Kitchen Designers - Which one’s right for you?

The kitchen renovation is still one of the best investments you can make. Just turn to the latest home-improvement television shows for proof. If you’re ready to start your own remodel, you’ve come to the right place. Picking the right designer is the first step in making your dream kitchen come to life. Read on for advice from some of the best designers in the business. All have diverse backgrounds, distinct styles and years of experience. Whether you’re dreaming of a restaurant-quality culinary center or a minimalist masterpiece with storage to spare (or both!) there’s a designer whose style meets your needs.

 Tiare Noelani Cowan, CKD, Allied ASID & Rick Cowan, CKD

  Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs

Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs 1 location on Oahu, 1 location on the Big Island Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimiz Hwy., Suite 121A Honolulu, HI 96817 536-7739 www.archipelagohawaii.com info@archipelagohawaii.com Photo by David Croxford

Early last year, this brother-and-sister team (who originally worked for two different firms) merged their creative talents to form Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs. More than a year later, the business has really taken off; a result, says Rick, of the firm’s emphasis on teamwork. “We try to put a team together for each project, which includes the architect and contractor,” Rick says.” We feel that getting all of these players on board early gives the client the very best design possible.”

The most important element in a kitchen: RC: The family. Understanding how they cook, their pets, and their stage in life is the primary element in any kitchen. TNC: Function. It can be beautiful, but if it doesn’t function for the homeowner, it’s not a good design.

My favorite appliance: RC: I think the toaster oven is a truly overlooked appliance. It’s very versatile. I use mine to make everything from rubbed and marinated salmon steaks to tortilla pizzas.

The most offbeat thing a homeowner has ever asked for: One of Tiare’s clients asked for two dishwashers, one for storage and one to wash dishes. Rick’s client requested a dancing pole.

The best lesson I’ve learned through my work: RC: I am designing for the client. I may have the most outrageously creative and unique design ever thought up in the world of kitchen designers. But it if doesn’t work for the client, I need to rethink the design. The most unexpected thing to ever inspire me: TNC: Tree bark. There was a beautiful tree outside the client’s front door. The color scheme of the bark ended up being the color scheme for the client’s home.

Why I design kitchens: RC: It’s my creative outlet. I enjoy running in eight different directions at any given moment. The creativity ignites my artistic juices, the project management tasks my organizational skills … and the on-site troubleshooting with the contractor tests my problem-solving abilities. TNC: The kitchen is the hub of the home today. It sets the tone for the entire interior. It’s a place the family gathers and a place memories are made.

Mark Olson

JohnCookKitchens

JohnCookKitchens Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 215 B Honolulu, HI 96817 599-3533 www.johncookkitchens.com mark@johncookkitchens.com BC-20322 Photo by David Croxford

JohnCookKitchens company president and owner Mark Olson brings a construction and engineering background to the proverbial (kitchen) table. “My training is in construction—engineering training in college and 20 years in the construction and development industry before getting into kitchen design and remodeling,” he says. To complement his construction know-how, he employs four designers, all experts in their field, for a full-service experience. “Our staff is committed to excellence and exceeding our clients’ expectations,” he says. “If prospective clients ask for references, we offer them 15 to 20 previous clients instead of the usual two or three. Design awards are nice, but the greatest satisfaction comes in having our customers’ kudos for a job well done.”

Why I design kitchens: I like seeing the fruit of our work. Kitchen design and remodeling allows for creativity to become reality in a tangible form that we can see and appreciate. Many years ago I was in underground utility construction. We built beautiful pipelines, manholes and other underground facilities and buried them. No one saw them anymore. Kitchen design is so much better!

The best lesson I’ve learned through my work: Treat people honestly, fairly, and with respect and they will keep coming back. And they will also send their friends!

The most important element in a kitchen: That it fits the client. We are not building monuments to ourselves as designers. We are fulfilling a client’s dream. Sometimes it’s the only opportunity they will have in their lives to do this. The responsibility we have is great.

What I offer in my design process that makes me unique: We have four designers, two of which are certified kitchen designers, but we also are a licensed general contractor with our own installers. With this arrangement, we can offer our clients the comfort of only having to deal with one company for their projects.

My favorite appliance: The refrigerator, because it holds my food! Unfortunately, I love to eat, so I enjoy looking inside the refrigerator to choose something.

The most offbeat thing a homeowner has ever asked for: A client asked us to provide a kitty door from the outside to an open cabinet in the kitchen layout.

Glenda Anderson

Details International

Details International Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 104 Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: 521-7424 www.details-international.com detailsintl@gmail.com Photo by David Croxford

As the daughter of an artist and a builder, Glenda Anderson combines structural contracting knowledge with a creative flair. Her passion is to design for a harmonious home that reflects environmental sensitivity. This passion was fueled by her experience as an environmental motivational speaker in the ’60s and founder of Colorado’s Passive Solar Products & Design Inc. in the ’70s. Glenda also owned a catering company in Chicago that she says “... taught me the real functionality of cooking.” So it was no surprise when she launched her unique, holistic approach to kitchen design in 1981. Her designs and philosophy have been published in several national design books.

