A tiled fountain with table and chairs
Yellow color-washed walls with tile and a small vintage painting
Secondary dining area
View into the secondary dining room through floral curtains

Sor Juana is a modern cantina in downtown Dallas. The owners were creating a space for eating, drinking, dancing and community. They shared their vision, and I knew I had a really special, important job. Creating a design that honored their intention and stayed true to their Mexican roots was paramount. Drawing inspiration from my travels across Mexico, the “abuela’s house” and the cantinas of Mexico City, I designed a colorful, vibrant space that transitions seamlessly from day to night. We preserved existing tile work and added our own, creating a through line from past to present with plenty of punches of fun to keep it fresh.