Page 16 - Hawaii Renovation - Oct 10, 2021

16 HAWAII RENOVATION
OCTOBER 10, 2021
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GRAHAM BUILDERS
BY CAROLINE WRIGHT
typifies the firm’s approach to flexible design.
PURPOSEFULLY ADAPTABLE SPACES
“Flexible design is some- thing that our company strives for,” says Malia Yee, senior designer for Graham Builders. “Utilizing spaces for more than one purpose, or having the option, is eco- nomical and more environ- mentally friendly.”
For the Naitos’ project, Yee and the Graham Builders team tapped the potential of several empty spaces in the home. They took advan- tage of opportunities to add functionality, such as a small built-in desk tucked beneath a staircase.
“And they used an area un- der the roof to create a walk- in closet for our daughter,” the Naitos reported in their
testimonial. “It would’ve been wasted space. Malia came up with a design that matched the neighborhood, looked great and met our needs.”
FLEXIBLE FUNCTIONALITY FOR MAXIMUM VALUE
On an island where the av- erage sale price of real estate is currently about $620 per square foot, flexible design seems imperative.
“It’s incorporated into many of Graham Builders’ designs by necessity,” says Yee. “Homeowners often ask for more — additional rooms, square footage, fancier ma- terials, etc. — than their bud- gets will allow.”
With spaces that are truly multi-functional, in which every square foot has been efficiently utilized, a creative design/build team can help offset the pain of a budget that doesn’t quite measure uptoadream.Inahome whose dining area was too small for a full-size table, the team created a built-in din- ing nook that perfectly fit the space.
“A raised counter on their kitchen island hides messes
and worked ideally for this tall family that wanted more legroom,” adds Yee.
In one project, a large walk-in pantry was designed to accommodate a future staircase that could lead to a second story above their garage. Another included a flexible room with wet bar and double barn doors; the space is used as a guest room, a study, and occasion- ally even as a dining area.
FORWARD-THINKING DESIGN
Carly Ibara and her hus- band found Graham Builders through their free “Building Your Home for Life” semi-
nars. They were immediate- ly impressed by the design team’s thorough inspection of their property.
“On their first site visit, the designers checked things like wind direction and sun and shade paths,” Ibara re- members. “I’m convinced this is why our home is so comfortable. Once we open the windows, the beautiful cross-breeze keeps us cool no matter what room we’re in. The natural light is won- derful, too!”
The Ibara home is filled with thoughtful, forward-thinking touches. An expansive bay window bench with storage underneath serves as a read-
ing nook that can pinch-hit as a guest bed. An extra-deep second-floor landing holds bookshelves. An empty area next to the stairs contains a family desk. Even structural changes were made with an eye on the future: a retaining wall was moved to accom- modate a possible aging-in- place addition.
Exquisite and functional, with numerous touches that anticipate the family’s needs and the seasons of their lives, the Ibara home is a great example of Graham Build- ers’ purposefully adaptable design.
For more than three de- cades, Graham Builders has been helping Hawaii families make the most of their island homes at every stage of life. Founded in 1990, the Honolu- lu design/build firm remains the only contractor in Hawaii honored by the Better Busi- ness Bureau’s Torch Award for Business Ethics. Their free “Building Your Home for Life” seminar will take place on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Register online at grahambuilders.com/ seminar or call 808-593-2808.
“W
snail,” wrote iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. “It has devised a home that is both
exquisite and functional.” Not unlike the snail, Mike and Michelle Naito took their time building their dream house. They began the pro- cess with deep research on Oahu design-build firms. They spent hours at the BIA home show, taking careful notes; they vetted each firm with the Better Business Bu- reau and solicited reviews from past clients of their top
choices.
Ultimately, they chose
Graham Builders for their project. The end result was a home that is indeed exquisite and functional — a home that
e should learn from the
GRAHAM BUILDERS
CONTACT 808-593-2808
ADDRESS 1144 Young St., Honolulu WEB grahambuilders.com
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