A light, clean palette helps this kitchen feel extra open. Plus, with low-maintenance finishes like Caesarstone countertops, lacquer cabinetry and bamboo laminate flooring, upkeep is effortless.

G. W. Sarginson owns two condos in the same Waikiki building, each with two very different kitchens. The larger of the two was remodeled 11 years ago by Details International, and “still looks brand-new,” he says. The other kitchen, in the smaller one-bedroom, however, hadn’t been touched since it was built more than 30 years ago.

Is blue neutral? In designer Glenda Anderson’s opinion, it is. “In Hawaii, the blue of the ocean and the sky, if you have windows, is always present in everyone’s décor. Just look outside! It’s something not everyone uses, but it’s there.” Here, blue pops against traditional, creamy neutrals.

“It was like walking into a cave,” Sarginson says. Dark-teak cabinetry and dated finishes made the tightly enclosed space feel more dreary—the exact opposite of Sarginson’s style. To go lighter and brighter, he turned once again to the designers at Details International. Having worked with him before, designer Glenda Anderson already had an idea of Sarginson’s likes and dislikes. With co-designer Nicole Puakea, the two teamed up to give Sarginson the cheery—not dreary—kitchen he was looking for.

The first thing to go was the big, bulky wall that separated the kitchen and living room. A spacious island now takes its place while allowing light from the large living room windows to fill the kitchen. Opening the kitchen to the living area dramatically improved the flow of the space and instantly made the whole condo feel larger.

Anderson and Puakea chose an unexpected, deep-sea blue for the island, which anchors—and provides contrast to—the otherwise neutral-hued space. “The blue really adds depth and dimension to the whole place,” Puakea says.

FLOOR PLAN AFTER

FLOOR PLAN BEFORE Even though the general configuration of the kitchen remained the same, replacing the divider wall with an island changed the feel of the entire condo.

The island also features lots of storage, an undercounter oven and a microwave drawer, which allows you to place items in it without having to bend down. The team moved the refrigerator from its former place in the dividing wall to a wall of cabinetry near the condo entrance. Its fully integrated front allows it to blend into the wall, which now also features a nice art niche and landing area when entering the home.

Around the perimeter of the kitchen, the team chose custard-color lacquer cabinetry. While the configuration of the back wall, which includes the sink and a stacked washer and dryer hidden behind doors, remained the same, it was updated to look better and to be more user-friendly. The team extended the wall’s mirror backsplash into the adjoining dining area—floor to ceiling—to make the kitchen look twice as large from certain angles. They also enlarged the pass-through between the kitchen and living room to allow for more light, more interaction and a better view to the outdoors.

“In a small space, you have to create the illusion that it’s larger than it really is,” Anderson says. “Light and openness are critical.” For this condo kitchen, the team managed to achieve both in abundance. Sarginson plans to rent the condo for now, but with all the improvements, he may just move in one day. “It’s 100 percent better,” he says.