For the design of Rick Bayless’ Red O Restaurant in Los Angeles, Gulla Jonsdottir had a lot of fodder to work with. Then the vice president of design for Dodd Mitchell Design, she had recently moved to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, for a year and a half to design the Cabo Azul Resort, and as a result, had close relationships with local artisans and craftsmen. “That definitely came in handy when designing Red O,” Jonsdottir says, now the founder of G+ Design. “It’s a style of design that I personally connect with so I was very excited to bring a taste of that to LA.”

From the moment guests walk into the restaurant through the wrapped present-inspired ribbon-like façade, they are surrounded by handcrafted pieces, from a giant handcarved mirror to striking 14-foot chandeliers. Walnut and bronze “added a refined yet rustic touch to the space,” and for a touch of whimsy, custom leather swings hang at the bar. “Guests can enjoy their margaritas as if they were gently swinging in a hammock at the beach,” Jonsdottir says. “It’s about being able to walk into the space and feel as though you’re on vacation in Mexico. It walks the line of being both casual and elegant. It’s not too fussy, but there’s a reason behind every inch of the space.”

Other highlights come in the form of a wall covered in 400 brass bells; a steel column of roses; the glass tequila tunnel that connects the dining room to the tequila lounge, filled with various bottles of the alcohol; a palm tree in the lounge that stands next to a small pool filled with floating candles and over a bar made of boulders; and a retractable roof that allows guests to dine under the stars. “It’s a very romantic space that is full of energy, warmth, and even a little whimsy,” she says. “The only challenge we faced was not getting too carried away with the romantic, resort-like vision, because it has to be practical. After all, it is a functioning restaurant!”