Photographs by Dalilah Arja, unless otherwise noted.
When Remodelista was offered the opportunity to explore Las Vegas from a design vantage, I volunteered, but not without a bit of skepticism.
Equipped with tips from in-the-know locals, I spent a weekend exploring the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, an up-and-coming neighborhood just north of all the action.
As soon as I’d landed, I was hungry–so I headed out for lunch at my first design destination.
On the Strip
One night, after riding the new High Roller, a 500-foot tall observation wheel just across from Caesars Palace, I found myself craving potstickers.
It goes without saying that food at any Charlie Palmer institution is bound to impress, and Aureole was no exception, starting with the bread selection.
I started with an octopus salad, followed by a plate of seared ahi tuna and scallops, shown here.
I never imagined I’d find a better selection of wine outside of Northern California, but the wine tower at Aureole taught me otherwise.
After making those selections, I was able to choose the varietal–and was thrilled to see my favorite (but hard to find) Chenin Blanc was on the menu.
Have you ever been in a hotel suite with a $40,000
per night price tag? It comes with five bathrooms, including a huge Carrara marble master bath (shown here), furnished with modern classics, such as the Harry Bertoia wire Diamond Chair.
Inside the Bellagio, I came across an art gallery with wood floors, classic wood moldings, and an impressive lineup of shows.
If you’re looking to experience Las Vegas from a local’s perspective, Downtown Las Vegas is the place to be.
Photograph by Emily Wilson/Downtown Project.
Downtown Las Vegas
One of the most interesting projects I came across was the Container Park, an outdoor shopping and entertainment venue that hosts 39 local retailers in repurposed shipping containers.
Upstairs from Bin 702 is Tennessee Loveless’s showroom.
Photograph courtesy of Wicked Creative.
Just a block from the Container Park is the aptly named Park on Fremont, a quirky bar and restaurant built on the site of what used to be an abandoned parking lot.
To decorate the space above the bar, Ryan and his team handpicked plates from thrift stores around the country.
Photograph courtesy of Wicked Creative.
Kittycorner to Park on Fremont is another one of Ryan’s establishments, Commonwealth, a swanky bar and lounge. And, yes, the eclectic design approach continues.
Las Vegas has its own Frank Gehry: The Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, a state-of-the-art mental health facility.
It was commissioned by Larry Ruvo, owner of Southern Wines and Spirits, in honor of his father, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease; Gehry himself lost a close friend to a brain disorder and had a hand in every aspect of the design.
The Lou Ruvo Center opened in 2006; its campus includes a hospital at the north end with Frank Gehry-designed event center behind it.
