Master Chef Rick Bayless creates Mexican cuisine with a modern edge that has made him world famous

To compliment Master Chef Rick Bayless’s amazing dishes, I designed his flagship Red O Restaurant in Newport Beach to reflect the beauty and ancestry of his culinary passions. I took direction from San Miguel D’Allende, an ancient town several hours north of Mexico City, where the Spanish aristocrats built their summer villas in the 18th and 19th centuries. Cladding the walls in tile work inlaid with distressed mirror panels and framing the windows with pierced wooden shutters, I immediately saw the restaurant’s interiors take on the ancient town’s dramatic yet welcoming effect. It captures an exotic flavor as vibrant as Chef Bayless’s own recipes.