Modern, minimalist wengee cabinetry provides an effective storage solution for this small space. Homeowner Mick Cahalan likes it so much that he plans to install it in his Redondo Beach, Calif. home as well.

 When Mick Cahalan inherited his father’s Waikiki condo two years ago, he knew he wanted to update its 30-year-old appliances and décor. He just didn’t know what, exactly, he wanted.
“I can walk into a hotel room or somebody’s house and say, ‘That’s cool,’ but I couldn’t tell you how it got there,” says Cahalan, a pilot who lives in Redondo Beach, Calif., and vacations here in Hawaii. “There wasn’t anything specific I wanted other than for everything to be updated.”

Because he knew more about what he didn’t want—rattan furniture, floral patterns, light woods—than what he wanted, he decided to get professional help.

Cahalan interviewed several design firms before selecting Honolulu-based Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs for the renovation of the entire two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo.
Together they decided on a specific look for the condo’s décor: an upscale Island feel that blends modern lines with functionality.

Certified kitchen designers Rick Cowan and Tiare Noelani Cowan proposed combining dark cabinetry with light glass accents to create depth and texture in the 1,200-square-foot condo.
The light-wood cabinets, which hadn’t been updated since the building was constructed more than 35 years ago, were replaced with high-end wengee wood shelves and drawers. The outdated ceramic-tile countertops and backsplash were swapped with modern glass tiles that contrasted beautifully against the dark-wood cabinetry. Initially, Cowan wanted to take down two walls in the kitchen to open it up to the rest of the apartment. But after looking at the building plans, he discovered one of the walls housed a large concrete support column that couldn’t be removed. So he had to make the small space—not bigger than 75 square feet—seem more spacious. He achieved this by removing the doorway to the kitchen to give the room the appearance of more space. Then he installed a glass display case on one wall to allow natural light to flow into the kitchen while adding more dimension to the room.
“We were trying to make the kitchen feel a little bigger and let more light in,” Cowan says. “Now you can work at the sink and look over and actually see the ocean.”

Cahalan, who enjoys cooking, wanted more space in his kitchen. With an already-tight area, Cowan had to figure out a way to add more storage while minimizing clutter. So he added corner units and big, deep drawers perfect for large pots and pans.

It took about 15 months for the renovation, which included the kitchen redesign, to be completed.

“It’s really great,” Cahalan says. “It’s better than I ever imagined it to be.”

In fact, he loves the new design so much he’s replacing the cabinets in his Redondo Beach home with the same wengee ones he now has in his Waikiki condo.

“Basically, the apartment in Honolulu is nicer than my house,” Cahalan says, laughing.

Where to Get It

Featured Designers: Rick Cowan, CKD and Tiare Noelani Cowan, CKD, Allied ASID, of Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs
Backsplash: Glass splash in Rock Candy, from Evergreen by Debra
Cabinetry: Studio Becker, Collection E, from Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs
Cabinet lighting: Hera, from Servco Home & Appliance Showroom
Countertop: Silestone in Alenea gray, from Aloha State Sales
Faucet: Franke single hole pull-out, from Servco Home & Appliance Showroom
Flooring: 18-inch-by-18-inch limestone tile, from Bella Pietra
Microwave: GE Advantium cooktop, from Servco Home & Appliance Showroom
Range: GE Profile, 30-inch, slide-in electric range, from Servco Home & Appliance Showroom
Sink: Julien 3610 single bowl