The cream-colored molding framing the upper rims of rooms and rich-toned hardwood floors that gently creek underfoot—these are the characteristics that first attracted the homeowners to their charming Manoa home. Sitting quietly atop the valley’s sloping hillside, their space was ideal; but their growing family, frequent visitors and rainy location began to take its toll on the aging structure. The homeowners knew they needed to renovate, but they were worried the update would disrupt their home’s distinct, old-Hawaii feel.

The homeowners turned to the experts at design/build firm Homeworks Construction to help them restore their home without losing the inherent charm of its historical elements. The Homeworks team—including architect Mario Tadeo, project manager Heather Hickox, kitchen designer Sean Bradshaw, and selections and design assistant Tanny Esperas—spent several weeks with the homeowners brainstorming ideas for their home’s look, feel and functionality.

The spacious walk-in pantry and above-counter built-in storage makes for a convenient workspace, and allows bulky kitchen appliances to be hidden, while still close-at-hand.	This staircase, formerly on the outside of the house, was restructured and enclosed. The open banister with a combination of wood and white in the baseboards gives it a classic, old-Manoa appearance.
The spacious covered lanai is a great place to relax.	Gray and white ceramic floor tiles, a Victorian stand-alone sink, the plantation-shutter door and retro-green paint give the powder room its vintage look.

“We encouraged the owners to find inspiration everywhere they looked,” says Homeworks Construction’s Sarah Van De Vanter, who coordinated the project details and design with the homeowners. “We would drive around Manoa to look for homes with details that appealed to the homeowner. One brainstorming session actually led to a complete redesign of the plans, which we were just about ready to submit for a permit.  The owners decided to demolish the old kitchen and build a completely new showstopper in the new addition.”

Once the team identified the style and structural elements the homeowners were looking for, such as wrap-around columns for a lanai and batten-trim glass panes for a fresh twist on traditional windows, they got to work. To provide the homeowners with more living space and reinforce the structure of the house, the Homeworks team used the existing area under the home to carve out a downstairs extension including a master suite, a chef-style kitchen with updated appliances, a new great room and a spacious lanai for entertaining.

The open-shelf cabinets frame the kitchen, keeping show-worthy items conveniently on display and within reach of the workspace. A white subway-tile backsplash brings a modern twist to the classic, country-style kitchen.

Though the team faced several obstacles, they collaborated to find smart solutions for each one. The severely down-sloping lawn, for example, presented the team with some serious challenges. “The owners wanted to create a space that did not feel like a basement addition,” explains Marshall Hickox, president and chief administrative officer of Homeworks Construction. “They wanted large, open and dramatic rooms with plenty of light. As part of the design criteria, we couldn’t have any columns in the rooms nor visible beams on the ceiling. This meant eliminating many of the structural posts that held up the second floor, as well as implementing a strategic design to ensure that we could keep the 9-foot-plus ceilings throughout. This challenge was met by our design team as we engineered the beam spans and interior wall placement to capture every possible inch of height and room width.”

A massive boulder that the crew aptly named the “Rock of Gibraltar” protruded from under the house and could not be removed without risking damage to the existing structure.  The team used a chemical rock breaker, which they inserted into drilled holes to expand and break the rock apart. While working, the crew also discovered that several of the existing main structural beams were not continuous, forcing them to excavate deeper under the house and unearth mounds of dirt. To remedy this, they reused the dirt to level the lower part of the homeowners’ sloping property, creating a useful backyard. They also built a retaining wall with the broken pieces of boulder.

Gray honey-comb tiles and taupe-colored, beadboard cabinets add period-charm to the new master bathroom. An easy-access laundry room was installed adjacent to the master bath and the open-air lanai, allowing an effortless flow throughout the new addition.

The design team outfitted the new master bath and powder room with these brushed-nickel Seabury faucets from Grohe. The pinwheel knobs mimic old-fashioned lavatory faucets and are a lovely accompaniment to the design motif.

To make space for an open, chef-style kitchen, the team pushed the master suite down the hall and turned the former dining room space at the top of the newly enclosed staircase into a second bedroom.  A window was added under the stairs to provide additional light and ventilation to the addition.
Homeworks incorporated the look of old Manoa in every inch of the new addition—adding crown molding to the high ceilings, picture-frame trim to the windows, Ohia-wood floors and staircase with a square-edge baseboard, louvered doors and replicas of a classic tile on the bathroom walls and floors. Frosted glass sconces, beadboard paneling on doors and cabinetry, antique faucet fixtures and other vintage touches keep the new addition in sync with the original home.

To complete a seamless exterior transition, Homeworks extended and enclosed the upper level of the home and remodeled the front carport. Dried lei draping over the homeowners’ vintage Vespa scooter and the white-washed, beadboard-paneled front door set the tone for the interior’s old-Manoa style.

The Homeworks team gave these grand, state-of-the-art Pella windows some old-world charm by surrounding them with a thick, picture-frame border and battan-lining on the glass panels. The windows feature a wood clad interior and durable, weather appropriate aluminum clad exterior and mullion detail between the panes of glass to accomplish the look and allow for easy cleaning.

The design of the roof over the kitchen and lanai addition have the maximum pitch to give it the look of a traditional Hawaiian roof, inspired by Charles “CW” Dickey—an architect famous for developing a distinctive style of Hawaiian architecture.  From all angles of the home, from upstairs to down, the restoration is seamless. A complete remodel of the existing home’s exterior and carport enclosure with additional storage finished off the transformation and unified old to new.  

“The clients communicated clearly what they wanted in this space and trusted us to deliver their vision,” adds Marshall Hickox. “Facing unexpected conditions as you remodel an older home can be challenging. This is why it’s important to have some flexibility. It allows problems to be solved without wasting time, money or resources.”