LEED Gold - Houston Eclectic Kitchen, Houston

The family wanted their house to be designed in a "Texas, Deco and industrial style." It took some time for the pair to get a good grasp of the unusual aesthetic request. After several meetings, they came up with a plan that implemented bright color, bold shapes and a clear view of the front yard. Designing the island was one of the most challenging tasks in the kitchen. The island is curved and canted, which made it difficult for the cabinet designer to work with. "He was used to making islands in a box shape, and instead he had to think in curves and in angles," Reardon says. The stainless steel metal bar was built as a footrest, much like what you'd see at a bar. Tile on column: Black Penny tileCountertop: SilestoneIsland: Caesarstone in Apple Martini

This surfboard island, with a black penny-round-covered post, is a fun focal point.

ColumnsColumns don’t typically come to mind when one thinks of tile, but penny tile wraps nicely around curved surfaces. The only caveat is whether the seam will match up at the start/end point, and that is a function of the column circumference and the size of the tile and joint on the mesh backing, which all have to be calculated. This column is the star of the kitchen in this Texas industrial- and deco-style home.

2. Tile. Mosaic tile or even wallpaper with an interesting texture is another way to spiff up your functional columns with a minimal investment of time and money.

i like how there's a lot of windows for natural light