The white schoolhouse in Spring Green, Wisconsin was built in 1877 and has seen the faces of thousands of children who have been educated within its walls. The preservation of the history of the space is important to not only the owner, but also the people of Spring Green.  The character and history of this magnificent building was meant to be preserved and enhanced within the design for a bistro, The Lexington Ave. Bistro, offering local, fresh and healthy dining options. Of course creating a space with modern amenities and a warm and comforting atmosphere is also important.The overall design is based on the vintage schoolhouse style. Chalkboards were added in various ways as accents that provoked the schoolhouse sensation, and so were vintage schoolhouse style wooden chairs and photos from the past. In an effort to preserve the existing mood of the schoolhouse the existing lighting fixtures were kept, as requested by the owner, but also joined by fixtures new to the space that are also in the schoolhouse style. The windows were not physically altered, and the original glass that has been warped over time, but that adds to the vintage mood, remains. Also, the existing wainscot has been preserved as much as possible, and more has been added or replaced where needed to keep consistency throughout the space.

Consistency is a principle that was used and adhered to throughout the space, to an extent. The space was meant to feel cohesive, but slight changes were used to promote different atmospheres within the different sections of the space. The same whimsical wallpaper is seen in both the bar/lounge areas and the dining room, and was chosen not only for its provision of nature and childlike qualities, but also for its acoustical properties. It has been accompanied in both spaces with lots of dark, warm wood elements that provide a sense of home, and comfort. Both the bar/lounge area and dining room also utilize tin ceilings. The extravagant design is a way to help pull the focal point of people through the entire space which is large, open and very tall.
Although there is an overall sense of cohesiveness between the spaces, each space was designed to provide its own kind of atmosphere. The bar/lounge area was meant to be a little more comfortable and warm. A place where people would come and stay a little longer; or where local business people may come for a lunch away from the office at the lunch counter, complete with electrical outlets for computers and other electronics. The warmer oranges of the leathers and window treatments are meant to be comfortable and warming, an inviting place where people want to hang out. The  dining room on the other hand uses more purple accents, which are also warm and inviting, but a bit more formal. And in keeping with cohesiveness, both spaces have elements of gold.
The space was also designed with high functionality in mind. A pass through from the kitchen to the dining makes it very easy for the wait staff to access and deliver the prepared food. The wait station is located near the pass through and centrally located within the restaurant itself. Although, it is far from the bar, the fact that there is direct access from the bar to the kitchen through a strategically located door makes up for this fact.  The floor plan itself is also conducive to functionality in that it is very open so the staff can see everything that is taking place easier and it is easily navigable. Also, part of the functionality of the bistro are the spaces that have been provided for the display of artwork, in honor of the owner, who is an artist and photographer himself. The cutouts in the middle column of the dining room have been specially designed for this purpose, and hopefully the changing of what is displayed there will be another enticing factor that keeps people coming back time and again.
The bistro is planned to be open mainly during the summer months and to attract tourists and locals alike. The owner is hoping that his unique and “green” menu offerings will lure them all, and that the design of the space is complementary of the menu and the town itself, and all the children who were ever schooled there.