Grand Entrance: The entryway and living room display the only two items salvaged from the original home: refinished ceiling beams and a stone fireplace. The 12-foot ceilings are  hallmarks of gingerbread-style construction.

“I remember this place as a 15-year-old,” says homeowner Tanya Froeber, of visits to Nuuanu Valley. “I remember really wonderful cottages. I loved the area for its lushness—always green, always pretty, with lots of flowers.” 

Froeber was a teenager when her father’s job brought her to Oahu from the Mainland. Though the family’s time in the Islands was limited, she opted to stay awhile longer. “Because this was the longest place I lived anywhere, I feel like this is sort of where I grew up,” she says.

Industrial Strength, Cottage Feel: Stainless-steel appliances, large-scale pendant lights (hand-picked by homeowner Tanya Froeber) and a giant goose-neck faucet give this kitchen a restaurant-quality look. Streamlined drawer pulls, a multicolored backsplash and warm-wood cabinetry contribute to its cozy feel. “It’s just not in me to stick with one particular style,” says Froeber.

Years later, after returning to the Mainland, marrying and starting a family, Tanya and her husband, Joe Froeber, along with their three children, moved back to Hawaii. “Joe said, ‘Let’s have an adventure.’ I said, ‘OK.’”

The couple’s adventure included renovating a dream home in the Nuuanu neighborhood Froeber remembered and admired. It also included some unforeseen challenges.

They purchased a 1930s gingerbread cottage and hired architect Tom Hackett to design a renovation plan. But the revamp wasn’t meant to be. When the demolition crew began tearing down interior walls to open the place up, the Froebers discovered their home was overwrought with termites. “It was not going to be something that could be renovated,” says Froeber. “It would have to be demolished. We had to start over.”

Beautiful Blend: Traditional crown molding, casement and baseboards and a farmhouse-style table give this dining room a “Mainland” look. But sliding glass doors reveal the Hawaii flora outside, while local artwork provides a finishing touch.

Distressing as it was, the couple sprang into action. They went back to Hackett, who helped them design a new home with the historical integrity of the old one in mind.

Someone would have to build it from the ground up. After a brief and unsuccessful attempt by their first contractor, the couple chose Chuck Siebenthal of Seven Valleys Design/Build to continue the job. “He was referred to us by a friend,” Froeber explained. “They said they really liked him. He was on-time, reliable, dependable and honest. And that’s what we were looking for.”

Eclectic Style: The light-filled guest bedroom reveals the homeowners’ multi-faceted tastes. From brocade-print pendant lamps to stripes to a pineapple-themed rug, it’s a well-thought-out mix.

Siebenthal wasted no time getting to work. He familiarized himself with the fixtures and building materials that had already been ordered. He got up to speed on the home’s building permits. He dealt with runoff issues on the property and did more demolition and framing. “He was confident. I mean, really confident,” says Froeber. “It was a bit stressful, but with his attitude and demeanor, I just felt like this was the right guy.”

Take one look at the home, and you’ll spot its crowning feature: a steeply-pitched roofline. Both the rise and the run (height and width of the roof pitch, respectively) measure 12 feet. What’s more, prefabricated trusses (beams that support a traditional flat ceiling) were not used in this home’s construction. “Most track homes in Hawaii are built with trusses because it’s faster and easier,” explains Siebenthal. But straight-across beams would have yielded a flat roof—not the triangular one the homeowners envisioned. Consequently, to craft the roof, every piece of lumber had to be cut and nailed into place.

Stay Awhile: Who wouldn’t want to sit here? This alcove provides another example of the home’s tropical-meets-traditional décor.

Inside the home’s living room and entryway, wooden beams embellish the high roofline. Refinished with dark stain, the beams are reclaimed from the original home. One of two items salvaged, (the other is the room’s original stone fireplace) the beams create an uplifting focal point and a traditional cottage feel.

“The architect did a great job on the big picture,” says Siebenthal. When it came to perfecting the home’s interior details, Siebenthal and his crew continued the good work. The Seven Valleys team carried out the kitchen plans and helped redesign parts of the bathrooms. Along the way, Siebenthal worked with Froeber to select additional custom finishes, fixtures and materials for flooring, countertops, lighting and more. “Some of the materials we selected were interesting, I think,” says Siebenthal.
“For instance, Tanya liked a pebble-stone floor. Normally you’d just find those stones on the shower floor. She wanted to extend it throughout the bathroom. I thought that was neat.”

Sleep Well: Peaceful blues, white trim, hardwood floors and natural shades provide a great backdrop for tropical fabrics and a traditional family portrait.

You might think that an entirely custom home such as this one would take longer than expected to build. Not so for the Seven Valleys crew. “In November 2007, Chuck gave us a projected move-in date of December 2008. He got us in the first of September ’08,” says Froeber.

How did they put it up so efficiently? “His guys, his son, Scott [the foreman on the job], and the crew were there each day when they said they would be,” says Froeber. “They kept things exactly on schedule.”

Master Bath, Master Craft: Chuck Siebenthal worked with Froeber to create the bath of her dreams, leaving no custom stone unturned. “Tanya liked a pebble-stone floor,” he says. “Normally, you’d just find those stones on the shower floor. She wanted them to extend through the bathroom. I thought that was neat.”

Right on time, the Froebers got the home they’d envisioned. “A cottage style is something we’re comfortable in,” says Froeber. “Chuck and his team helped us replicate a 70-year-old cottage style home, and were still respectful of its history. It feels right for me and my family.”