After
years of sharing everything, from tinker toys to sports gear to inside
jokes, brothers Brian and Shannon O’Shea have one more thing in common:
a 3,000-square-foot showroom. The shared shop is home to both Andean
Stone and A3 Elements.
At
first glance, the showroom’s narrow, Kalihi Street entrance and dark
warehouse leave something to be desired. But if you follow the mosaic
tile upstairs, you’ll find the staff’s chipper faces behind a tumbled
travertine and glass reception desk. The knowledgeable team, led by
general manager Alice Newman, is on hand to provide homeowners and
contractors with a crash course on Andean Stone’s tile and stone and A3
Elements’ world-class windows and doors.
“It’s
really great to represent a product that you know and feel with your
heart is absolutely the best,” says Newman. She gestures toward the
showroom, where slabs of Peruvian travertine lean casually against
striking Merbau double doors, and beautiful onyx sinks contrast with
beige and cream tile floors. “We are giving something to the public
that they can really use and be proud of.”
For
the like-minded O’Shea brothers, “It’s essentially a symbiotic
relationship,” Shannon explains. “Architects, designers and contractors
can come to one location, put a set of plans down, make some hard
decisions—financial decisions—and then have one phone number to call,
whether it be A3 or Andean Stone.”
It
all began two years ago, with the inception of A3 Elements. Along with
business partner Milo Myers, Shannon provides prefinished,
ready-to-install millwork. The company offers windows and doors
engineered from termite-resistant woods, such as nyatoh, pynkado, khaya
and teak. The varied client base includes homeowners, designers and
contractors.
 |
| From bottom left, clockwise: Brian O’Shea, Alice Newman, Shannon O’Shea, Milo Meyers. |
Six
months later, big brother Brian followed in Shannon’s entrepreneurial
footsteps with the creation of Andean Stone. Relying upon 30 years of
industry experience, Brian’s brainchild is now Hawaii’s exclusive
distributor of Gallos Peruvian travertine, a stone of unparalleled
strength. Because of its natural strength, Brian explains, “Our
travertine is the only material that comes in 3/8-inch-thick slabs in
large sizes up 36”x 96,” or as big as a door.” The travertine is used
in everything from kitchen and bathroom countertops to pool decks and
window sills. Available in 33 colors and multiple finishes, Peruvian
travertine is also commonly used as a decorative accent or as mosaic
art.
“Peruvian
travertine is unparalleled in beauty and versatility,” says Newman. “It
can fit into virtually any design—the consumer or design professional
can really let their imagination go wild with this material.”
As
Andean Stone and A3 Elements continue to expand, the O’Shea brothers
look forward to the growth of their joint business ventures.
