1 Mediterranean Influence
Design by Kitchen Concepts Plus Inc.

Photo by Macario

Homeowners' Request: The kitchen remodel was part of a full-scale, six-month renovation on this Kahala home. The owners wanted the kitchen to match the rest of the home, which had a Mediterranean flavor. They also wanted to add a casual dining area. The very latest appliances were must-haves.

Designer's Challenge: Painted cabinets, laminate countertop, ceramic floor tiles�‘it was all outdated and it all had to go. The biggest structural challenge was adding plumbing for a new sink in the island. With the kitchen on the hill side of the home, there was no crawl space for major plumbing changes.

Style Solution: The contractor worked the new plumbing pipes into the existing concrete floor. The new prep sink in the island includes a pull-out faucet, which can be used to add water to the nearby steamer.

What makes it Mediterranean Influence?
"This kitchen has a very nice warmth to it," says designer Michael Smith. That warmth comes from the deep sculptured solid cherry cabinetry, the Baltic brown granite countertops and the tumbled Giallo Trieste marble floor. A special highlight is the solid mahogany wood countertop on the island.

2 Nouveau Funque
Design by Details International Inc.

Photo by Macario

Homeowner's Request: The homeowner comes to this second-home Waikiki apartment to have fun. The mission was to create a space that makes people feel great. It had to incorporate the homeowner's love of color�‘particularly blue�‘and it had to be functional.

Designer's Challenge: Working with a relatively small space, designer Glenda Anderson had to carefully match the blues in the different materials to avoid a mish-mashed feel. Blue also has a calming effect, which was contrary to the idea of the fun feel.

Designer's Solution: Anderson pulled in energetic reds and yellows to punch up the mood. She personally painted the yellow art wall with its red calligraphy-like splashes. Those same energetic colors can also be found in the pendant lights and colored martini glasses. Anderson went to great lengths to match the blues in the room: She found a blue porcelain for the floor that exactly matched the blue Caesar stone on the counter. The carpet was custom dyed to match the creamy wall color. And the paint was specially matched at the factory. Anderson put more energy into the space by using some dynamic structures, such as the floating curve on the counter and the staggered wall cabinets.

What makes it Nouveau Funque?
The whole whimsy of the package, from the floating shapes to the vibrant colors.

3 Art Pacifica Design by Artflow Studios Photo by Nodie Namba-Hadav Homeowners' Request: The kitchen in this old, Haiku Plantations home was tiny and dark. The owners wanted an open, airy space that was artistic but practical for their busy lives with children. Designer's Challenge: The space was small and awkward. Working around an old home always has its challenges. Style Solution: Artflow Studios knocked down one wall, creating an archway that expanded the area. The new slate floor was extended into the living room to give an added sense of space and flow. A bay window floods the kitchen with light. And the designers maximized the space with clever storage solutions: One awkward corner became a handy laundry chute; there are custom-made, sliding wine racks; there is a Euro-style dish rack over the sink; and, there are rotating shelves inside corner cupboards. The custom-designed island is rich with cherry, black walnut and maple woods and a Black Galaxy granite countertop. What makes it Art Pacifica? The unique creative elements in the room. Two of the family's daughters are dancers, which led to the ribbon dancer theme. It begins with the dancer on the etched-glass door and continues through the black walnut cabinet handles and appliquŽs and the etched glass cabinet doors. There are other artistic elements, too, including a solar burst mosaic on the backsplash.

4 Well-Balanced Kitchen
Design by DESiGNER Kitchens & Baths

Homeowners' Request: The old, wornout kitchen was part of a tiny cottage that was built in the '40s for an auntie. The homeowners' request was for a larger kitchen, because they like to entertain. Once designer Judy Dawson, of DESiGNER Kitchens & Baths, reviewed the kitchen, she made a request of her own: to keep the Frank Lloyd Wright-type table. Dawson recalls, "When I saw that beautiful, six-foot-long cantilever countertop, I thought, Well, there's no way I can improve upon this. It was then that I knew I had to revolve the entire design around the table."

Photo by Macario

Designer's Challenge: Dawson's instinct to keep the table was right. It turns out that the kitchen's original cantilever counter was designed by Honolulu architect Alfred Preis, who designed the Arizona Memorial. The design challenge lay in incorporating the large, old table into a modernized kitchen.

Style Solution: To balance old and new, Dawson resurfaced the table with a mahogany finish. She also removed the aged front doors and installed open shelves and a wine rack. Granite was added onto the other side, which maintains the integrity of the lovely counter. "It's a perfect place to sit, and the stools tuck right underneath it," says Dawson.

What makes it Well-Balanced?
Beyond the balancing act of the cantilever, the kitchen is well poised from ceiling to floor. The original floor was a small parquet area. The homeowners liked it enough to keep it, so more parquet was ordered to match. "The floor matches the table and they both blend in well with the natural colors of the granite," Dawson says.

