In the oceanfront properties of Maui, interior designer Lisa Walsh of Lisa Walsh Design has mastered the art of bringing the island's natural beauty indoors. Her recent "Rhythm of Blues" transforms a spacious primary suite, including the bathroom, wet bar, and adjacent areas, into a haven of quiet luxury, all grounded by the rich texture and natural beauty of Island Stone’s dimensional stone tile. From the showstopping yet serene shower to the wet bar that echoes the beach outside, each space reflects the island spirit through thoughtful material choices and coastal-inspired design.
Creating a Sanctuary: The Project Vision
"This project was a vacation home for a couple with kids and grandkids. They bought this double unit with six bedrooms so they could host everybody as much as they could. This primary suite is their haven from everyone else—it's just for them," explains Walsh.
The challenge was clear: create a tranquil retreat within a larger family vacation home that reflected the oceanfront setting and the client's desire for a serene escape. The solution came in the form of Island Stone's Crescent Mini dimensional stone tiles, which became the foundation for what Walsh describes as a "quiet luxury" aesthetic.
Bathroom from the Rhythm of Blues project, featuring Island Stone tile - Travis Rowan photography
The Vertical "Bamboo Effect": A Design Innovation
What helps set this project apart is Walsh's innovative application of Island Stone's Crescent Mini tiles. By installing them vertically, she created what she calls a "bamboo effect" that transforms the material in unexpected ways.
"The sandstone has such a beachy feel when you lay it vertically, creating a bamboo effect. We sometimes even refer to this as the bamboo tile," Walsh shares. "Because this home is direct oceanfront, they're right on a beach, and the tile is the color of sand. The fact that it's honed means it just feels good to touch."
This vertical installation creates a textural focal point that connects the interior space to the beach just steps away, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor feel.
Bathroom backsplash featuring Island Stone's bamboo-style dimensional tiles - Travis Rowan photography
Dimensional Sandstone: The Perfect Bathroom Tile
Island Stone's dimensional stone tiles proved ideal for the primary bathroom for several reasons:
· Tactile Appeal: The honed finish provides a smooth yet naturally textured surface that's pleasant to touch and creates a spa-like atmosphere.
· Visual Dimension: When installed vertically, the tiles create shadow play and depth, bringing the walls to life.
· Durability: The natural stone holds up beautifully in high-moisture environments like bathrooms, making it practical and beautiful.
· Color Harmony: The sand-toned palette complements the oceanfront setting while providing a neutral backdrop for the room's other elements.
The spacious 10' x 5' shower became the bathroom's focal point, with the vertical sandstone tiles creating a dramatic yet serene backdrop. Despite architectural challenges like a necessary ceiling soffit for air conditioning, the space transformed into a stunning retreat.
"I was initially concerned about lowering the entire ceiling with a soffit for the AC, but strangely, it works in the end. People are so drawn to it," Walsh admits.
Bar backsplash featuring the dimensional texture of Island Stone’s Crescent Mini in Sandstone Mint - Travis Rowan photography
Beyond the Bathroom: Extending the Material Story
Walsh carried the Crescent Mini tiles into the adjacent wet bar, creating continuity throughout the primary suite. The wet bar features the same vertical installation and a shell reef countertop made from old clam beds—another nod to the oceanfront setting.
"The space is very 'quiet luxe,’” Walsh notes. “We were able to expand it and put in a washer-dryer upstairs for them, too, so it's highly functional. They have a small lanai off their primary suite that they use for sunset, so they use this wet bar all the time.”
In other areas of the home, Walsh incorporated additional Island Stone products to create a cohesive yet varied material palette. The kids' bathroom features our Waveline collection, introducing a brighter, more playful element appropriate for younger family members while maintaining the connection to water and waves.
Kids’ bathroom backsplash featuring Island Stone's Waveline tiles - Travis Rowan photography
Why Designers Choose Island Stone
For Walsh, Island Stone's products offer the perfect blend of natural beauty and design versatility. "It's a perfect product for my projects," she explains. "The frosted glass is like beach glass... everything is of this place like it's just made for Hawaii."
Island Stone's collections stand out for several key benefits:
· Natural Inspiration: Each design draws from nature, with textures and patterns that evoke organic elements like bamboo, waves, and pebbles.
· Design Flexibility: The tiles work beautifully in various applications, from shower walls to backsplashes to accent features.
· Material Quality: The honed finishes and precision cutting ensure durability and refined aesthetics.
· Installation Adaptability: The tiles can be installed in creative ways, allowing designers to achieve custom looks with standard products.
Lisa Walsh’s project demonstrates how Island Stone's dimensional tiles can transform ordinary spaces into extraordinary experiences. Her innovative vertical installation technique showcases how designers can reimagine standard products to create unique, site-specific solutions.
Making an Impact: The Design Legacy
The completed primary suite made such an impression that another client in the same complex approached Walsh, wanting to recreate the exact same design. "This client saw this unit and basically wanted me to recreate the same thing," she laughs. "I said, 'No, I can't do exactly the same!'"
Instead, Walsh created a unique design for the new client that incorporated some of the same Island Stone elements but in different applications—a testament to the versatility of these products.
Island Stone's natural stone products offer endless possibilities for creating spaces that connect to nature while delivering sophisticated design. Whether installed in traditional patterns or reimagined in creative applications like Walsh's vertical "bamboo effect," these products bring both practical benefits and aesthetic appeal to any project.
As "Rhythm of Blues" demonstrates, the right tile choice can transform a space from ordinary to extraordinary, creating environments that perfectly balance beauty, functionality, and connection to place.