Starting From Scratch
Honolulu Design Center gives water-damaged condo a complete makeover.
When the owners of this condo at the Admiral Thomas building in Makiki bought the unit, they knew it needed a complete remodel. Built in 1980, the unit needed modernization. On top of that, a flood had destroyed much of the floors and woodwork. Owner Tom Foley knew exactly where to turn to flip this damaged space into a new, modern home for himself and Eileen Campbell.
Foley knows and trusts Thomas Sorensen, the owner of the Honolulu Design Center, which recently unveiled its new INspiration Kitchen, Bath and Closets Design Studio. Foley was impressed by INspiration’s model kitchen displays featuring ValDesign Italia cabinetry. It was a trustworthy and convenient choice, as INspiration Interiors could provide not only the design services he needed for the kitchen, two-and-a-half bathrooms and master closet, but also the furnishings for the condo.
Busy with work and travel, Foley had a few brief meetings with the designers and then let them take the lead and control of the project, working directly with Campbell. Their mission: Bring the condo up to today’s design standards, with a very clean and contemporary feel.
“I am attracted to design consistency and am a minimalist at heart,” Foley says.
The kitchen features ValDesign Italia cabinetry in the Reef line, with a polished glass finish in white and high-tech features, including touch-responsive opening and integrated undercabinet LED lighting. A full suite of Miele appliances are incorporated throughout the kitchen, some with custom glass Reef panel doors, including the fully integrated, 36-inch bottom-mount refrigerator/freezer, and the Futura Lumen Integrated Dishwasher with Knock2Open feature.
The condo is the first in Hawaii to have Cambria quartz countertops and backsplash walls in the color Oakmoor. Hinano Nahinu, general manager of the design studio, had just returned from the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show with a slab view of the new color that she knew would be the perfect complement to the angled kitchen. “Its wave design helps to soften a lot of the hard lines that were being shown through the angles of the kitchen,” Nahinu says.
The look is carried throughout the condo with the Cambria quartz in Oakmoor countertops incorporated in the two-and-a-half baths. Selecting the same material helps to keep the cost of the project down, while also providing a consistent look.
“What we liked most of the color palettes and materials is that all were chosen carefully with our tastes in mind, with the best choices made to suit our needs and wants for a bright, clean and linear ambience,” Campbell says.
The kitchen’s ValDesign Italia cabinetry has touch-responsive opening and integrated undercabinet LED lighting.
The master bath is designed with additional details, making it feel unique from the powder room and guest bath. “We made this side feel a little more special, but not out of place from the whole design scenario in the condo,” Nahinu says.
The master bath’s tub is replaced by a walk-in shower with universal design elements. The powder room connects to the master bath through a sliding pocket door. When open, it provides a seamless visual flow from one room to the next.
The bathrooms also feature ValDesign Italia cabinetry, and Cambria quartz countertops in Oakmoor.
The INspiration Kitchen, Bath and Closets team also designed a custom walk-in closet with ValDesign Italia cabinetry that allows Foley to easily organize his clothes, ties, belts and shoes. It had been a standard closet with one simple hanging bar; now, Foley has a custom, organized closet system for his wardrobe.
The completely renovated space has made everyday life much more enjoyable for Foley and Campbell, who are thrilled with the results. “Stepping into a happy and bright, welcoming kitchen and bathroom makes simple, everyday-life chores a joy,” Campbell says.
Where To Get It
Kitchen Cabinetry: Custom Glass Reef Bianco by ValDesign Italia, from INspiration Interiors
Countertops: Cambria Quartz in Oakmoor, from INspiration Interiors
Appliances: Miele, from INspiration Interiors:
Refrigerator/Freezer: MasterCool Series fully integrated 36-in. Bottom Mount Refrigerator/Freezer with custom glass Reef pane
Dishwasher: Futura Lumen Integrated Dishwasher with Knock2Open feature
Oven: Pure Line Brilliant White 24-in. Combi-Steam Oven; Pure Line Brilliant White 24-in. Speed Oven
Cooktop: 30-in. Touch Control Electric Cooktop with Built-in 36-in. Recirculating Hood
Kitchen Sink: Franke Peak Undermount Stainless Steel, from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Kitchen Faucet: Grohe Single-Hole Pull-Down, Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Bathroom Cabinetry: Custom Wood Veneer in Canapa Oak by ValDesign Italia, from INspiration Interiors
Bathroom Sink: Kohler Rectangular Undermount Lavatory Sink, from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Bathroom Faucet: Axor Single-Hole Lavatory Faucet, from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Tile: 12-in. x 24-in. Traces Porcelain, from Tile Warehouse
Dining Table: Carioca Round Glass Dining Table with Extra Clear Glass and Walnut Canaletto Base by Catellan Italia, from INspiration Interiors
Chair: Arcadia Chair in Moka Leather with Walnut Canaletto Base by Catellan, from INspiration Interiors
Chandelier: Natuzzi Arroba Light Fixture in Bronze, from INspiration Interiors
