TILE SOLUTIONS FOR MEMORABLE GUEST EXPERIENCES

LEGACY HAS IT that Point Loma, San Diego was the place “where California began”. Discovered by a Portuguese navigator commissioned by the Spanish crown, today it is home to the Monsaraz, a very special Tapestry Hotel by Hilton, offering the perfect blend of 16th century history and 21st century contemporary comforts.

True to its mission to connect with local culture, the Monsaraz has been thoughtfully designed by Amy Saenger Dehnert of KNA Design, West Hollywood, Los Angeles. Ms. Dehnert, inspired by details from the property namesake — the ancient village of Monsaraz, Portugal — intentionally connected historic references in her design approach. “One of the oldest settlements in southern Portugal, Monsaraz has a rich history. I wanted to bring some of its flavor and culture forward and celebrate the aesthetic tie to such a special place in Portugal. Of course, that meant incorporating beautiful ceramic tile in abundance!”

Dehnert notes that Portuguese tile dates back centuries, and reverence for the timeless blue hand-painted patterns seen around the Portuguese countryside was important, but also needed to have a fresh look to complement the overall design direction. “I needed a partner who understood the importance of blending together the historic and contemporary. Emser Tile was able to bridge the gap by providing tile that felt modern but also timeless. And they delivered within our budget.”

Those same historic references greet guests in the hotel’s reception area, where Dehnert and Emser together reimagined the artistry of traditional Portuguese azulejo tiles as a contemporary installation. From fragments of antique ceramic plates, original graphics were digitally captured and thoughtfully reinterpreted, repeated and rotated across a series of 24-by-24-inch tiles to create sixteen unique faces. The result is a striking mural-like composition that recalls the intricate blue-and-white storytelling of centuries-old azulejos while introducing a fresh sense of movement and scale — welcoming guests with a work of art that feels deeply rooted in Portuguese tradition with a contemporary edge.

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