After nearly two decades in the hospitality industry, Lauren Blumenthal knows the way a restaurant makes guests feel is as crucial as how good the food is. So for Sorella, her newly opened restaurant in Kendall Yards, Blumenthal created a space that's chic and moody, but also relaxed and modern. It's a setting that elegantly complements the traditional Italian fare served there.

Among Blumenthal's many personal touches is an expansive gallery wall overlooking Sorella's entrance and dining room. Stretching upward to the vaulted ceiling are hundreds of thrifted frames in varying sizes, all painted gold and each displaying a mix of art: pages from vintage cookbooks, retro alcohol advertisements, album and magazine covers, photos of Italian landmarks and more.