Natural materials, custom -wood accents, such as valances and a sliding cabinet door, and eco-friendly countertops give this kitchen an air of laid-back cool. Select accessories provided by Red Bamboo.

Sometimes, it’s good to be materialistic. Case in point: this North Shore kitchen remodel, in which designer Tiare Noelani Cowan, CKD, Allied ASID, of Archipelago Hawaii, Refined Island Designs kept the look clean with multitextured, monochromatic surfaces. “The homeowner likes natural products. And she is big on earth tones,” Cowan explains. “She loves browns and greens.”

The homeowner also advocated using recycled and renewable products wherever possible. “We have recycled Ice Stone countertops (a post-consumer concrete and glass product), cork flooring (a renewable resource) and LED lighting throughout,” says Cowan. “We retrofitted all of her existing can lighting with LED.”

The result? A relaxed, open space that’s eco-conscious, interesting and just plain cool.
It wasn’t always that way. Before Cowan began the room’s transformation, “It was bad,” she says. The kitchen had white ceramic countertops and a large, awkward walk-in pantry that jutted out into the middle of the room. “It was not functional … very chopped up and not very eye pleasing.”

To give the space a unified feel, they knocked down the imposing pantry. In its place, the team built a new cabinetry unit against the wall. The more streamlined shape inspired a better flow throughout the kitchen while addressing the homeowner’s need for pantry storage.

The Archipelago team also constructed a large, eat-in kitchen island, to scale with the rest of the space. “She wanted a big work surface on her island because she has small kids,” explains Cowan, “and she wanted a place where they could work on projects as they grow.” What’s more, with the large work surface, the homeowner can prep food at one end, at a safe distance from the kids at the other end.

Cowan also incorporated storage space for cookware and dishware. “We have lots of storage underneath the island so her pots and pans fit underneath,” says Cowan. “In keeping with the sleek feeling, we have hidden cabinet doors under the island so the homeowner can store things she doesn’t need to get to all the time.”

The cabinetry comprises the signature point of interest. “Because it’s such a big space, I didn’t want to go with one wood,” Cowan says. “I felt it was important to break things up, so it didn’t feel monotonous.” To that end, she framed the cabinetry in dark, matte-finished teak. To add contrast, cabinet faces were done in a light-color, high-pressure laminate with a dramatic horizontal wood-grain pattern. For a modern pop, Cowan added a freestanding china cabinet and two vertically opening shelving units with frosted-glass fronts. Stainless-steel appliances and hints of stainless on drawer pulls, cabinet pulls and select cabinet framing offer just enough glint.

Underfoot, cork flooring feels at home in this room. “The cork is such a nice product in the kitchen because it’s so soft, so it’s great on your feet,” says Cowan. “It’s easy to maintain, it wears really well and it’s a green product.” What’s more, while cork’s earthy-brown hue adds a monochromatic touch to the surroundings, its erratic pattern and texture provide contrast to the cabinetry’s high-gloss finish. “This is a pretty monochromatic kitchen, but it’s texturally interesting,” says Cowan. “You have a horizontal grain on the cabinetry and a different pattern on the floor. They add interest, even though they’re similar in color.”

All-in-all, the mixed materials create a minimalist, but balanced and interesting look—and a distinct designer touch. Cowan’s advice to other homeowners looking for easy, sophisticated style? Don’t be afraid to mix things up. “It’s not really about matching,” she says. “It’s about creating interest and balance.”