Mariposa Restaurant

Tropical meets urban chic at the Mariposa Restaurant inside Neiman Marcus’ Boca Raton, Fla., store, which won First Place in the Sit-Down Restaurant category in the ISP/VM+SD International Store Design Competition.

Art, color and texture draw attention to the 3600-square-foot space from the department store’s second floor. High ceilings and open sightlines lend a high-end gallery ambiance complemented by a variety of luxe elements, including a custom-designed runner of grasses and sticks; a long frieze of hand-blown glass designed to mimic the wind blowing though south Florida’s tall grasses; and a Lanai terrace serving as a private dining room.

Floor-to-ceiling windows with copper coil abstract draperies provide ample natural light and help bring the outside in. In contrast, dark striated wood in shifted planes sets a rich, dark atmosphere for the bar area. Subtle changing LED lighting in the bar front adds to the moody environs.

Client: Neiman Marcus, Dallas – Wayne Hussey, senior vp, properties and store development; Ray Gearhard, vp, property development; Ignaz Gorischek, vp, store development; Chris Lebamoff, vp, store planning; David Volosin, site representative; Paolo Antonini, manger, store planning; Megan Hermann, manager, color and materials

Design: Charles Sparks + Co., Westchester, Ill. – Charles Sparks, principal-in-charge; Donald Stone, account executive; David Koe, senior creative director; Stephen Prosser, account coordinator; Rachel Mikolajczyk, director, resource studio

Architect: Barteluce Architects & Associates, New York

General Contractor: Keene Construction, Maitland, Fla.

Outside Design Consultants: Integrated Lighting Concepts, Woodland Hills, Calif. (lighting); KLR Associates, New York (MEP); Avcon Design Group

Carpet: Della Robbia Inc., Corona, Calif.

Ceilings: Armstrong World Industries Inc., Lancaster, Pa.

Fabric: Donghia, Chicago

Spinney Beck, Chicago

Maharam, Chicago

Nathan Chapin Ltd., Chicago

Fixtures: Goebel Fixture Co., Hutchinson, Minn.; Faubion Intl., Dallas

Flooring: Innovative Marble & Tile Inc., Hauppauge, N.Y.

Surface Group Intl., Barrington, Ill.

Coverings Etc. Inc., Miami

Furniture: The Cherner Chair Co., Westport, Conn.

Atta Inc., New York

Shelby Williams, Chicago

David Sutherland, Dallas

Callard & Associates, Chicago

Glass: Twin City Creative Mirror & Glass, Burnsville, Minn.

Lighting: Winona Lighting, Winona, Minn

Modular Intl. Inc., Pittsburgh, Pa.

Paint: Benjamin Moore Paints, Melrose Park, Ill.

Wolf Gordon/Scuffmaster, Chicago

Wall Frieze: Mickelsen Studios Inc., Melbourne, Fla.

Wall Material: Innovations, Chicago

Wood Stain Finish: R.S. Bacon Veneer, Burr Ridge, Ill.

Photography: Charlie Mayer, Oak Park, Ill.