Designing Elegancia at Union Market

When we were brought on to design elements inside Elegancia at La Cosecha in Union Market, the goal was clear. Create a space that feels layered, intentional, and rooted in culture while still operating as a high performing cocktail bar.

Elegancia is more than a cocktail bar. The concept, founded by Wilmer Valderrama and hospitality entrepreneur Daniella Senior, draws from Latin American heritage, ritual, and storytelling. Every design decision needed to support that narrative without overwhelming it.

Our focus centered on two major visual anchors. The ceiling installation and the bar frontage. Together, they define the first impression and carry the emotional tone of the space.

The Ceiling and Bar Experience

We wanted guests to feel immersed the moment they step in. The suspended greenery across the ceiling softens the architecture and lowers the visual plane. Warm pendant lighting weaves through the foliage, creating intimacy without darkening the room.

This overhead canopy works hard. It frames the bar, draws the eye inward, and creates contrast against the structured shelving and kitchen lines behind it. The glow reflects off the bar surface and subtly highlights the custom illustrated wrap.

The bar itself tells a story. Large scale illustrated wildlife, botanicals, and symbolic imagery wrap the curved face. The artwork feels expressive yet refined. It anchors the room with color while maintaining balance against the more neutral interior finishes.

The Back Wall as Cultural Canvas

On the back wall, we leaned into pattern, color and repetition. A tiled grid filled with vibrant blocks and illustrated animal motifs creates rhythm along the length of the corridor. The typography of Elegancia sits confidently across the installation, grounding the composition.

This wall was designed to function both as branding and as atmosphere. It photographs beautifully. It carries energy down the passage. It gives guests a moment of pause before they even sit down.

The contrast between the organic ceiling canopy and the structured tile grid creates tension in the best way. Soft above. Graphic and bold at eye level.

Designing for Memory and Ritual

Elegancia is built around memory, family, shared tables, and late nights that matter. The design creates warmth through light, layered texture overhead, and storytelling woven into every surface.

Each element has purpose. Greenery improves acoustics and intimacy. Lighting sets the tone. Illustrated panels and tile bring strong identity without excess.

This project reflects our hospitality values. A space must perform, photograph well, and support operations. Above all, it must move people.

Elegancia now stands as a cultural addition to Union Market. A place where design, food, and story meet under one canopy.

About the Studio

The Floral Guru designs large-scale public art installations, retail displays and environmental installations for commercial spaces, brands and hospitality environments.

Our work focuses on creating spatial experiences that balance visual impact with thoughtful execution—whether a project is designed to live on for years or exist for a single moment. 

Have a project in mind? Contact us.