Hitting the Sweet Spot: Handcrafted by Bissinger's - Savvy Design Group: Residential & Commerical Interior Design

When 23 City Blocks Hospitality Group, a sister company of Bissinger’s, decided to reimagine its Central West End chocolate shop to include an expanded breakfast, lunch and dinner menu and a hip new wine bar, it called on Savvy to provide the design evolution.

Savvy’s challenge was to combine three distinct areas: retail chocolate shop, European coffee café and wine bar into one cohesive space that would become a destination gathering spot anytime of the day or evening.

“The client didn’t want to do major construction, so we used the existing footprint, enhancing what was there and adding an industrial meets modern vibe.” — Diane Fogerty,

Photo by Loren Doughty

Photo by Loren Doughty

The aesthetic facelift included the addition of more low and high-topped tables throughout the open space, outside and at the window. Reclaimed wood tabletops with iron bases and metal chairs combine to marry modern and industrial styles and add a touch of rustic elegance to the casual, European café.

Photo by Loren Doughty

A comfy blue midcentury modern sectional leather sofa and contemporary upholstered accent chairs with nailhead trim create a lounge area similar to those found in other urban wine bars. The bright blue adds a pop of color to the otherwise neutral palette chosen to accentuate the brand’s branding and packaging.

Photo by Loren Doughty

Photo by Loren Doughty

Bar-height tables for two feature their own personal wall fireplaces and are directly opposite a fun self-serve wine wall retrofitted to fit within the existing wall and featuring a selection of 24 wines from around the world, easily dispensed at the touch of a button.

Photo by Loren Doughty

Photo by Loren Doughty

The design tour de force of this renovation, however, has to be the fabulous custom free form art installation on the wall above the sofa. Savvy’s designers installed 600 gold ‘barnacles’ by hand to create this one-of-a-kind 3-dimensional striking art piece.

Touted by the client as “a new way to experience chocolate and wine,” the newly designed Handcrafted by Bissinger’s was a 2018 award-winner in AT HOME magazine’s Architect and Designer Awards.

Do you have a commercial or residential space that could use a facelift? Spring is the perfect time to start a new design project! Give Savvy a call at 314.432.7289 or CLICK HERE to contact us and let one of our designers help you make a fresh start in the new year.

Hitting the Sweet Spot: Handcrafted by Bissinger’s

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