Seco

Silverlake, Los Angeles, completed 2024

A full interior design project by Lena Kohl, shaping a dual-purpose wine bar and daytime café rooted in Mediterranean warmth and Mexican heritage.

Client: Santo Group

Inspired by the conviviality of Italian standing bars and the generous spirit of classic Mexican cantinas, the design reflects both my European upbringing and the years I lived and worked in Mexico. The space is conceived to feel simultaneously transportive and deeply connected to its community.

Because SECO transitions from a daytime café into an intimate evening wine bar, the environment required a fully integrated and highly intentional design approach. Every material, color, finish, and lighting decision was personally selected to achieve harmony between daytime ease and nighttime vibrancy, resulting in a cohesive atmosphere from morning through late evening.

The design process encompassed the full arc of interior architecture: from initial concept development, schematic design, and look-and-feel presentations to hand sketches, renderings, detailed technical drawings, and the complete construction set. I additionally oversaw all coordination for permits and build-out, ensuring the project moved seamlessly from design vision to completed space.

Scope of work:
Architectural layout, full interior design, design concept, all material and color selections, lighting selections, schematic design, renderings, technical drawings, construction documentation, and full coordination for permits and build-out.

Designed by Studio Lena from concept through materials, colors, lighting, layout, technical documentation, and build-out coordination.

Creative Direction: Alonso Silva, Olivia Lopez
Decor & Styling: Olivia Lopez