Landmarked as the oldest standing hotel in Dallas, the Boyd Hotel was built in 1908. Then a frequent stop over for the notorious Bonnie and Clyde and jazz musicians Huddie "Ledbelly" Ledbetter, Blind Lemon Jefferson and Bo Diddly, it was transformed, almost a century later, into a modern American restaurant that would become a true destination location for its guests, much like the hotel had been for its own.

In July of 1998, Chef Miller planted the seed and vision of her dream in the Boyd Hotel, believing in the power of its history to bestow her little restaurant LOCAL with an inimitable energy and personality that other spaces she had considered seemed to lack. However, because the building was never intended for a restaurant, its existing residential and office spaces would need to be completely re-designed and renovated. Who better qualified for the project than Dallas interior designer Alice Cottrell, whose earlier experience designing hotel interiors would prove especially well-suited and valuable?

The collaboration was successful, and the space was transformed into a beautiful, clean, modern, and highly personalized restaurant without sacrificing the Boyd Hotel's history and charm. Thus, in more ways than one, LOCAL's guests are surrounded by the distinctive merging of the historic with the modern according to Miller's earliest vision. Classic Eames walnut chairs and chocolate brown wool shag carpet complement the hotel's original pine hardwood floors. Knoll resin panels accentuate the building's existing 16-foot high ceilings, while luxurious furry draperies frame the 10-foot high entry doors. A Bang & Olufsen Beosound 9000, standing in as artwork for the wine bar, mirrors the original "artwork" on a former exterior brick wall, now restored as an interior wall in the front dining room, which reads: Are you tired? Take Cardui... the Woman's Tonic. (Noticeably absent from the advertisement was mention of the 38% proof alcohol content.)

And while plenty of details pay homage to the present, like commissioned collages by San Francisco artist Rex Ray, ever-flattering lighting designed by Bill Jansing, and custom designed faux epi leather banquettes, the restaurant's minimal design - while modern and sleek - is also warm, inviting, and, true to the Boyd Hotel building itself, timeless.