The Kauai Remodel was a “down to the studs” remodel that included a sizable addition. This gave us a chance to redo everything. Kitchen, bathrooms, all surfaces… and introduce some really cool materials as well. Choosing granite for the countertops was really fun because this house was on the Wailua river and we wanted our stone and tile choices to somehow reflect that “state of place.”

For the new bathroom that was a second floor addition we chose a soothing green granite called Caribbean Moss. This choice brightened the room and blended well with the Seagrass tiles we used for the shower and wainscot. We also used the Caribbean in a the lower level powder room.

In the master bath the owners had requested that we use a gold Onyx as part of our tile selection. To coordinate with the Onyx decided to go big and bold with the granite countertop material and chose a granite called Tornado. The Tornado had the rich yellow tones of the Onyx in it but also red and black of the antique chinese chest we converted to vanity. So it was a perfect match.

Last but not least, the kitchen. The kitchen has such a prominent role in the house that we knew we had to choose the perfect stone for the counter tops. Finally we narrowed our choices down to just a couple. But still, I didn’t think we’d found the perfect granite. Then we stumbled upon the Grande Fossil… named for the fossils imbedded in it. We chose a natural leathered surface. To us, this granite spoke of ancient seas and rivers, and it bended in very well with the cherry tones of the cabinetry and the Koa wood floors.

Getting the granite materials shipped from the mainland was a bit of an adventure in itself, but fabrication went smoothly and we were very pleased with the granite choices for the Kauai House. Design and Build by Trilogy Partners and Azaya Design. For more photos of the Kauai Project please visit the Kauai Photo Gallery.

The Kauai House was surrounded by jungle. Or that’s what it felt like. Dark and dank, there was a rotting trellis and an old, termite infected Gazebo. It was landscaping grown old and out of control. The idea was to open everything up and create outdoor living space that would really be used by family and guests.

East Side Before

We planned a water feature just off the west side of the Lanai.

West Side Before

The Gazebo had seen better days and would go. We would remove and store many plants, cut down overgrowth, and lighten up this space considerably.

East Side Before

The East Lawn after the transformation. May Balinese pieces. Lots of light. A fun place to be.

This is where the gazebo once sat. We actually removed and replanted some large palm trees to bring in the light.

This is where the trellis once stood. It’s hard to believe that these plants and features and lawn hide a really challenging put-put golf course.

The West Side water feature including “The Goddess”

The Goddess of the river brings good fortune to this house on the Wailua.

Landscape design by Land Design Collaborative and Trilogy Partners. More photos in the Kauai House Photo Gallery.

The lower level bathroom in the Kauai house served two bedrooms as well as the rest of the main floor. It was small and cramped.

Lower Level Bath Before

The bathroom featured an tile mural of an undersea world.

Lower Bath Before

A slab of Monkeywood as a freestanding counter and black onyx sinks help transform the look.

The room was expanded by creating a covered outdoor bathing grotto.

Featuring a carved stone tub from Bali.

And double showers.

More Kauai Before and After posts to follow. Visit the Kauai Remodel Gallery for more great photos of this fantastic project. Design by Trilogy Partners and Azaya Design.

One of the most exciting features of the Kauai house is the lower level Lanai with its great river views. But it was sorely in need of an update.

Lanai Before

We opened up the entire wall between the lanai and the rest of the house, installing folding glass doors. We also installed motorized screens so the Lanai could be used at night, when the mosquitoes come out to play.

We pulled up the old red brick tile and installed new tile in a “river” pattern.

The Lanai becomes a western style dining area as opposed to the Tatami dining area (foreground.)

The lanai new lanai may now be the most used room in the house with it’s great views of the river.

And the gardens. The “river”pattern snakes across the floor toward a water feature.

A water feature occupied by the Goddess fountain.

More Kauai Before and After posts to follow. Visit the Kauai Remodel Gallery for more great photos of this fantastic project. Design by Trilogy Partners and Azaya Design.

Here are some rather dramatic before and after photographs of the remodel Trilogy and sister company Azaya Design did in Wailua, Kauai last year. The home was reconstructed in 1991 after it was devastated by hurricane Inniki. Since then the kitchen hadn’t been touched. The cabinetry was white melanine. The layout was claustrophobic. The plan was to modernize the kitchen by opening it up to the adjoining living areas including a Tatami Dining area, the Great Room, and the Lanai which faced the river.

Kitchen Before Remodel

Kitchen Before Remodel

We designed the kitchen with help from Kitchenscapes and Green Tea Design, which furnished the very authentic Japanese “tansu” style cabinetry. (Click on any photo for a close up.)

The countertops are a granite aptly called “Fossil.” The kitchen features Dacor Appliances including a 48″ cooktop with downdraft vent and a 48″ refrigerator and double wall ovens with convection.

We opened up the kitchen to the living room and the raised tatami dining area (visible at top of photo.)

An antique table we ordered from Green Tea Designs serves as a prep island. The flooring is Sea Grass from Arizona Tile which has been flamed to raise the grain. The Balinese wall hanging is backlit to accentuate the hand carved features.

Below, the kitchen as viewed from the Tatami Dining area. Lanai to the left. The Lanai serves as a traditional dinging counterpoint to the tatami dining area. The home is a fusion of many cultures including Hawaiian, Japanese, and Balinese.

More Kauai Before and After posts to follow. Visit the Kauai Remodel Gallery for more great photos of this fantastic project. Design by Azaya Design and Trilogy Partners.