The design accomplishment I’m most proud of: There is no single project. We are most proud of the way we have used holistic design to improve lifestyles to create more harmonious and comfortable environments.

The most unexpected thing to ever inspire me: An artistic platter one of our clients bought in an art store. The dish inspired the concept of the kitchen through its color and movement.

My ideal client: One who loves to cook, have fun, appreciates creativity, and has interest in environmental issues.

Why I design kitchens: The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home, and we’re all about the heart. It has the most effect on people.

What I offer in my design process that makes me unique: Free consultations. Even if the client does not do business with us, we feel we’ve achieved something simply by pointing them in the right direction. We also offer complementary interior design services to our clients to integrate the kitchen with the rest of the home.

My favorite appliance: New technology ovens. They provide so many ways to sculpt food.

My own kitchen design: It’s a petite kitchen in a two-story condominium with pale yellow cabinetry and honed black granite countertops. The black and white checkered backsplash is hand-painted by local artist Thomas Dier to match my Mackenzie-Childs tea pot. The induction cooktop is a honey color to match the cabinetry, and there are hints of red accents around the kitchen. Overall the design is like a chic Manhattan apartment.

Susan Palmer, CKD, CBD

Susan Palmer Designs Inc.

Susan Palmer Designs Inc. 650 Iwilei Road, Suite 195 Honolulu, HI 96817 599-7606 www.susanpalmerdesigns.com info@susanpalmerdesigns.com Photo by Ryan Siphers

When working with Susan Palmer, her 25 years of design experience is only part of what you’ll get. She’s traveled the world over and lived in numerous places on the Mainland and in Asia, and brings inspiration from these adventures to the table. Throughout her career, she has won numerous accolades, including the Phil Zweedyk award and the first Hanohano Award for Best Kitchen at the 1994 NKBA Aloha Chapter design competition.

Why I design kitchens: While earning my interior design degree, a classmate informed me about the specialty design field, and the trade affiliation of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). I became intrigued with the mechanical design aspects coupled with the decorative details of residential dwellings. Later, I became NKBA Aloha Chapter president.

The most important element in a kitchen: The needs of the family or owner. If that element is overlooked, a designer is strictly decorating, not designing.

My favorite appliance: Miele coffee system with capsuls! You can offer individual coffee preferences, one cup at a time, with just the push of a button.

The most offbeat thing a homeowner has ever asked for: Install a spa in a closet! Just to clarify, the spa was for two people and the closet was a secondary, very large, walk-in closet! We were able to not only install the spa, but create a large, open shower as well.

My ideal client: Enjoys life, is interested in new ideas and trends, and appreciates the hard work that goes into creating the perfect environment for their homes.

Elisa Vollert, Allied ASID

The Kitchen Cabinet

The Kitchen Cabinet Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 216 Honolulu, HI 96817 599-3543 elisa@johncookkitchens.com Photo by David Croxford

Elisa Vollert has been designing kitchens for 17 years. Her foray into the trade came almost by chance. “I went to interior design school, but fell into kitchen design many years later,” she says. “I applied at a small kitchen-cabinet showroom in Kailua, got the job, and the owner worked with me on cabinet design and layout. The rest, as they say, is history.” Today, Vollert is a valued member of the team at The Kitchen Cabinet, a sister company of JohnCookKitchens, known for its high-quality design at affordable price points.

The most unexpected thing to ever inspire me: I moved back to the Mainland with my parents when I turned 18. They still owned a home in the area where we were going to live. My parents wanted to remodel the whole home so my mother hired an interior designer/space planner to help with the house. The transformation really amazed me. It went from a tired and worn old house to a beautiful home. I was so impressed I thought, “I could do that.”

Why I design kitchens: It’s challenging to create a room where homeowners once considered preparing meals a chore because their kitchen was old and depressing, and turn it around to a new space they love to be in, making cooking fun again.

The most important element in a kitchen: Function. It has to flow right. And, most importantly, the client has to be happy with the end result.

Heather O’Connor and Jennifer Medeiros, CKD

Hardware Hawaii Design Showroom

Hardware Hawaii Design Showroom 105 Oneawa St. Kailua, HI 96734 266-1133 www.hardwarehawaii.com hoconnor@hardwarehawaii.com jmedeiros@hardwarehawaii.com Photo by Ryan Siphers

At the Hardware Hawaii Design Showroom in Kailua, homeowners are welcomed by the wide array of flooring options, appliances and countertops expertly arranged in faux kitchens and baths. Kitchen designers Jennifer Medeiros and Heather O’Connor are on hand to help sort through all the choices. Medeiros became a kitchen designer after renovating her own, aided by her background in visual arts and art restoration. O’Connor honed her design skills during five years working for an architect at a custom kitchen boutique.

