The Bunk House

Exterior Photo Courtesy of Brooks & Brooks Inc.,
Interior Photo by Linny Morris
Custom Home Designer: Linnea G. Brooks, of Brooks & Brooks Inc.
Custom Contractor: Sutton Construction

BEFORE

Before: “It was an outdoor structure that was really ugly,” says Brooks. “It was a party pavilion full of bottles. To transform it, we ended up tearing most of it down and reusing the existing slab.”

AFTER: “We brought it to life and made it a beautiful living space. It is its own structure with its own bathroom. The bunk beds sleep six people, three on each side, with a desk between the bunks.”

HOW THEY DID IT: “When we rebuilt the structure, we raised the ceiling height to 10 feet to allow for more head height for the bunk beds,” says Brooks. “The big wood sliding glass doors came from the owners’ other home, which they were renovating at the same time.” Brooks custom-designed the bunk beds and had the top bunk railings crafted to match the railings outside the home. There’s even a separate door to the outside from the bathroom for easy rinsing after coming in from the beach.

House Above the Water

Photo by Scott T. Kubo
Design/Build Contractor: Homeworks Construction

BEFORE: “Built in 1970, the property spent 17 years as a rental home with no upkeep, no updated amenities or remodeling of any kind. The former lanai space was dark and uninviting with brown carpet and brown lap-siding. Three large brick columns, painted stark white, along with poorly planned landscaping features further blocked potential views,” says Marshall Hickox, of Homeworks. To boot, “the exterior doors and windows were all unusable, the roof was past its prime and the gutters leaked,” says Hickox. “Exterior siding, trim and fascia had rot, termite damage or were missing. The pool plaster, decking, coping and lanai needed to be replaced.”

BEFORE

AFTER: The space is now a great place to enjoy the outside without feeling separated from the interior amenities.

HOW THEY DID IT: “Lighter, more earthy colors were used on the exterior to prevent heat absorbtion. The board-and-batten exterior gives some architectural height to the single story, and it’s also easy to maintain. New quartzite decking throughout provides a safe, non-slip surface for the newly tiled pool. A cobalt-blue tile was chosen for its lagoonlike feel at night and ability to mimic the ocean’s colors during the day. A new shake roof will keep this house cooler and be easier on the electric bill. Seamless copper gutters and downspouts are used for aesthetics, but are also very durable.”

Asian-Inspired Space

Photo by Augie Salbosa
Designers: Rick Cowan, CKD, of Archipelago Hawaii, refined island designs, with Carolyn Pace

BEFORE: The entry to the kitchen was disjointed. “A tall oven and storage cabinetry divided the space,” says Cowan. The décor, layout and finishes were also outdated.

AFTER: “The kitchen is now more open and inviting, connected to the other living spaces, with distinct Asian influences and a brand-new color palette.”

BEFORE

HOW THEY DID IT: The design inspiration stemmed from the client’s large, Chinese wooden hutch, shown against the back accent wall. A unified Asian theme is recognizable throughout, anchored by a custom-built shelving space (also against the back wall), built with a glass backdrop to highlight the homeowner’s teapot collection. The homeowner did not want tall refrigeration or tall cabinets, so all refrigeration units are located under the counter. Beautiful new finishes, including soapstone countertops and porcelain tile flooring, now grace the space without overwhelming it. Finally, a custom-built Shoji storage cabinet (left corner) now houses many of the homeowner’s dishes and incidentals.

A Kitchen Worth the Move

Photo by Ryan Siphers
Designer: Randall Omoto, of Homeowners Design Center

BEFORE: "It was a small galley kitchen. You actually had to enter through the garage to get to it," says Omoto. "And there was no view from the kitchen."

BEFORE

AFTER: "It's much more spacious. Now, they actually have a window to look out of, which is nice. And they have a prep area, a large cooking area and a cleanup area. So it makes a lot more sense."

HOW THEY DID IT: Omoto recommended moving the kitchen to replace an adjacent dining room in order to free up more space and add square footage. He also updated the look of the kitchen, with new, modern finishes and fixtures and added more cabinetry for lots of storage space.