At Coverings 2025, we honored 22 outstanding projects that demonstrated spectacular craftsmanship and creativity in the use of tile and stone. This week we’re spotlighting the 2025 CID Awards: Residential Special Recognitions.
Special Recognition: Residential Stone Design
Project: Crystal Cove
Designer: Cantera, Inc.
Location: Newport Coast, California, USA
Crystal Cove by Canetera, Inc. received a 2025 Special Recognition Award for Residential Stone Design.
The winning project, Crystal Cove, was sparked by an intense passion for designing a Mediterranean-style home. Set on a mountain edge, offering stunning views of the canyon and the Pacific Ocean, this home features all-natural Spanish limestone, inspired by the stonework found in Costa Brava, Spain. The owners worked closely with designers to select the perfect limestone shade, spending weeks refining design details. Multiple shop drawings and up to 10 design renditions were completed to achieve the desired look. The final decision was a 400 Honed Finish Spanish limestone, providing a slight sand-like natural texture. It flows throughout the home, including fountains, cladding, columns, and moldings. This project embodies the timeless beauty of Mediterranean architecture.
Special Recognition: Residential Tile Pool Design
Project: Frank Lloyd Done Wright
Designer: Mosaicist, Inc.
Location: Arlington, Texas, USA
Frank Lloyd Done Wright by Mosaicist, Inc. received a 2025 Special Recognition award for Residential Tile Pool Design.
This project features the world’s first Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired pool mosaic design and installation. Mosaicist, Inc. collaborated with Randy Angel Designs to create a mathematical layout that seamlessly fits the pool’s shape. The design flows from the entry steps to the deep end, using carefully-selected colors of hand-cut 3/4”x 3/4” Murano-style full enamel glass tile manufactured by Mosaicist to complement the natural water and sky reflections. Hand renders, Corel Draw, and CAD were used in a month-long design process to perfect the intricate details. A complex mathematical approach ensured the concave floor appeared flat when viewed through water magnification. Over 15 design iterations were made to optimize proportions for visibility from the home’s windows. A special red merlot inlay was incorporated at the client’s request to honor their late son. Extensive research concluded this is the first Frank Lloyd Wright mosaic art pool project in the world.
Special Recognition: Residential Ceramic Tile Installation
Project: Hill Country Glamour
Designer: GB IV Designs
Location: Drippings Springs, Texas, USA
Hill Country Glamour by GB IV Designs received a 2025 Special Recognition for Residential Ceramic Tile Installation.
Hill Country Glamour was built with the vision of flowing lines and sophisticated edges that draw the eyes across the entire space. The shade structure provides relief from the brutal Texas sun and the hand-crafted burning bush fire feature invites us into the sunken lounge even in the coldest months. “Glamour” evokes all the small details integrated from GB IV Designs — from the natural moss rock boulders and perfect spillover walls, to the beach-style entry. Glass tile in a Moss Rock tone pairs with dark trees and the natural setting, creating smooth, seamless lines in the pool. It was installed with the zero risk full Litokol adhesion system including epoxy thinset and Litokol Starlike Evo Epoxy grout. The result is a stunning pool nestled in the heart of the Texas hill country that will truly stand the test of time and impress anyone lucky enough to lay eyes on it.
Special Recognition: Residential Ceramic Tile Installation
Project: Hofer Relaxation Area
Designer: Tile Creations LLC
Location: Huron, South Dakota, USA
Hofer Relaxation Area received a 2025 Special Recognition award for Residential Ceramic Tile Installation.
The client wanted a bathroom remodel with a steam shower for relaxation. Their existing space was too small, so the existing wall was bumped out 2 feet, staying inside the fascia to maintain the roofline. Since outside, rock exterior came up 12 inches above the floor line, the installer couldn’t cantilever the floor joist out. Tile Creations’ solution was to suspend the bump out from above to make everything solid. Custom heated reclining seats, a steam-rated lighted niche, and heated floors were all installed to finish out this look. The lounge-style seats required careful shaping for comfort and proper water drainage. Schluter Rondec Pro was bent to fit the curvature of the seats for a nice, finished edge. The project used Milestone Classica Calacatta Gold Matte porcelain tile in 24” x 24” and 2” x 2” formats with LATICRETE SpectraLock Pro Grout. The final touch was adding strip lights in the niche and ceiling. The project took about 5 months to install.
Special Recognition: Residential Ceramic Tile Design
Project: TUR Apartments
Designer: OOIIO Arquitectura
Location: Carabanchel, Madird, Spain
TUR Apartments received a 2025 Special Recognition award for Residential Ceramic Tile Design.
Designed on a modest budget, the project embraces industry-standard materials used in unconventional ways to break from traditional design norms. Ceramics are a central element in the design, rooted in Spanish culture, with influences from Arab and earlier periods. Architects selected playful and expressive ceramic pieces from Spanish producer WOW Ceramicas, placing them in unexpected locations throughout the apartment and integrating them into walls, floors, and even furniture details. This approach turns everyday surfaces into striking visual statements. The project demonstrates how ceramics, when used creatively, can elevate a living space, transforming an ordinary apartment into a home that is rich in personality and design innovation.
Do you have a recently completed project that features innovative design and installation of tile & stone? Consider entering it into the 2026 CID Awards – the portal opens this fall!
