A 70-year-old home in lower Maunalani has been enlarged, upgraded and “reinvented” with a new functional layout enhanced by vintage features and detailing. The owners, who purchased the home for its “old Hawaii cottage” charm, as well as for the location close to the shopping and dining options of Kaimuki, chose Homeworks Construction as both designer and builder.
The new design plan, created by Homeworks in collaboration with the owners, called for preserving as well as replicating period details, such as ceiling molding, wall trim, and double hung windows. When possible, original components from the remodeled sections, including the front entry, living room, front lanai, kitchen and breakfast area, were restored or repurposed into the new master bedroom and bathroom addition.
“For example, an existing interior French door was installed in a new jamb for the dining room,” said Homeworks president Marshall Hickox. “We removed the original double swinging doors from the kitchen to create a pocket door leading into the master bedroom. The existing exterior door from the kitchen was installed in a modern jamb to create a new back door through the new master bathroom.
“We added new hardware and paint to the original stained glass entry and a beautiful three-lite rear lanai door with a similar ‘patina,’ retaining the ‘flavor’ of these vintage details to the extent possible to avoid the appearance of a reproduction. We didn’t want to lose the beautiful patina of these original doors. The 1930s floor, identified as vertical grain fir, was sanded down and the same species and grain installed in the additions … all finished together for a seamless matching surface.”
The remodeled kitchen and new master bath were designed by Homeworks’ award-winning designers Sean Bradshaw and Elyse Grable. As with the other renovations, preserving period ambiance was a priority while incorporating new appliances, fixtures and work areas.
“It was a challenge to design a new kitchen that integrated the original charm of the house … for example, preserving the coffered ceiling and the board and batten interior wall details,” Bradshaw noted. “Elyse added a slight contemporary slant to the look of the bathroom with a geometric hex porcelain tile in a matte gray, and for the kitchen she chose a seamless ‘Black Hole’ Marmolium tile to contrast with the white shaker cabinets and moldings.”
Grable added, “With so much detail on the walls and ceilings, I wanted the floor to be as neutral as possible. The dark color was perfect to achieve the desired look for the kitchen.”
Major structural work was required to open up the interior, expand the main living area, and accommodate the addition of the new master bedroom and bathroom. An expanded outdoor deck provides a more functional outdoor space for dining and entertaining. A new 12-foot sliding door opens up the living room to the tradewinds and maximizes the panoramic views of the ocean and valley. The new layout ensures a cross breeze through the home, and large overhangs help reduce heat gain.
The home is situated on a 4,650-square-foot lot above a high lava rock wall that extends uphill along the narrow road. Exterior details include a new light-colored standing seam metal roof and matching finishes for the addition, which includes board and batten siding, hand-cut deck supports, and an elastomeric deck with yacht wire railing finished with wood grain accent top caps.
“We always suggest a flat rail cap, which could require a little more maintenance with natural wood, but it’s a great place to set a drink or plate down while you’re admiring the view,” Hickox noted. “Our client was delighted that we were able to meet the challenges and successfully carry out the vision they laid out for us,” Hickox said. “We made sure all the plumbing and electrical were in good working order. The owners had a new PV system installed and were very conscientious about specifying Energy Star appliances and components for the house.
“They wanted this home built with conservation as a priority, not only structurally but also in terms of the products we used. Energy efficiency and low long-term maintenance were top priorities.”
HOMEWORKS CONSTRUCTION
CONTACT 955-2777
ADDRESS 2111 S. Beretania St., Honolulu
WEB homeworkshawaii.com
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