Hawaii Design with a Global Perspective

As a child born in the Philippines and traveling through Hawaii, Asia and Australia, Krsta Matepi’s early exposure to different cultures catalyzed her curiosity for art and design.

Now making her home and career in Hawaii, the Australian interior designer says the Islands’ “indoor-outdoor” way of life has always felt familiar. “It was an easy transition with family and the similar indoor-outdoor lifestyle between Australia and Hawaii. I think that lifestyle connection helped me understand clients pretty early on,” she explains.

Embracing what living in Hawaii means to each client, Krsta Matepi approaches interior design with a niche experience that focuses on distinct details.

Matepi eventually became one of the founding members of a design studio that gained attention in 2020. Though the studio was successful, and countless business podcasts and books told her to “keep grinding,” Matepi says she followed her instincts to provide a more premium and individual experience for her clients. She branched out on her own.

“It was daunting because why would you not scale larger if you had that opportunity?” asks Matepi. “Instead, I niched down on what I do best: highly involved, detailed and custom design. Wall to furniture.” Client responses have been overwhelmingly positive, and from her experience, Matepi encourages others in the industry to keep focusing on what makes them unique. “It will all be OK if you care about your clients and what you do,” she notes.

“Go at your own pace — phase renovations as needed. You don’t have to rip everything out. Simplify design. Simplify textures. Simplify colors. A good designer can advise how to do this.” — Krsta Matepi

Matepi advises simplifying textures and colors, working closely with your home designer and going at your own pace with renovations.

Learning what Hawaii means to her clients is one of the most rewarding parts of the design process for Matepi. Though Hawaii is a “dream destination” for many, it means something different for each person.

One of Matepi’s clients, for example, moved to the Big Island hoping to improve in health. As the sun set on her client’s once-empty lot, Matepi watched her client express gratitude for the land and the island. “The warm air, the salt water and energy from the islands … it’s pretty unreal how fortunate we are,” Matepi says. “These islands can truly inspire us to live a simpler lifestyle.” Other clients move back to Hawaii to take care of family and live in multigenerational homes; still others want a hidden getaway to visit a few times a year.

As a resident of Hawaii, Matepi understands that construction costs can be overwhelming. She recommends that clients follow a budget and take their time. People can do this by being honest with their designers and contractors about their limits, she says. “Go at your own pace — phase renovations as needed. You don’t have to rip everything out. Simplify design. Simplify textures. Simplify colors. A good designer can advise how to do this.”

Editor’s Note: This article has been slightly modified from the original print version for optimal online reading. To view the full print story, pick up your copy of Hawaii Home + Remodeling at one of our partner locations.