Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/39920
DESIGN SPOTLIGHT It's the brainchild of Michael Morton, a Chicago-born restaurateur who helped transform the Las Vegas dining and nightlife scenes through his endeavors with the N9NE Group, and his longtime designing collabora- tor Karen Herold. Their latest venture, La Cave, is a step into the future both for the Vegas dining scene and Morton himself, as well as a new direction for Herold and Morton's development process. "This is really a different project for us because here at Wynn, Steve Wynn and Roger Thomas design pretty much everything," says Morton. "We stepped into their world." Morton's excitement was com- pounded by having Steve Wynn's input. Wynn's passion for design is well known and highly refi ned, and Thomas, execu- tive vice president of design for Wynn Design and Development, is inarguably the most recognized and respected name in Las Vegas hospitality design. "One of the key components was that Roger and Karen really hit it off," says Morton, describing the two as being "of the same spirit" regarding the concept and overall feel- ing of La Cave. Having Thomas guide the process and knowing they had Wynn's confidence was invaluable to Morton and his designer. "Karen and I have worked together so long, it takes you up umpteen degrees having the best people around—certainly the best hote- lier and his designer—to work with you and collaborate with you," Morton says. "They brought a lot of ideas to the table, and although they placed their trust in us, Steve wanted to see everything down to the baseboards." Ideas came quickly to Herold, vice "Steve Wynn and Roger Thomas brought a lot of ideas to the table, and although they placed their trust in us, Steve wanted to see everything down to the baseboards." —MICHAEL MORTON president of Chicago-based 555 Design Fabrication Management. Herold was in Dallas working on interiors for owner suites and retail at Cowboys Stadium when she received a call from Morton requesting that she fl y out to Las Vegas the next day. Wynn wanted a visual of the idea Morton had for La Cave, but he was about to leave on a trip to China. She booked an immediate fl ight. "It was kind The main dining room at La Cave 64 WYNN PHOTOGRAPH BY BARBARA KRAFT