Joyful Sanctuary

American Cabinetry manufactures its custom cabinet designs here in Hawaii, so modifications or repairs can be made easily in a timely manner.

Nature takes center stage in verdant Manoa Valley. One Manoa homeowner wanted to incorporate this natural beauty into the heart of her new kitchen.

"I wanted a kitchen that was open to the outdoors and had an easy flow through the rest of the house," says the homeowner. "I wanted it to be beautiful and spiritual and allow guests to be a part of what's going on, whether it's cooking or just a friendly meeting."

The homeowner took her kitchen vision to American Cabinetry and placed it in the capable hands of certified kitchen designer (CKD) Ryan Boyd.

"We did a lot of research to find someone who could design our kitchen," the homeowner explains. "We were very impressed with the work and professionalism of American Cabinetry."

The original kitchen was small and, although the homeowner liked its coziness, she needed more space to support her coffee-selling business, the community gatherings she frequently hosts, and her arts and crafts projects. To accommodate all these activities, an addition was built for the new kitchen.

According to Boyd, this kitchen has a couple of major advantages. "First of all, the 10-foot-high ceilings give you a feeling of openness that is hard to find in Hawaii homes. Plus, you have access to the outside from all three sides—a sliding door to the patio on the left, a window on the right, and a door on the back wall."

But, the kitchen was just one big, empty room when American Cabinetry arrived. "We consulted the homeowner on the kitchen layout and the cabinet materials. We also supplied all of the appliances."

From American Cabinetry's Design Studio Collection of cabinets, the homeowner chose the Elite series. The cabinets' Eastern cherry-wood exterior and nutmeg finish exude the warm earthiness the homeowner desired. The cabinet interiors are crafted from three-quarter-inch, interior grade, maple hardwood plywood. Each cabinet employs European hardware, with soft-close drawer glides. This mechanism prevents slamming by slowing the forward motion and gently closing the drawer. The dense, black granite countertops and backsplash add a modern touch to the Old-World feel of the wood.

The kitchen includes a built-in pantry and two islands—one with a sink and food prep area, and one that can serve as a dining or work space. Most of the appliances are placed against the back wall, in close proximity to the food prep area. Cabinets against the right wall conceal a washer and dryer behind space-saving pocket doors.

Special features are particularly endearing to the homeowner. For example, a narrow pullout in the cabinet next to the cook top has a removable spice rack. And the two feet of clearance between the top cabinets and the ceiling will soon display artwork.

"We loved the idea of drawers with easy access like the spice rack," says the homeowner, who enjoys cooking. "And a display of bold-colored glass pieces on top of the cabinets will add drama to the kitchen."

Because the cabinets were made locally, changes to the remodeling project were easily accommodated.

"During the design process, the owner removed a window and added a sliding door," Boyd says. "Originally, the cabinets were going to end against that wall, so we decided to make open shelves at an angle to the wall. This gave a finished look to the cabinets, without obstructing the sliding doors, and added more storage space."

"I like to use the word 'joy' in this kitchen, because it truly is a joy to work in here," the homeowner says. "This kitchen is big, but it has great intimacy."