Revitalizing a Living Piece of History - How a Historic San Diego Hotel Transformed Its Design with Daltile 
April 30, 2025 | 2:28 min

Revitalizing a Living Piece of History - How a Historic San Diego Hotel Transformed Its Design with Daltile 

Design Inspirations | Commercial | Hospitality

Nestled in the heart of San Diego, the Lafayette Hotel remains a beloved destination, offering guests a taste of the city’s storied past. Given the hotel's rich legacy, the recent renovation project offered the design team an exceptional opportunity to transform this historical landmark.
 
Join us as we explore how thoughtful design and premier products can breathe life into historic properties.
 

 

The Opportunity 

With visitors seeking fresh experiences that align with contemporary design trends, this ever-celebrated Golden Age destination presented the perfect opportunity for a design awakening.
 
Thus, the creative aim was crystal clear: how could the hotel’s design team enhance this historical landmark while preserving its timeless charm?
 

The Vision for Transformation 

This ambitious project served as a love letter to the hotel’s rich history. The design team’s approach was both thoughtful and artistic, and, by leveraging Daltile’s products, they elevated their hotel’s aesthetic, weaving together a captivating story of reinvention.
 

The Remarkable Results 

Proof of mosaic tile’s transformative power, the pool, guest bathrooms, and eatery each feature distinct designs that echo one another in spirit. From retro-inspired patterns underfoot in the dining area to custom mosaics catching the light outdoors and adding texture in the shower, every installation enhances its space through thoughtful detail and craftsmanship.

 

CREATIVE MOSAICS: LAFAYETTE'S STUNNING NEW POOL AREA

View of hotel pool and bar with off white and green mosaic tile, green and white sun shades, and orange bar stools.

 

Step into the Lafayette Hotel’s reimagined pool area, where eye-catching tile dazzles with a delightful blend of charm, whimsy, and a dash of modern sophistication.


A closer look reveals just how impactful the design choices are. The custom mosaic pattern draws from a classic black-and-white motif but adds a fresh twist—swapping stark contrasts for a warm beige and a rich, dark green. The effect is both nostalgic and unexpected, softening the graphic pattern while grounding it in the palette of the surrounding space.

 

Executed with Keystones, a porcelain mosaic series known for its expansive color range and adaptability, the design brings both style and substance. Its modular nature allows for custom patterns that feel entirely unique, while its durability makes it a natural fit for spaces like pool decks and waterlines. In the Lafayette, it’s a material that works hard while elevating the aesthetic—quietly reinforcing the hotel’s retro-meets-modern charm. 

 

Keystones

Oak Moss D195
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PATTERN-PLAY: LAFAYETTE'S RETRO-INSPIRED BATHROOMS 

Hotel bathroom with black and white mosaic tile in shower in stripe pattern, white sink, green walls, and gold accents.

Just beyond the pool, the guest bathrooms continue the story of classic motifs reimagined. A 2x2 mosaic in beige and black offers a subtle twist on the traditional checkerboard pattern—this time in a matte finish that not only softens the look but adds practical slip resistance for the shower floor and walls. Created using our Color Wheel Mosaic series, the design feels both familiar and fresh, grounding the space in timeless geometry with a thoughtful modern touch.
 
The palette extends with intention. Along the vanity wall, 4x4 tiles in Rain—a soft, airy blue from the special-order ColorMatch series—bring a gentle wash of color to the room. Black grout runs throughout the space, tying the elements together and echoing the refined contrast seen elsewhere in the hotel. It’s a composition that balances serenity with statement—carefully curated, yet effortless in its execution.

 

ColorMatch

Matte Rain CU22
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SAY HELLO TO NOSTALGIA: CHECK OUT THE VIBRANT NEW EATERY

Diner with red and orange mosaic floor tile, red chairs, and wooden booths

Immerse yourself in the essence of classic Americana at the Lafayette Hotel’s new eatery. Vintage light fixtures and rich, red upholstery pay tribute to the hotel’s 20th-century heyday.
 
At the heart of the space is a custom porcelain mosaic floor, composed of 1x1 and 2x2 tiles from the Keystones series. Laid in a striking diamond pattern—also known as a classic buffalo check—the design blends five rich tones of burgundy, ochre, and brown to create visual rhythm and warmth. As a through-body porcelain, Keystones delivers the durability and ease of maintenance required in high-traffic environments.

 

Keystones

Clementine D622
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Your Hotel’s Renovation Journey Begins with Daltile’s Products!

 
The Lafayette Hotel invites us to remember that history should not be merely encased in amber but reverenced and then boldly reimagined. This design project is a powerful testament to the extraordinary outcomes that exist at the intersection of imagination and determination.
 
Daltile's full range of products that blend style, and functionality will make your remodeled space as inspiring as it is timeless. Discover how you can elevate your hotel renovation project with Daltile today!