While granite countertops and stone tile backsplashes created an elegant contrast, the homeowner wasn't particularly fond of the bright white outlet and light switch plates. So, he painted the himself to blend in.

 These Kahala homeowners wanted their new house to be great. More specifically, they wanted it to have a really grand great room. They wanted the room to include a masterfully designed kitchen that gracefully flowed into the dining and sitting areas. Those spaces had to seamlessly transition to the back yard, which included an expansive lanai and the Waialae Country Club golf course beyond.

A wide-open floor plan provided the basic great room. Two walls of sliding glass doors achieved the smooth indoor-to-outdoor flow. But to plan the designer kitchen, the homeowners needed a pro.

Luckily, they already knew just the right designer: Glenda Anderson of Details International. Great rooms are one of her specialties. “We don’t like to think in terms of dining room versus living room versus kitchen. Our designs encompass the whole great room,” Anderson says. Most families in Hawaii don’t have formal kitchen and dining areas, she explains. In great rooms, kitchens are visible to the seating and gathering areas, so all of the elements must be functional, as well as good-looking.

The homeowners’ first request was a large, central island, but the home’s original design didn’t allow for one. Anderson made room by decreasing the size of an adjoining laundry room. The island she designed is a furniturelike piece covered in rich alder-wood panels and topped with quartz-composite CaesarStone. It is also the kitchen’s central command post—everything is within reach. On top is a brawny cooktop. Underneath the counter are rows of open shelves to hold pots and pans. Next to the cooktop, Anderson included a small sink with extendable faucet, perfect for draining, rinsing and filling pots for pasta. The fridge is directly behind where the chef stands.

To frame two sides of the kitchen, Anderson chose Details’ signature Downsview Cabinets, in soft Savoya off-white. Green butterfly granite countertops offer a warm contrast to the light cabinets. Guests can sit at a countertop bar for informal dining, or it can serve as a buffet during parties. Below the window, overlooking the pool and party area, Anderson placed a large, single-basin sink to keep dirty dishes away from the food-prep stations."

Finishing touches, such as carved laurel columns beneath the sink and island, and beautiful Sub-Zero/Wolf appliances, make this kitchen warm and inviting. That was exactly Anderson’s intention. “We are in a great room, where your kitchen is your living space,” she says.
But what about hungry and thirsty family and guests who choose to relax outdoors? Anderson had a solution here as well.

Outside, a beachy cabana nestled into the corner of the lot offers a whole other venue for cooking. For the secondary kitchen, Anderson incorporated the outdoor environs into the TK Downsview cabinets with inlaid woven fiber door panels. Although the wooden cabinets need some room to expand with moisture, the laminate interiors will withstand termites and a lot of humidity. For the al fresco chef, the cabana includes a Viking grill (not humongous, just the right size, Anderson says) in a travertine tile countertop.

Guests enjoy food fresh from the barbecue, as well as the relaxing view of the Waialae Country Club golf course.

When the home’s doors are open to the lanai, the great room extends from indoors to out. “You don’t even know when you are going from inside to outside because we’ve designed such a comfortable flow,” Anderson says.

Where To Get It

Designer: Glenda Anderson, of Details International
Cabinetry: Downsview Cabinets in Savoia glaze (indoor) and TK (outdoor), from Details International
Countertops: CaesarStone, from Details International, and butterfly green granite
Lighting: Juno lighting, from Details International
Island: Alder wood Downsview Cabinets in Savoia glaze
Refrigerator freezer: Sub-Zero side by side, from Sub-Zero/Wolf
Cooktop: Wolf rangetop, natural gas six-burner, from Sub-Zero/Wolf
Oven: Wolf 30”, from Sub-Zero/Wolf
Microwave: Wolf micro-convection oven, from Sub-Zero/Wolf