The view is inspiring from the 18th floor of this Ala Moana harbor condo. Surfers, sailors and the sunset are all visible from the lanai. Unfortunately, the condo’s original interior wasn’t nearly as awesome. Built in 1971, it was the epitome of ’70s style—a dark, closed-off kitchen, textured ceilings and drab décor. The homeowners needed help, so they took the advice of a friend, who recommended Michael L. Smith, CMKBD, of Kitchen Concepts Plus.
“I had been in his showroom many times,” says homeowner Maxine Gallup, so she knew just where to go when she was ready to remodel. Gallup was also ready with ideas, which included bright, cheery cabinets and moving a sink. Smith was interested in her ideas, she says, and his extensive knowledge of renovating a condo proved highly beneficial.
Smith has designed and updated kitchens in Hawaii for 40 years. Throughout his career, he has often worked within the constraints of condominiums. “In a condo, homeowners can’t do major renovations. Condos share common walls, and the space can’t be expanded,” Smith says. His solution for turning an outdated kitchen into a place to cook and to entertain? Make the space look bigger by reconfiguring the layout.
Smith began by tearing out walls that fenced in the kitchen. The room now connects seamlessly into the rest of the home, and it captures that amazing ocean view. Marble tiles cover the floor from the kitchen, through the entryway and into the bathroom, adding to the space’s larger appearance. Smith’s new layout also increased the kitchen’s size visually. Instead of a U-shape design, with the sink at the far end and room for just one body, he decided a galley-style kitchen would work best. The resulting hallwaylike kitchen features a cooktop, oven and refrigerator on one side, with a large sink on the other.
To replace the overwhelming mahogany cabinets, Gallup and Smith chose light, maple cabinets with a white mist stain from Hillcraft Cabinets. These custom cabinets can be made within an eighth of an inch, which is important when building for small, precise spaces, Smith says. To provide contrast to the light cabinetry, Smith installed Galaxy black Zodiaq countertops. He added a long countertop that curves into the living space, connecting the two rooms. “The homeowners wanted to have a nice area for people to sit together while they are working in the kitchen. They want to be part of the group,” Smith says. The ceiling directly above it mimics the curve.
In addition to creating a sense of spaciousness, planning multipurpose areas maximizes condos’ minimal square footage. For example, in Gallup’s home, Smith designed the bar as an eating area and office space. He added a cabinet for wireless Internet nearby, and tucked a wireless printer in the closet. On the wall behind the bar, Smith installed a display case and liquor cabinet. Underneath, he placed cabinets for files.
“I am proud of this kitchen,” Smith says. The homeowner is equally pleased. “I think this kitchen is gorgeous,” Gallup says. Working with Smith made the difference. “I am so happy with the way he led the way. He really took into account my wants and needs.”
Where to get it
Designer: Michael L. Smith, CMKBD, of Kitchen Concepts Plus
Cabinets: Hillcraft Cabinets, contemporary, maple in a white mist stain, from Kitchen Concepts Plus
Cooktop: Jennair 30” gas slide-in range
Countertops: Galaxy black Zodiaq by DuPont, from Kitchen Concepts Plus
Dishwasher: Bosch Sensotronic Integra four-wash cycle
Hood: GE Profile 30” slide-out hood and fan
Microwave: GE Profile 27” built-in
Oven: GE Profile 800-watt Micro Sensor
Refrigerator: GE Profile 36” side-by-side custom-style refrigerator/freezer
Sink: Franke professional 16-gauge single bowl
