Bill and Kiki Emery lived in the same quiet Enchanted Lake neighborhood for nearly two decades, unaware of the magical water world located just across the street. “We told our neighbors, ‘you never told us about your view,’” says Kiki, a flight attendant for Hawaiian Airlines. “Soon we started coveting the lake.”

When the home across the street went up for sale one day, Bill, a contractor and the owner of Emery Construction, rushed over to put in an offer. While the view was indeed amazing, there were still going to be some serious challenges with the property.

Daily living and entertaining are a breeze as form meets function in this richly-appointed gourmet kitchen. Custom-designed cabinets, featuring mango wood with African mahogany trim, offer plenty of storage space.

“The home was abandoned for a number of years and the property was falling into disrepair. It was termite-, rat-, mold- and mildew-infested, so it was considered a teardown,” says Bill, who began doing carpentry work when he was a teenager and now has more than 40 years experience in homebuilding. “We could have backed out, but we bit the bullet and decided to go for it. We wanted to make it our dream home.”

The Emerys joined forces with architect Linnea Brooks, of custom home design firm Brooks and Brooks Inc. Bill’s vast knowledge of construction methods, details, materials and products assured that quality would not be compromised. According to Brooks, the easiest thing about working with Kiki and Bill was that they had similar design goals.

The guest bathroom has seashore-themed finishes and smart storage nooks.

“Making the most of the lake view was very important to them,” says Brooks, who came up with the high-ceiling design and 8-foot high windows and doors. Lake views are accessible in the majority of the rooms in this two-story home, including all three upstairs bedrooms. 

It’s that amazing view that visitors notice first upon entering the home through the custom-designed etched glass doors. The outdoor patio leads to an emerald-tiled, infinity-edge pool, which appears to flow into the vastness of the lake. A gurgling water feature, framed by inviting tropical landscaping, cascades into the pool. Large bi-folding doors open from the spacious living room, fully revealing the lake view and effectively bringing the outdoors in.

“In our old home, we were confined with a fenced backyard. Now, it’s so nice to wake up in the morning, sit out there looking out at the lake with a cup of coffee and enjoy open skies and vistas,” says Bill.

The lake views weren’t the only consideration when the Emerys designed this home. “The rooms not only have spectacular views, but casement windows allow significant cross-ventilation throughout the home keeping things cool. Air conditioning is not necessary here,” explains Bill. “We also vented the attic, used TechShield Sheathing and R19 Insulation so the attic stays cool. The wood shingle roof helps, as opposed to asphalt shingle.”

Smart design features continue throughout the home. The focal point of the kitchen is
the rich, mango-wood cabinets with African mahogany trim designed by Kailua’s Hanan Katz. “It’s bold and something you don’t see very often,” says Bill. With plenty of storage options, the kitchen was designed for efficient daily living. The wide pullout drawers built right next to the dishwasher are the perfect place to store dishes.

Function meets form in this residence, and it is obvious this is a “builder’s home.” Bill personally built every piece of the mahogany staircase. “Everything was milled on site, except for the handrail,” he says. “Finishing work is the type of work I enjoy. I’m a carpenter by trade. I still wear my toolbelt.”

This unique, barrel vault window overlooking the second floor landing frames a spectacular view of Mt. Olomana.

From the kitchen to the garage to the upstairs, there is smart storage throughout this home. A walk-in closet off the master bedroom and connected to the master bathroom provides generous storage space for Bill and Kiki. It also features a built-in ironing board and chute leading to the laundry room below.

The Emerys have a 12-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter who were thrilled to select their upstairs room colors and bathroom vessel sinks. Their son chose a blue theme, while their daughter’s room aptly reflects Bill’s nickname for her, “lavender girl.”

Bill and Kiki knew exactly what they wanted when designing and building this special home, but there was one surprise. While Kiki’s office on the second floor currently boasts a unique barrel vault window, the original design featured a smaller window overlooking the street below.

“Once Bill framed it, he realized there was a gorgeous view of Mt. Olomana,” recalls Brooks. “So he decided he wanted the window to be bigger, so that’s what we did.” The picture-perfect view of Mt. Olomana is now the focal point of the second-floor landing.

“It’s every carpenter’s dream to build a home for his family,” says Bill. “I feel so fortunate to be able to do that in a neighborhood we already enjoy living in. Right across the street.”