HOSPITALITY: Besos y Abrazos Kansas City Restaurant Greenery Makeover

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PROJECT

Besos y Abrazos, Kansas City, MO – Restaurant Design, Trailing Ceiling and Hedges, Greening Project: All-Weather Faux Greenery

What We Did

What: Hospitality

Location: Restaurant

Materials:

-Trailing Buxus

-Flowering Boxwood Greenery Panels
-Multi-tonal Boxwood Greenery Panels

Client

Other Details

Install Date:
February 2025
Public Installation, Restaurant

Transforming Hospitality Design with a Trailing Buxus Ceiling at Besos y Abrazos Kansas City

When it comes to unforgettable hospitality design, greenery isn’t just an accent—it’s an atmosphere. At Besos y Abrazos Restaurant & Bar in downtown Kansas City, we helped transform the ceiling itself into a lush, immersive design feature using a custom faux Trailing Buxus canopy. The result? A space that feels warm, vibrant, and camera‑ready from every angle.

Why Ceiling Greenery for Hospitality Spaces?

In high‑energy dining environments, the ceiling is often a missed design opportunity. A greenery canopy:

Creates visual unity across multiple interior zones
Softens architectural lines and millwork
Enhances ambiance without reducing usable space
Offers a memorable, share‑worthy moment for guests
Delivers a biophilic aesthetic—without the maintenance demands of live plants

But here’s the truth: Executing a multi‑zone, overhead greenery installation inside an existing architecture-heavy space is complex. It requires precision, integration, and serious planning.

The Challenge Behind the Beauty

Unlike single-plane green walls, the Besos y Abrazos project required greenery to seamlessly interact with existing trellises, a green wall, perimeter millwork, ceiling beams, and a fireplace feature.Key challenges included:

1. Integrating with Complex Existing Architecture

The space already had multiple green elements. The new hedges and trailing greenery needed to enhance—not overcrowd—the visual environment. Every placement had to respect the design intent, architectural lines, and sightlines.

2. Construction‑Driven Coordination

Because The Cordish Companies run highly structured projects, documentation such as COI, contracts, submittals, and timeline confirmations had to be delivered with precision.

3. Tight Installation Window

Materials shipped from California, a multi-person crew traveled to Kansas City, and installation had to occur February 26–27 only. Every detail—from freight tracking to site-readiness—had to be dialed in.

Design Details That Make It Pop

For this installation, we developed a zone‑by‑zone greenery strategy that worked together to create an immersive “green envelope” around the guest experience:

Exterior Trellis Greenery
Exterior Green Wall Enhancements
Interior Ceiling Beam Trailing Buxus
Perimeter Interior Hedges
Fireplace Feature Hedges

Each element was chosen to balance texture, depth, and realism—creating the look and feel of live greenery without ongoing maintenance or irrigation.

What to Know Before Starting a Ceiling Greenery Project

If you’re considering a similar transformation, here’s what matters most:

Plan for architectural integration: Work with existing beams, soffits, and millwork—not against them.
Coordinate early with stakeholders: Documentation, COI, and schedules matter in commercial environments.
Mix textures: Trailing Buxus paired with structured hedging adds depth and prevents a repetitive look.
Think long-term durability: Faux greenery is ideal for hospitality because it stays perfect with zero upkeep.
Sequence installation carefully: Ceiling work must follow site prep and avoid conflict with other trades.

Why It’s Worth It

Yes, it requires planning, craft, and coordination. But the payoff? A stunning hospitality environment that feels immersive, intentional, and consistently photo-ready—one that elevates the brand and enhances every guest’s experience. Contact us today and let's bring your vision to life.