Page 5 - Hawaii Renovation - July 31, 2022

GRAHAM BUILDERS
COVER STORY
JULY 31, 2022
HAWAII RENOVATION 5
BY CAROLINE WRIGHT
Ultimately, they chose Graham Builders for their project. The end result was a home that is indeed exquisite and functional — a home that 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 under the roof to create a walk-in closet for our daughter,” the Naitos re- ported 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 average sale price of real estate is currently about $620 per square foot, flex- ible design seems impera- tive.
“It’s incorporated into many of Graham Builders’ designs by necessity,” says Yee. “Homeowners often ask for more — additional rooms, square footage, fan- cier materials, etc. — than
their budgets 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 up to a dream. In a home whose dining area was too small for a full-size table, the team created a built-in dining 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 de- signed to accommodate a future staircase that could lead to a second story above their garage. Anoth- er included a flexible room with wet bar and double barn doors; the space is used as a guest room, a study, and occasionally even as a dining area.
FORWARD-THINKING DESIGN
Carly Ibara and her hus- band found Graham Build- ers through its free Building Your Home for Life seminars. They were immediately im- pressed 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 ex- pansive bay window bench with storage underneath serves as a reading 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 Gra- ham Builders’ 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 Ho- nolulu design/build firm re- mains the only contractor in Hawaii honored by the Bet- ter Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Business Ethics.
To learn about upcoming seminars, visit grahambuild- ers.com/seminar or call 808- 593-2808.
“W
wrote iconic American ar- chitect Frank Lloyd Wright. “It has devised a home that is both exquisite and func- tional.”
Not unlike the snail, Mike and Michelle Naito took their time building their dream house. They began the process with deep re- search on Oahu design- build firms. They spent hours at the BIA home show, taking careful notes; they vetted each firm with the Better Business Bureau and solicited reviews from past clients of their top choices.
e should learn from the snail,”
GRAHAM BUILDERS CONTACT 808-593-2808 WEB grahambuilders.com
COVER STORY