Tiki Island home is a party palace

Kenneth Frieden lives a double life. By day, he works as an commodities broker in Houston, but when work is done, he heads south for peace and playtime on Galveston's Tiki Island.

It wasn't until after he bought a boat that Frieden took seriously the idea of making Tiki Island his primary home - but once he started looking he found a small, storm-beaten house on a big lot and decided to build his beach house two years ago.

"He wanted something that was guylike and fancy, without being uncomfortable," said Albert Wilson of Ken Kehoe & Company, one of the designers who helped create the interiors for the 3,200-square-foot house. "So this whole place is designed around being comfy and cool."

In addition to a textured seagrass rug, bamboo blinds and an end table filled with driftwood logs, the natural feel of the living room is dominated by a pair of custom white sofas with wide cushions for maximum relaxation, upholstered in a commercial-grade fabric that would survive use by Frieden's dog.

As is only proper for a bay-side abode, beach themes abound in a mix of kitsch and chic styles. Hurricane glasses filled with sand and shells dot the living room shelves across from a large piece of artwork by Houston photographer Julie Soefer depicting someone's catch of the day. In an adjacent entertainment room, pale blue textiles on the custom corner bench and throw pillows have a subtle wave pattern, complemented by faux shagreen nesting tables and a lamp made from stacked oyster shells. A cheeky jellyfish lamp hangs from a corner of the ceiling.

The powder room has the most dramatic look, covered in black wallpaper that features neon images of crocheted fish. A different wallpaper on the ceiling mimics a corrugated metal roof.

"He thought we were nuts, especially with the jellyfish and the corrugated metal wallpaper. When clients first meet you, you have to convince them that your crazy ideas are actually really awesome," said Wilson. "Once they actually see how it works, then they trust you."

Despite the beach theme, Frieden's taste runs to a more contemporary look, which also is well-represented throughout the space. The Kehoe team painted the wooden beam at the apex of the vaulted ceiling to look like a steel beam and added a sleek ceiling fan underneath it. Restoration Hardware's distressed leather version of an Arne Jacobsen egg chair makes an impression in the living room, as does an industrial-style lamp with a ring of Edison light bulbs.

In the corner, a pair of tall, wavy sculptures add some height and color to the living room. They have a contemporary look but a connection to the sea as well - they're made out of surfboard material.

"I like right angles and clean lines, so my style is a simple palette with some color added in. I wanted a modern, comfortable beach house and Ken and Albert took just that and ran with it," said Frieden.

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Tiki Island home is a party palace