5 Euro Contemporary
Design by American Cabinetry

Homeowners' Request: Bigger, bigger, bigger! With an existing kitchen that measured just 10 feet by 10 feet, the big order was for more space. The homeowners also wanted accessories that would help turn the kitchen into a more functional area.

Photo by Stephen Boyd

Designer's Challenge: Taking a small, cramped space and opening it up. The old design also didn't take advantage of the Kailua home's great outdoors, which includes a large yard with a swimming pool and water fountain.

Designer's Solution: The walls came down and the ceiling was opened up to create a kitchen/office/dining area that was more than three times larger than the old kitchen. Everything is airy and spacious, right up to the pendant track lighting. The simple design on the natural maple cabinet doors continues the clean look, while the crown molding keeps it from getting too visually sterile. Because American Cabinetry makes its cabinets, it was an easy task to provide the individual touches the homeowner's were looking for, including pull-out spice drawers, a pantry pull-out and slide-out shelves for the desk-area printer.

What makes it Euro Contemporary?
The light, airy, spacious feeling. With its granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, the kitchen is completely up to date without being overly ultra-modern.

6 Island-Style Living
Design by JohnCookKitchens

Homeowners' Request: The homeowners wanted to modernize the kitchen, dining room and surrounding areas, while opening them up to the family room, living room and pool beyond.

Photo by Kyle Rothenborg

Designer's Challenge: The greatest challenge was to accomplish the homeowners' requests within their budget.

Style Solution: For cabinetry, JohnCookKitchens chose an economical Alder wood, with recessed panel cabinet doors. The wood was selected for its beauty, warmth and affordability. To tie the rooms together, a large-format, natural-looking ceramic tile was used throughout the space. Using ceramic tile in lieu of natural stone reduced cost. The existing electrical panel needed to be moved to meet current electric codes. To save cost and still meet code, the panel was simply flipped around to face the dining room and hidden with a beautiful art piece.

What makes it Island-Style Living?
To improve on the home's relaxed, Island-style atmosphere, the living and family rooms needed a visual separation and a backdrop for furniture placement. A railing/room divider was designed with a beautiful Monstera leaf pattern cut into panels and stained to match the kitchen cabinets. Along with furnishings and artwork, the room divider adds interest and complements the Island-style design. Mark Olson, of JohnCookKitchens, says the success of a project is measured by the customer's response. Olson says, "This project turned out beautiful, and the homeowners' positive comments on the whole experience made the effort even more worthwhile."

7 East Honolulu Sophisticate
Design by Snaidero Hawaii

Homeowners' Request: This east Honolulu home needed a kitchen space that matched the sweeping views over the mountains and the ocean. The kitchen also needed to live up to the elegant dining area while meeting the needs of the homeowner's active lifestyle.

Photo by Alex Viernes, of Poi Boy Productions

Designer's Challenge: Aiming for a clean and sleek look, Snaidero needed an innovative way to store small appliances so the kitchen didn't look cluttered. A second challenge came from a tricky corner cabinet, which risked being wasted space.

Style Solution: Small appliances, such as the coffee maker, blender, rice cooker and microwave, were tucked away on a countertop behind a bi-folding door. The homeowners simply open the door when they want to use the appliances, then close them away when they are finished. To avoid the hard-to-reach spaces of the corner cabinet, Snaidero turned the space into a walk-in pantry, which capitalizes fully on every square foot of space.

What makes it East Honolulu Sophisticate?
The kitchen's character comes from the sleek, elegant lines of the walk-in pantry's glass door. The door and the partition are made with sandblasted tempered glass, which lets light into the pantry but keeps the interior hidden from the outside.

8 Urban Contemporary
Design by Seven Valleys Construction

Homeowners' Request: This on-the-go family was looking for a larger kitchen that they could all use without getting under each other's feet. Ease of maintenance was also on the wish list. The family also needed a desk area where they could do the work that tends to follow them home.

Designer's Challenge: The long-shaped house needed a more open floor plan to fit the family's busy lifestyle.

Photo by Christi

Design Solution: The wall between the old dining room and the kitchen came down and a second wall leading to the living room was opened up. A down-draft vent was added to get rid of the old range hood. A bar top was added, along with a desk and storage for books. The island and prep area are convenient to all the appliances and there is an under-counter wine chiller.

What makes it Urban Contemporary?
The light, natural colors of the cabinets and flooring mixed with the rich, dark marble countertops and backsplash and the stainless steel appliances. The urban contemporary kitchen is a space where the whole family can cook, work and mingle. The bar top caters to the busy urban lifestyle, providing a space for fast meals, but also doubling as a buffet area for local-style parties.

9 Natural Sophistication
Design by Studio Becker

Homeowners' Request: Create an updated and sophisticated look that better reflects the tropical oasis outdoors. At the same time, stay true to the Kailua-Kona home's original structure and finishes.

