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Legend:A1-A4=Living Areas, B1-B2=Dining Areas, C=Kitchen, D1-D3=Bedrooms
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The world certainly turns, when viewed from the lanai’s 180-degree vantage point: Surfers jockey for position at China Walls. Rows of children enter Koko Head Elementary School. Shoppers and foodies bustle at Koko Marina. Tourists whiz toward Hanauma Bay.
But here, in this Portlock split-level residence, the stillness is palpable. The vibe, snug and soothing. The serenity, almost meditative. If walls could talk, these walls wouldn’t say a word.
Master bedroom: Influenced by hotel suites, it has a separate lounging area, wet bar and fridge, master bath and closet, access to the pool and, of course, heavenly privacy.
One kitchen, with everything: Multichef functionality, easy access to the garage, all-Viking appliances, and a perfectly framed view.
“We saw a lot of potential,” says Marshall Hickox, of Homeworks Construction, which facilitated the home’s renovation. “We wanted to create a lot of wide-open spaces, an atmosphere of continuity—without sacrificing privacy.”
His U-shape design is accordingly harmonious. Rooms and floor levels flow into the next. Lines of traffic are extra wide. The ceilings are comfortably high, with angles that draw the eye upward. A backyard waterfall blankets the interior with a steady, bubbling ripple of white noise. Skylights and windows catch the trade winds and natural light.
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Master bedroom: Influenced by hotel suites, it has a separate lounging area, wet bar and fridge, master bath and closet, access to the pool and, of course, heavenly privacy.
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To retain a sense of seclusion and retreat, Homeworks fully insulated the walls and installed dual-pane windows. “As soon as you close them, you can’t hear any exterior noise,” Hickox says. “And this ridge is above the roof line of the surrounding homes.”
To balance the floor plan’s openness, Homeworks inserted a clever series of nooks and crannies. Each one is defined by a slight change in floor level, position of the walls, building material, even type of furniture. As Hickox explains, they create “little areas of solitude.” And central to Homeworks’ design, they allow the homeowner great flexibility in the actual use of these spaces.
“We tried to create a scenario that fits a retired couple, or a house full of visitors, or a growing family,” Hickox says. “Many rooms have a double use, for example: the upper sitting area, with its view, is good for a morning paper and coffee and for a glass of port at night. It really works both ways.”
The foyer, he continues, is large enough to act as a dining area that “can easily fit a family of six.” The dining room could be a martini bar. One semienclosed space, with its full or partial view of the living areas, would make an ideal office, library—or nursery. A downstairs room, away from the main level, has its own bath and outdoor exit, a natural option for a guest bedroom. But if this were Hickox’s own house, “I would make it a full-on media/entertainment room,” he laughs.
For the kitchen and baths, functionality was the No. 1 priority. Homeworks’ kitchen designer, Sean Bradshaw, “makes it practical, makes it work and then makes it look good,” Hickox says. To the all-Viking appliances, Bradshaw added a prep sink to accompany the main sink so two cooks can work. He kept the fridge “on the perimeter, so guests can grab a drink, right next to the landing space for groceries,” Hickox says. “And the small wine fridge is just about a necessity today.”
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One kitchen, with everything Multichef functionality, easy access to the garage, all-Viking appliances, and a perfectly framed view.
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Aesthetically, the kitchen follows the rest of the home: angular and contemporary, with lots of movement and tropical warmth. Bradshaw chose cherrywood trim, merbau wood floors and granite countertops. “The tones are warm. At night, the house lights beautifully; the ambiance is super comfortable,” Hickox says.
Head toward the bedrooms, where the blend of functionality and aesthetics is grounded in common sense. For example, walking up from the garage, the turns are wide and soft. There are no door handles to manipulate but, rather, a big window to illuminate the path. The window, incidentally, frames a postcard-quality coconut tree across the street.
Near the three main-floor bedrooms is the laundry room. With sound-absorbing walls and a quiet washer/dryer, “you can do laundry in the middle of the night,” Hickox says. Across the hallway, Homeworks built a powder room—right next to a full bath. That way, he says, one bathroom can stay tip-top clean for guests while the other is in full use.
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An upper area with a view: Homeworks Construction added nooks and crannies to create "little areas of solitude."
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The master suite awaits at the farthest point of the U-shape design; fittingly, the sanctum sanctorum of this Zen Master home. Hickox explains, “I wanted to create a hotel suite, where you can close the door, let the guests or the kids take over, go to bed early if you want.” A lounging area, with a couch and TV, is defined from the bed area by a master bath and wet bar/mini fridge. “You don’t have to run out for a cold drink,” he says.
“It’s a wonderful home for a family,” Hickox adds wistfully, himself the father of a 3-year-old and a newborn. “When we finished this project, all the partners at Homeworks said, ‘Hmm, maybe we don’t want to sell it,’ because it fits everyone’s lifestyle. We all wanted dibs on it. It’s just an ideal home.”�
