Welcome to Chula's!
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Every once in a while, a project takes us a little outside our usual residential world. This one took us to dinner.
This month, we're excited to share Chula’s Mexican-Latin Food & Spirits, a new restaurant in downtown Prior Lake that opened its doors in May.
Built from the ground up inside a shared, multi-tenant building, Chula’s gave us the opportunity to think differently about what makes a space feel welcoming. The answer, as it turns out, isn't all that different from designing a home.
It starts with the people.
Designed For Gathering
Family and community are at the heart of Chula’s.
Chula's owner grew up with fond memories of his family kitchen and wanted to create a restaurant that captured that same feeling: great food, the people you love, and a place where you're always welcome.
Even the name is personal. “Chula” is a term of endearment in Mexican culture and a nickname the owner uses for his granddaughters. At it's heart, Chula's is a gathering place.
We knew the design needed to tell that story.
Bright, Bold, & Full of Life
Chula’s called for a different palette than you might be used to seeing from KCI, and we had a lot of fun with it.
The restaurant is bright and bold, while still feeling warm and collected. Reclaimed barnwood brings history and texture. Antique mirrors add a little polish. A lush moss wall brings in an unexpected natural element, while several custom murals add color, and personality.
A restaurant designed around gathering should make you want to settle in, order another margarita and stay awhile... and Chula's does just that.
Upstairs, we designed the mezzanine with flexibility in mind. It serves as everyday dining space, but two rooms can also be closed off behind custom theater curtains for private events.
High-End, Laid-Back…Sound Familiar?
One of the things that made Chula’s especially fun for our team was how naturally its philosophy aligned with ours.
Chula’s set out to create an experience that feels elevated, but never formal. Beautiful, but comfortable. Special enough for a celebration, yet welcoming enough to become your regular Friday-night spot.
We usually call that high-end, laid-back living.
In this case, maybe it's high-end, laid-back dining.
Either way, we'll take it.
From the first concept, the goal for Chula’s was simple: create a space where every guest feels like family the moment they walk through the door. We couldn't be happier to see it doing exactly that.
Chula’s Mexican-Latin Food & Spirits
Prior Lake, Minnesota
And if all these photos have you craving tacos and a margarita, we certainly wouldn't blame you.
And if all these photos have you craving tacos and a margarita, we certainly wouldn't blame you.
Thinking about new furnishings this year?
Before you start shopping, it helps to understand what a realistic investment looks like.
We created a Furniture Investment Workbook to help you plan ahead and avoid costly mistakes. It outlines typical furnishing ranges and gives you a simple framework for budgeting your space.
Download the complimentary workbook below.
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