Details International: Indoor-Outdoor Living at its Finest
One of our most memorable abodes flawlessly combines nature’s elements.
Amenities are plenty in this home featured on the cover of our April 2018 issue. A glistening infinity pool, a gourmet kitchen with an induction cooktop and wet bar, a Balinese-inspired outdoor lounge area — the details in this Manoa residence still spark conversation among our readers today.
In addition to being a masterwork in architecture and design, the home is exemplary in honoring the environment. Glenda Anderson at Details International worked with the homeowners on a thoughtful remodel that began with deconstruction of the entire house by Re-use Hawaii. Anderson explains that she came up with a concept for the home to be “surrounded by nature,” with the feel of living directly amidst the valley’s lush vegetation.
“That whole house is like a tree house,” says Anderson in the April 2018 feature story. “You have to have it wide open. And if you can’t have it wide open, you put glass.”
A live 15-foot-tall ficus tree literally stands in the middle of the house. This unique design focal point symbolizes “how both man-made and organic resources work together throughout the home,” according to the article. A stairway built with steel IC railings from Pacific American Lumber twists around the tree, leading up to the home’s second floor kitchen and dining space.
The updated master bedroom and bathroom on the third level are spectacular as well. Caesarstone was selected for the bathroom — this material combines quartz and resin, and is produced with minimal ecological impact. Glass walls in the master bath let natural light into open spaces and create a relaxing sense of being outdoors.
“One of the most important things I did for the homeowner was balance the colors in her entire house,” explains Anderson of the technique managing the effects of sunlight on the home’s greenery and natural hues. “It looks like it’s all one shade, but it isn’t.”
Rounding out the abode are touches reminiscent of the homeowners’ travels to Indonesia. Landscape architect Stephen Haus upgraded the front yard with a tropical ambience that feels like a resort in Southeast Asia — “it’s a very special area out there,” says the homeowner.
View the original feature from our April 2018 issue here.
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.
