The room had potential—that’s why it was chosen from among 100 living-room entrants. High, exposed-beam ceilings could make it cozy. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed an ocean panorama. But wooden wall panels closed in the room, and all those windows made it hot. Just outside the windows, a heap of wood could, one day, be a lanai. Repairs were needed, and the home’s single-wall construction would need to be reinforced.
Kathy Norton, of Design Management in partnership with INspiration/Honolulu Design Center, saw past the problems and was inspired by the potential. Fortunately for her, so were the rest of the contractors, suppliers and volunteers who went above and beyond for the makeover. “Everyone made sure everything came out just right, and didn’t hesitate to put in the extra energy,’” Norton says.
On hand to help Norton was the homeowner’s mother, who wielded a mitre saw to cut floor trim, then installed it herself. Norton’s daughters, out of school for the summer, dusted and helped Norton organize. The designer’s handyman set to work on the home’s unfinished lanai, a labor of love that took time from the interior project each day. Installers kept returning to check on their projects and to watch the progress.
“I build a vision of a project, but it always turns out better than the vision. There are always added pieces that you weren’t expecting,” Norton says. In this case, the added piece was the extra effort from everyone involved. “They just said, ‘Let’s make this work.’”
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1. Beginning her portion of the makeover with color, Norton took inspiration from the kitchen’s slate-colored floor tile. With a color-scheme percolating, Norton turned to Benjamin Moore Paints to come up with a color called Millstone Gray for the pop-out wall and surrounding area. For the opposite wall, Norton took her cue from the view outside, and painted it the neutral Yosemite Sand. Norton was pleased. “All of a sudden, the whole place looked warm, it felt right,” she says.
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2. The first team in was Innovative Home Electronics, which originally planned to outfit the home with the latest in ipod technology. Instead, they decided a flat-screen, surround sound and a six-disc DVD player were necessities. To hold this new equipment, Innovative Home Electronics brought in a carpenter who built a pop-out wall reinforced with two-by-fours.
Designer Kathy Norton checks out the view in the cozy corner.
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3. From late morning until sunset, hot sunlight floods the great room. But, covering the windows with blinds would block out the spectacular view. Norton turned to Kreative Kamaaina for a solution: solar blinds which reduce sunlight and heat, without blocking the panorama. Tortoise shell valances frame the windows. The company extended their plans to cover the windows in the kitchen to give the room a cohesive look.
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4. Glowing recessed lighting is the room’s most intriguing element. “I have to give credit to Pacific Ceiling Fans & Lighting’s Randal Uyeuntin. He suggested the lights to take advantage of the ceiling,” Norton says. She’s also appreciative of the electrician who reworked the light boxes three times. Before Norton arrived, the great room had one lamp. Now, five lamps illuminate. When Norton walked into Pacific Ceiling Fans, she immediately chose two lava-colored pendants for the eating area. And track lighting shines above the kitchen work areas.
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5. Pacific Imports International had the floors covered. With laminate ready to go, company floor specialists had another idea. Wouldn’t prefabricated bamboo flooring add to the beachside appeal? Absolutely, agreed Norton. “The homeowner said that if she were to pick any new floor, this is exactly what she would have chosen,” Norton adds.
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6. All of these carefully thought-out elements could not make a room cozy without somewhere to sit to enjoy them.
INspiration/Honolulu Design Center opened up its showroom and let Norton choose from its exquisite, yet livable, furniture. “Honolulu Design Center features sleek, functional, simple furniture. And, simple is good because it works well to create different spaces within one room,” Norton says. Within this room, she created a family seating area with a sectional arranged in two pieces, a children’s corner with shelving and Fat Boy bean bags, a “cozy corner” with a large round ottoman for relaxing, and a working desk area just inside the door, ready for mail. A new dinette includes modern-style seating and a contemporary light fixture.
Mahalo to these installers, contractors and suppliers who made this project shine: Painter: Marcelo Da Silva, of Primo Custom Painting, 368-6270 • Electrician: Ritchie Agustin, of REM Inc., 216-1240 • Carpenter: Orval Overby • Dry Wall Taper: Garrett Shak • Floor Installation: Chris Brenna, of Hawaii Hardwood Flooring, 306-3374 • Handyman: K & R Services, 206-6220 • Honolulu Design Center Sales Associate: Sandy Jenkins, 216-4752 • Volunteer laborer: homeowner’s mother, Penny • Window Treatments: In-house installers from Kreative Kamaaina
Sponsors
- Benjamin Moore Paints
10 locations on Oahu
1-888-BENMOORE
www.benjaminmoore.com - Innovative Home Electronics
Gentry Pacific Design Center, 2nd Floor
560 N. Nimitz Hwy.
548-4433
www.ihed.net - INspiration/Honolulu Design Center
2 locations on Oahu
1250 Kapiolani Blvd.
Honolulu, 956-1250
www.inspirationinteriors.com - Kathy Norton, of Design Management
92-1379 Palahia St., Kapolei
358-8855
designmgt@yahoo.com - Kreative Kamaaina Enterprises
1804 Hart St.
841-8731 - Pacific Ceiling Fans & Lighting Inc.
2 locations on Oahu
250 Ward Ave.
Honolulu, 597-8169
www.pacificceilingfans.com - Pacific Imports International
2612-B Waiwai Loop
833-7090
www.pacificimportsinternational.com
