The Galveston County Daily News

A few years ago, towering condominium developments forever changed the island’s skyline. But what does high-rise living look like from the inside?

Coast visited three units — two in Palisade Palms on East Beach and one in Emerald by the Sea, 500 Seawall Blvd., to find out what it’s like to live above it all.

All About Personal Taste

Owners Jim and Julia Murphy wanted their 23rd-floor Palisade Palms condominium to have the warmth of home. The Murphys are full-time residents at the East Beach tower, after all.

Yet, the condo still has a relaxing, getaway feel, proving that coastal design doesn’t have to be all pastels, shells and whitewashed wicker.

For the floors, designer Todd Slaughter, owner of The Barking Frog, chose wood reclaimed from an old monastery.

Janie Ellis of Houston’s Anything But Plain painted the textured walls in soft beige and blues, reminiscent of sand and water.

The floors are dressed up in a bright, hand-woven rug with a palm design from Company C to complement the embroidered Palecek leaf pillows, which lend some tropical whimsy. Espresso and tangerine colors brighten bedrooms.

Glass tiles and glazed ceramic lily plates play off commissioned art and keep with the subtle water theme, as does the measured use of penshells.

Furniture is all directed toward the stunning Gulf of Mexico views.

Slaughter selected Hunter Douglas window treatments, which block the sun’s glare, while preserving the views.

There’s nothing faddish about the Murphy’s unit, Slaughter said.

“It’s all about the owners’ personal tastes and good design,” he said.

'Forget About Everything'

For aspiring architect Mike Nicol, 25, it’s all about the view.

Nicol’s parents, Michael and Sherri, knocked down walls and chose sleek, low-slung furniture and large walk-in closets, instead of free-standing storage, to avoid obstructing stunning Gulf of Mexico and ship channel vistas in the 27th floor-penthouse condominium at Palisade Palms.

Mike Nicol is a full-time resident at Palisade Palms, while his parents, who live in The Woodlands, use the condominium as a place to get away from the hustle and bustle.

“That’s exactly what they’re able to do,” Mike Nicol said. “They forget about everything happening 70 miles north.”

The Nicols achieved a semi-modern look, meant to be welcoming and comfortable, by avoiding the extreme hard lines in some modern design, Mike Nicols said.

The family used reds, beiges, browns and dark shades of orange.

Brenda Denny of Eklektik Interiors helped to choose some of the furnishings.

The island’s Mike McDaniel of McDaniels Construction Co. served as general contractor, helping to tear down some walls and install shelving and cabinetry.

Mike Nicol, who has a master’s degree in architecture, and an master’s of business administration, helped design and build a frame from an African wood for the flat-screen TV.

Floor tiles in the foyer are made of small pebbles and shells encased in clear acrylic epoxy.

One of Nicol’s favorite features is the handmade terra-cotta tile around the bar.

One upside of high-rise living is convenience, Nicol said. There’s 24-hour concierge service at Palisade Palms.

The Nicols had owned a beach house on the Texas Coast, but found themselves doing more yard work and upkeep than they wanted on their time off.

They now spend a lot of that time on East Beach and in Palisade Palm’s infinity pool, Nicol said.

Nicol, who grew up in the suburbs, finds high-rise living appealing.

“I love every part of it,” he said.

Focus On The Water

When Pamela Passino, owner of Jacque’s Fine Interiors, was asked to employ her interior design skills in a condominium unit used for rentals at the Mediterranean-inspired Emerald by the Sea, she wanted a crisp, clean feeling that was inviting for people seeking a getaway.

“We didn’t want it to be unapproachable,” Passino said. Passino is well known in the antique industry. But antiques would be too heavy for the Emerald condominium, she said.

Her firm custom designed contemporary furniture for the condominium, going with beiges, whites, blue, greens and aquas to achieve a “sea look.”

The design centered around the water view made possible by ceiling-to-floor windows, Passino said. She had the view in mind down to the choice of lamps, made of smooth, clear crystal, to keep the focus on the water.

“The whole idea is to make it relaxing unit away from home,” Passino said.