Why I design kitchens: HO: I’ve always considered myself more of a functional artist. I searched a long time for a career that combined creativity with practicality and problem solving. My first day on the job, I knew I was going to love it! JM: The practical nature of design combined with the creativity it demands is what I find so appealing.

My favorite appliance: HO: Definitely the gas cooktop. You can cook anything on one, even bread. JM: The built-in refrigerator. It combines beauty and function perfectly.

My ideal client: HO: Someone who has an open mind to creative solutions and design ideas. JM: Clients who present me with challenging projects that require me to tap into all of my creative and industrious talents.

The best lesson I’ve learned through my work: HO: My role as a designer is to guide people through the renovating or building process, so they end up with a space that makes them happy. JM: How to really listen. Every client is different, and even if they are working with the same space, they may want to make something totally different out of it.

The most offbeat thing a homeowner has ever asked for: JM: When selecting a countertop material, one client’s criteria included camouflaging what the chicken left behind. (Their poultry pet had the run of the kitchen.)

Alex Butchart, CKD

Highline Kitchen Systems

Highline Kitchen Systems 1276 Young St. Honolulu, HI 96814 589-1104 highlinekitchen@hawaiiantel.net BC-10299 Photo by Ryan Siphers

Current NKBA Aloha chapter president Alex Butchart lists construction and design as two of his passions, so it is no wonder that building beautiful kitchens brings him satisfaction. After earning a degree in construction management and working for general contractors for several years, he found his niche as a kitchen designer. He opened his company, Highline Kitchen Systems, in 1983.

Why I design kitchens: I can work with different people and help to improve the quality of their lives. I enjoy creating the new space, then watching it come to completion.

The most important element in a kitchen: One element does not define the kitchen. It is the combination of flow, texture, color and style that brings about the interest.

What I offer in my design process that makes me unique: I am open to most of my clients’ ideas and thoughts. I can expand on their ideas with my expertise and attention to detail.

My favorite appliance: A nice barbecue grill. It’s the perfect outdoor Hawaii kitchen.

My ideal client: A homeowner who allows me to design creatively, with enough confidence in me to give me the keys to the house and take a vacation while I complete the project.

Judy Dawson, CKD

DESiGNER Kitchens & Baths

DESiGNER Kitchens & Baths Honolulu, HI 734-2891 for appointment judy@judydawson.com Photo by Ryan Siphers

Judy Dawson has an artist’s eye for details, which she has masterfully applied to design for 21 years. She began as a painter, with a studio in Waikiki, then ventured into building with a degree in architectural design. Now, she exercises her creative side in kitchen and bath design.

Why I design kitchens: I love remodeling. I was always looking at other people’s spaces, thinking about the possibilities to enhance them. I began my career as a freelance artist, and later studied architectural design. This combination brings a special artistic touch to each design.

What inspires me: Natural colors and interesting shapes from nature. Plus, art steals my heart. It always delights me to include one artistic element or area, a place where homeowners can display their favorite painting or sculpture.

My own kitchen design: Is an inviting open space where friends gather. As a contemporary designer, I like to create spaces that flow naturally into adjacent living areas, creating a welcoming atmosphere.

The most important element in a kitchen: Spacious countertops.

The best thing I’ve learned through my work: Listen to my clients’ ideas. I can then take their thoughts and ideas, and blend them with my design concepts to create a unique design that perfectly suits their lifestyles.

SuJin Kwon

American Cabinetry

American Cabinetry 619 Mapunapuna St. Honolulu, HI 96819 838-7770 www.american-cabinetry.com sujin@americancabinetry.com Photo by Ryan Siphers

SuJin Kwon began as an interior designer, and worked with several companies in Korea designing, building and remodeling family homes. After both commercial and residential design experience, she decided to focus on kitchen design, and found a home with American Cabinetry when she moved to Hawaii. Kwon has earned her bachelor’s degree in Plant Industrial Technology from Sang-Myung Unviersity and her design degree from Seoul Interior Institute.

My favorite appliance: The wine storage system from Sub-Zero. My husband and I enjoy relaxing while having a glass of wine. I hope that Sub-Zero will offer me a nice discount after this interview.

The most unexpected thing to ever inspire me: While I was visiting Spain to tour the work of Antoni Gaudi, I saw a church that has been under construction for more than 100 years. Even though it wasn’t completed, his work totally awakened my senses. I was amazed by his creativity, ideas and not just design, but also the art form it represented.  

My ideal client: Someone who understands what he or she wants and needs and will trust my professionalism to provide the design and results that will satisfy them.

