With the colder weather settling into Tennessee lately, I’ve found myself thinking back to the warmth and stillness of early January, when my husband and I traveled to Secrets Playa Blanca Costa Mujeres. Some trips stay with you because of the pace, others because of the people. This one stayed with me because of the way design quietly shaped every experience.
Traveling with a designer means my husband has long accepted that he’s going to hear constant observations about lighting, materials, and architectural details along the way, and this resort was no exception. At this resort, those details felt intentional at every turn.
The lobby immediately set the tone. Open air and organically shaped, it felt less like a structure and more like something grown from the landscape itself. Massive woven wood forms framed the space, softening the scale while still allowing it to feel expansive. Above, a sculptural cluster of lighting hovered like artwork, drawing your attention upward before gently returning your focus to the surrounding horizon.
Rope details layered across ceilings introduced texture without heaviness, while rock-patterned flooring grounded the space underfoot. Wood appeared everywhere, not as decoration, but as a unifying element that connected architecture to environment.
Our swim-up room felt like a quiet retreat tucked into the surrounding greenery. Light filtered softly through the space, highlighting texture rather than competing with it. Rope and integrated lighting stretched across one wall like an installation piece, while wood slatted doors and paneling added warmth and rhythm. Behind the vanity, a textured stone wall created contrast, something tactile and grounding against otherwise soft finishes.
One of my favorite spaces quickly became the main lobby bar, Rendezvous. Designed as an open air circular gathering space, it encouraged lingering rather than movement. Lounge seating was scattered comfortably throughout, allowing conversations to unfold naturally. Overhead, woven wood sticks formed a canopy that allowed greenery to weave through from the surrounding landscape. Clusters of woven pendants floated above, casting a warm glow that shifted beautifully as evening arrived.
Across the resort, plaster, stone, wood, rope, and layered lighting appeared again and again, never repetitive, always cohesive. Nothing felt overly styled or precious. Instead, the materials felt chosen for longevity, for climate, and for the way they would age alongside the environment.
The Food:
And then there was the food.
Each restaurant felt distinct without losing the relaxed rhythm of the resort as a whole. From what may have been the best creamed corn soup we’ve ever tasted to beautifully prepared custom sushi platters, every meal felt thoughtful and memorable. Service was attentive without feeling formal, allowing the experience to remain easy and unhurried.
What stayed with me most wasn’t any single moment, but the consistency of intention. The way light softened large spaces. The way texture replaced ornamentation. The way natural materials created comfort without excess.
Stepping away from active projects always has a way of resetting my perspective. Inspiration rarely arrives loudly. More often, it shows up in quiet observations, in how materials meet each other, in how a space makes people slow down without realizing why.
Sometimes the best reminder of thoughtful design is simply experiencing it.
