'The digging stick bay'

5,231 SF Residence, 3 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths
study, two lanais, attached garage.

Featured in:
Ilbagno June 1999

 

   Spur-of-the-moment vacations are a snap with this beachfront vacation home in the heart of Maui’s Golden Coast. Designed for a Mainland inventor with an exceedingly active wife and brood, the two kitchens - one indoor, the other outside - are the focal point of the house. The interior kitchen is geared for heavy traffic, and boasts granite counters, two sinks, two dishwashers, two ovens, one stove, a microwave, and a 36” Sub-Zero refrigerator with energy saving bottom freezer drawer... the laundry room waits just around the corner. Top-of-the-line Siematic cabinets planned by West Maui Cabinets line all four sides of this very efficient space. A large covered lanai provides protection from the intense Lahaina sun and powerful Tradewinds while wet, salty, sandy family members gather ‘round the BBQ: An under counter refrigerator keeps snacks and cold drinks handy, and the stainless steel sink makes wash-up easy.

   Street access to the home is controlled through a custom copper gate. Stucco exterior walls are set between faux coral concrete columns supporting a concrete tile roof. Double entry doors of solid Honduras mahogany carved by local Christopher Burke greets guests at the far side of a faux stone stepping path. Storage and powder room windows on both sides of the entry doors are hidden by a tile detail that creates a light pattern within each interior space. The Hawaiian Island chain carved out of granite by stone crafter Martin Nunez is set into the entry travertine floor. A cathedral ceiling of light-stained rough-sawn Douglas Fir supported with trusses by Truss Systems  tops the living room, and rough sawn cedar composes the kitchen and lanai ceilings. Custom low-voltage lighting by Rae Douglass is suspended from the living room ceiling and flanks both sides of the entertainment center fish sculpture.

The master bedroom is reached to the left of the entry. Separated from the bathroom by a ¾ height wall, the bed is inset into the wall, creating a 9’-tall headboard. Glass blocks form the exterior shower wall and allow light in while maintaining privacy on the narrow lot. The same granite was used on the floor and two-sink counter. A hallway created with sliding glass doors between the faux coral columns leads to the childrens’ bedrooms: Doors open to the entry courtyard with crushed stark white coral ground-cover in contrast to its velvety green lawn.

   Although the house is furnished with central air, the Multi-slide pocket doors in living room, master bedroom, and dining room remain open as a rule, and frame a naturalistic swimming pool with a mix of both real and faux boulders. After sunset propane copper tiki torches cast a tropical glow on the lush landscape. Next to an outdoor shower a fishnet hammock is slung between two palms and the soft grass path leads to the sandy beach beyond where windsurfers and catamarans take off to dance with whales.