Designer's Challenge: The old kitchen was outdated and monochromatic. A thick redwood soffit that overhung the galley kitchen created a cramped feeling. The workflow was hindered by the location of a double oven and microwave that had no nearby landing pad for hot items and blocked the kitchen entryway when the appliance doors were open.

Photo by Augie Salbosa

Design Solution: A rich, red-stained bird's eye maple finish was selected for the kitchen cabinetry to accent the surrounding redwood tongue-and-groove walls. The soffit was replaced with drywall and lighting was added. The microwave and oven were moved to a former dead-space corner and their previous location became a tall pantry cabinet with a built-in automatic espresso coffee maker.

What makes it Natural Sophistication?
The rustic yet refined color palette and the abundance of natural materials, from the soapstone countertops to the slate backsplashes to the river-rock feature over the outdoor sink. Frosted glass cabinets lend an artistic and contemporary edge and allow the homeowners to display artwork and sculptures collected on their travels.

10 Space Maker
Design by Ridgeview Design

Homeowner's Request: The homeowner lives in a luxury, Hawaii Kai condo, but the original appliances and cabinetry were outdated and falling apart. Like many '80s kitchens, it had mirrored tiles on the wall and a big lighting grate in the center of the ceiling. "It was a nice kitchen back in 1985," says designer Scot Shimamura, of Ridgeview Design, "but that was a couple of decades ago." The overall goal was to give the space a makeover, along with significantly increasing storage and countertop space.

Photo by Island Digital Imaging

Designer's Challenge: Like most condo remodels, it was restricted by walls and plumbing that could not be moved.Ê

Style Solution: Ridgeview used one of its customizable cabinetry lines to build around some of the problem walls. The cabinet manufacturer also helped Ridgeview to keep the budget in check, which allowed for other luxury features the homeowner wanted.

"We have a wide range of door styles to choose from," says Shimamura, "but in this case we went with a traditional door in cherry to tie into the antique furniture the homeowner brought from her San Francisco home."

What makes it a Space Maker?
A large pantry and cabinets replaced the mirrored tiles, which nearly doubled the existing countertop and storage space. The wall-cabinet doors were inserted with glass and the light grate was turned into a soffit to give the room a more spacious feel.

"I used to cook for a living for a short while," notes Shimamura, "and it made me acutely aware of how design affects the ergonomics and enjoyment of a kitchen."

11 Piacere Cucina
Design by Susan Palmer Designs

Goal: The brand-new Outlines cabinetry series by Italy's Pedini epitomizes kitchens that are beautiful and well made, but also functional. This series is all about form and texture. Pedini uses ecofriendly materials, such as zebrawood and white oak, and builds its kitchens to withstand the rigors of a coastal climate like Hawaii's.

Designer's Challenge: To create kitchens that are both a pleasure to the eye and a pleasure to use.

Photo courtesy of Pedini

Style Solution: The modular format allows Susan Palmer Designs to create kitchens that meet the simple needs of a single person or the hectic demands of a large family. This kitchen series features some clever touches that increase the flexibility and function of the space. For example, the table in this kitchen is on a rail system, allowing it to glide back and forth as needs dictate. An accessory rail system above the countertop allows the homeowner to slip on the stainless steel accessories needed, whether a spice rack, a paper towel holder or a cookbook rest.

What makes it Piacere Cucina?
In Italian, piacere cucina means "pleasure" and "kitchen." The visual pleasure is clear, from the polished concrete floor to the delicate pendant light.

CHOICE KITCHENS Kitchen Design Suppliers

American Cabinetry 619 Mapunapuna St. 838-7770 www.american-cabinetry.com Artflow Studios 373-5311 www.artflowstudio.com DESiGNER Kitchens & Baths 734-2891 Details International Inc. Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 104 521-7424 www.details-international.com EMEE Kitchens & Baths LLP 98-029 Hekaha St., Suite 47 218-2052 Highline Kitchen Systems 1276 Young St. 589-1104 JohnCookKitchens Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 215B www.johncookkitchens.com 599-3533 Kitchen Concepts Plus Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 202 524-6656

Na Kalai Laau Shop 74-567 Honokohau St., Suite 5 (808) 329-6266, Kona www.nakalaiwoodworking.com Ridgeview Design 554-1005 Seven Valleys Construction 1130 N. Nimitz Hwy., C-120 521-7134 www.sevenvalleysconstruction.com Snaidero Hawaii Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 120 599-4554 www.snaidero-usa.com Studio Becker Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 121A 536-7739 www.hnl.studiobecker.com Susan Palmer Designs Dole Cannery at Iwilei 650 Iwilei Road, Suite 195 599-7606 www.susanpalmerdesigns.com The Kitchen Cabinet Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 216 599-3543