Notes from the site, the studio and the permit office.
What we learn building in the Riviera Maya — materials that survive the salt and the heat, what the paperwork actually asks for, and how projects really go.
How Do You Design Plumbing for a Home That Will Be Easy to Maintain?
A homeowner notices plumbing only when it fails. Good water pressure, quick hot water, drains that work, and fixtures that do not smell or leak become part…
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Why Waterproofing Should Influence the Design of Every Riviera Maya Home
In the Riviera Maya, water does not need a dramatic failure to become expensive. A small weakness at a roof edge, terrace door, balcony drain, shower niche,…
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How Should You Design a Pool and Outdoor Area Before Building the House?
A pool is often drawn as a blue rectangle after the house plan is nearly finished. In the Riviera Maya, that is backwards for many custom homes.
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What Makes a Kitchen Design Practical for a Vacation or Second Home?
A second-home kitchen can be used very differently from a primary kitchen. Some owners arrive for several months and cook every day.
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How Should Bathrooms Be Designed for Humidity, Water, and Long-Term Maintenance?
Bathrooms are some of the most finish-heavy rooms in a custom home, so it is easy for the design conversation to become dominated by tile, stone, faucets,…
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What I Tell Clients Who Ask How Long Their House Will Take to Build in Playa del Carmen
One of the questions clients ask me most often when sitting down over coffee to discuss a custom home is, "How long will this actually take?"
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Why Two Builders Can Give You Completely Different Prices for the Same House
One of the most confusing moments for a foreign buyer in the Riviera Maya happens when they open two construction proposals for the exact same set of floor…
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Should You Buy Land First or Speak with a Builder First in the Riviera Maya?
One of the most frequent conversations I have with prospective buyers usually starts like this: "Aracely, we found a beautiful lot in Tulum (or Playacar, or…
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What Does a Realistic Riviera Maya Construction Quote Actually Include?
When foreign clients ask me to review a construction estimate they received from a local contractor, one of the first things I notice is how sparse many of…
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When Does Remodeling Make Sense vs. Tearing Down and Starting Over?
A client recently called me about an older ocean-view property in an established neighborhood in Playacar.
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Why a Beautiful Floor Plan Can Still Be a Poor Design for the Riviera Maya
A floor plan can look balanced, spacious, and impressive on a screen while ignoring the conditions that will determine whether the completed house is…
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How Do You Design a Home in Mexico When You Live in the United States or Canada?
For many foreign homeowners, the distance between their primary residence and a future home in Mexico creates an understandable concern: can important design…
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