Natural materials make a statement in these kitchen and bathroom designs found in Hawai‘i.
PHOTO BY MARIKO REED
“The surf theme is continued with a custom skinsurf board by Jeff Trotter Design in the primary en suite.”
Stephanie Brown, principal of interior design firm Stephanie Brown Inc., created an organic, modern Hawaiian space. stephaniebrowninc.com
Inspired by rich natural woods, stones, and textures, Brown lets these natural materials be the focal points throughout the home. “Our client desired a luxury estate that would feel classically Hawaiian but also embrace more contemporary design elements,” says Brown. “We opted for American walnut wood and paid great attention to the detailing of paneling to establish a more modern style. Narrow walnut slats create streamlined but dimensional paneling in several areas, as seen here in the primary en suite. For the remaining wall space, it was imperative to use rich and luxurious materials for depth and interest.” Brown chose honed dark grey marble slabs from Pacific Shore Stones for the wall and shower, and Ann Sacks flooring. “The dark material palette in the bathroom is striking and dramatic. It feels like a shaded and luxurious oasis compared to the sun-drenched spaces in and around the rest of the property,” she adds. “We sought to incorporate more modern elements into the home while ensuring it still felt approachable and contextual for Maui.”
PHOTO BY TIM COY
“Using windows instead of the backsplash allows extra light to filter through the space and provides an unexpected view of greenery and plantings on the exterior.”
PHOTO BY TIM COY
Julie Rootes, CEO and principal designer of Julie Rootes Interiors, designed a home with a hue. julierootes.com
“Our client has an East Coast aesthetic and loves prints and pops of color,” explains Rootes. “In the kitchen, the client wanted a space where the family could all gather, so we incorporated the island [topped with Da Vinci Marble] with seating that connects to the dining table area and the lanai. They wanted a functional kitchen with a bright, fresh feel. We added texture with the pendants [from Bone Simple Design] and customized the blue accent color to tie in with the other blue tones throughout the space.” In the powder bath she calls the “bunk room,” Rootes keeps it playful and fun, but also durable. “The custom shiplap vanity [made by Cambria Master’s Woodworking] relates to the shiplap in the main living spaces,” she notes. “The wallcovering [from CW Stockwell] pulls in the palms you experience throughout Hawai‘i. The overall design intent in this space was happy and fun.” In the second powder bath, she incorporated a Hawaiian flair and is a slightly more sophisticated nod to its tropical surroundings. The wallcovering by Schumacher surrounding the vanity from Ann Sacks speaks to the foliage found throughout Kakui’ula. “Powder rooms are some of my favorite spaces to design,” says Rootes. “They are small but mighty and can pack a lot of punch into a small space.”
PHOTO BY TIM COY
“Guests often use these more public spaces of the home, and the powder bath allows you to flex your creative muscles in a fun and unexpected way.”
PHOTO BY TRAVIS ROWAN
“Positioned in a prime central location within the floor plan, the kitchen is the casual center of the home for both interior and exterior living.”
Mark de Reus, founder and managing director of de Reus Architects, ensured tropical minimalism in this warm kitchen design. dereusarchitects.com
“The client’s assignment to us for this home was to create a casual and fun family beach house,” says de Reus. “The client, who loves cooking, desired a generous and functional kitchen. Given how beach houses with active families operate, we took this directive and felt that the kitchen should also perform as the heart of the home.” The space is oriented for a full view of the ocean views while using the kitchen, and its layout with an island and a peninsula, both topped with Sea Pearl Quartzite, supports easy functionality and family interaction while casually dining. Custom teak wood millwork and cabinetry leave plenty of room for storage, and the green picket tile backsplash from Fireclay Tile adds a pop of color. “The ceiling is finished with Bald Cypress wood planks running longitudinally accentuating the linearity of the space,” adds de Reus. He notes the kitchen is one of his favorite spaces in the home “because its design is both highly functional and aesthetically dramatic, so it works well as the heart of the home.”
PHOTO BY MEGAN MOURA
“The transformation is always my favorite part about designing. It doesn’t take much to make a bathroom beautiful, but when you do, it really makes all the difference.”
Shaolin Low, principal and founder of Studio Shaolin, brightens up this bathroom with a simplistic design and natural light. studioshaolin.com
“We were tasked to renovate, furnish and decorate this home from top to bottom. Our client’s main focus [in the primary bathroom] was to do away with the previous fixtures and open up the entire space, making it feel light and bright,” explains Low. “I wanted it to be simple, elegant and open. We decided to open it up with wraparound glass panels around the shower. Using glass was a decision that made sense since the previous shower was walled off, and it just made that vanity section feel so small.” The shower uses Brizo fixtures and large porcelain tiles (Arkistone ivory matte, 24 by 48 inches) from Marmol Hawai‘i. The natural wood panel wall accent around the tub was preexisting and something Low purposely designed around so that it would pop all on its own. “The vanity needed some sprucing, so we gave it a fresh coat of paint, lighter quartz countertops and a large mirror to help capture the light [from the skylight] and continue making the entire bathroom feel bright and open,” she adds. “The room feels so elegant and simple but impactful.”
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