The best lesson I’ve learned through my work: Team work. The client, designer, manufacturer and contractor need to work in harmony to create a new environment.

Masanori “Mark” Shigei, AIA International Associate

Snaidero Hawaii

Snaidero Hawaii Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 120 Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: 599-4554 www.snaidero-usa.com Photo by David Croxford

Mark Shigei earned his credentials as a licensed architect in Japan before moving to Hawaii in 1985. He has always loved the modern, minimalist design Snaidero offers. Today, he’s Snaidero’s Hawaii dealer. “Snaidero is an Italian brand,” he says. “In Italy, the design trends change from one style to another every year, and we can find the latest, new design elements being created constantly. My goal is to introduce the latest, most contemporary style in the design industry now, and my kitchens always have design elements that are happening in Italy today, and even tomorrow.”

My ideal client: Knows exactly what the purpose is for the new kitchen. Is it a space to satisfy your joy of cooking? Is it a gathering place to entertain your beloved family and friends? Or, maybe it’s the ultimate contemporary eye candy for the home. The more clear the purpose is, the easier and faster the design process will be.

Why I design kitchens: I believe that expressing the client’s unique lifestyle can be perfectly accomplished with a well-designed kitchen space. I strive to create an amazing kitchen space that’s perfect for each client.

The best thing I’ve learned through my work: To be proactively involved with everything. I supervise all of my projects from start to finish as much as I can, and always keep myself updated on what’s going on.

The most important element in a kitchen: Lighting is one of the most important elements in the kitchen. Lighting can enhance the design, and determine the flow and the movement of the user.

What I offer in my design process that makes me unique: I provide my clients with a computer rendering in addition to my kitchen design plans. These graphic aids enable me to convey my ideas to the client more effectively and accurately. The colors and textures within a rendering can easily be modified if requested. I’ve been using this for more than 10 years and find it to be a very useful tool for both my clients and myself.

Marshall Hickox and Sean Bradshaw

Homeworks Construction

Homeworks Construction 2111 S. Beretania St. Honolulu, HI 96826 955-2777 mrh@homeworkshawaii.com www.homeworkshawaii.com BC-20040 Photo by Ryan Siphers

Homeworks Construction is a design/build firm, started by CEO Jim Byxbee in 1994 to fill Hawaii residents’ needs for custom homes. The company offers complete design/build services, including in-house kitchen design specialists and installation. President Marshall Hickox is Homeworks’ veteran kitchen designer, with a background in construction. Sean Bradshaw, who began his career building custom cabinetry, recently joined the team as kitchen and bath specialist.

What’s new: Homeworks Construction is moving! Come summer 2008, headquarters will be relocated to 2111 S. Beretania St. The new location will have a full kitchen and bath showroom featuring the latest design trends in cabinets, countertops, flooring and lighting.

The accomplishment I am most proud of: MH: Establishing an independent kitchen and bath division at Homeworks that provides quality remodels from start to finish. SB: With more than 112 kitchens and baths per year, we continue to provide new ideas to meet clients’ needs.

My ideal client: SB: Shows up at the first meeting with a scrapbook of what they like and dislike.

The best lesson I’ve learned through my work: SB: Share your expertise but remember in the end it’s your client’s kitchen.

My favorite appliance: MH: GE’s Smart Dispense Technology (in its Café dishwasher) is pretty cool. This thing adds soap on its own after figuring out how dirty your dishes are.

Michael L. Smith, CMKBD, Allied ASID

Kitchen Concepts Plus Inc.

Kitchen Concepts Plus Inc. Gentry Pacific Design Center 560 N. Nimitz Hwy., Suite 202 Honolulu, HI 96817 Phone: 524-6656 Lic# C-14709 Photo by David Croxford

Michael L. Smith of Kitchen Concepts Plus Inc. has been designing kitchens for more than 40 years. His training is in architecture and construction as well as interior design. He has garnered many awards during his long career, including the Sub-Zero/Wolf Hawaii Region Kitchen Designer for 2007/2008. He carries the title of certified master kitchen and bath designer, and his company continues to uphold a distinguished reputation for its attention to customer service.

My ideal client: Repeat clients are always important and have 100 percent of my attention.

Why I design kitchens: I love what I do. I enjoy the process of assisting clients in deciding what styles will fit their needs and what environments will be most liveable for them.

The most offbeat thing a homeowner has ever asked for: A client wanted me to cook his first dinner in his new kitchen. I thought that was interesting.

My favorite appliance: The dishwasher. I don’t like the cleanup job.

The most unexpected thing to ever inspire me: A client wanted a special dog house built within the layout of his cabinets. I was astonished. But it’s true that pets are an important part of our lives. So when I developed my new showroom, I had one made. The clients just adore the idea.