Tara Bernerd Fills a Riviera Maya Hideaway With Artisan Wares

Mexico’s Riviera Maya has its share of accommodations both swaggering and rustic, but its latest, Belmond’s Maroma hotel, deftly navigates the space between. The hacienda-style architecture lends the space home-like charm as do its locally sourced artisan wares, courtesy of Tara Bernerd’s well-honed eye. One might say her team took a ground-up approach. More than 700,000 geometric hand-painted tiles by ceramist José Noé Suro cover the floors of guest rooms; hand-carved timber furnishings and armoires adorn the walls, blown glass from Max Kublailan, a repeat collaborator of proprietor Belmond, sets interiors aglow. Rattan, seagrass, and hand-glazed mosaic tiles carry the accommodations’ effusive warmth through to the common areas and create an environment that feels almost like home—but better.

Photography courtesy of Belmond.