Grandmas are full of wisdom. The common adages they pass on, such as, When life hands you lemons, make lemonade, or Haste makes waste, are always true, even if they are a little cliché. She might also remind you that, If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it—an old proverb that guided one grandmother’s new Nuuanu kitchen remodel.

Anderson replaced harsh, overhead fluorescents with soft lighting from pendants and recessed can lights. The homeowner added her own touch by painting the separate pendants to match.

When it came time to update her old, brown kitchen, she knew she didn’t need to start from scratch—especially when choosing a professional designer. Previously, Glenda Anderson, of Details International, had updated the home’s master bedroom and bathroom, as well as two first-floor bathrooms. Having enjoyed their working relationship, the homeowner presented Anderson with the kitchen challenge: to integrate old and new elements, while returning the kitchen to its classic, Old Hawaii feel.

Keeping with the If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it mantra, the homeowner wanted to remodel without changing the kitchen’s layout. “It had a good working triangle, plus I had a lot of storage. But, the kitchen was ugly, and the old appliances had to go,” the homeowner says.

“When there is no reason to change something, don’t change it,” Anderson adds. “You can mix the old with the new, and if you do a good job, they will look like they were meant to be that way from the beginning.”

While the basic layout would remain the same, several elements needed a face lift. The burlap-like wallpaper, beaten-up linoleum and dropped ceiling were out. The biggest problem was the unsightly, brown cabinetry, which was readily replaced with new, bright cream, Downsview Cabinetry. Anderson chose the company’s Victoria III design, known for its tailored molding, which offers the desired Hawaii-in-the-’20s feel. To accent the cabinetry’s cream tones, Anderson painted the trim and walls a cool celadon green.

“The kitchen brightens me up when I walk in. It is just so fresh and clean,” the homeowner says.

The sturdy cabinetry features the highest density fiberboard available, which won’t warp in the damp Nuuanu environment. Dovetail construction and marine-glued veneer make this cabinetry some of the best Hawaii has to offer. Plus, the Italian-made Downsview trusts its craftsmanship and materials so much that it offers a lifetime warranty on all the cabinetry’s moveable parts.

In the original kitchen, the homeowner relied on a large center island for preparation, serving and storage. Anderson upgraded the island with a warm maple butcher-block top. The wood’s Varnique finish makes it shine, and protects the block from wear and tear. The island’s ample storage was enhanced with pullout drawers. New, bar-style seating was added to the island’s opposite side, away from the storage and preparation areas. Seated here, grandchildren are out of the way, but close enough to chat with grandma.

Finishing touches revived the Old Hawaii feel. Bamboo laminate flooring replaced the linoleum. “After all these years, all the children and dogs and cats, we had the worst linoleum floor,” the homeowner says. The natural-looking bamboo laminate was installed before the rest of the kitchen construction, and readily stood up to the beating. Finally, Anderson covered a few accent walls with red wallpaper with a floral pattern. “Old Hawaii homes always used wallpaper. And, it really sticks in our environment,” Anderson says.

Restoring the kitchen’s simple style also restored its soul, Anderson says. “It’s Grandma’s kitchen. It feels like she should be cooking preserves.”