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Location: Kukio, Island of Hawaii

Interior Designer: Anne Michaelsen Design

Construction: Meryl Construction

Landscaping: Forma Design Partners

Photography: Ryan Garvin

Anne Michaelsen Design were instructed to a complete remodel that would raise the standard of indoor/outdoor living by harmonising the interiors with the landscape and the surrounding views.

The interior design of this Modernised Hawaiian Retreat balances sophistication and practicality. Longtime clients of Anne Michaelsen Design purchased a home on the Island of Hawai’i that required a major renovation. Not only was the design outdated for modern living, but the harsh sea air and beating sun had taken a toll on the home.

The interior architecture is designed to maximise the home’s breathtaking views while keeping the harsh surrounding elements in mind. The remodel focused on creating an oasis for indoor and outdoor living while balancing the bright sunlight, mitigating glare, and any excessive heat in the interiors. The interior design forgoes any cliche images one may think about for a beach house and instead takes a much more relaxed elegance approach, taking a cue from the surrounding environment and timeless Hawaiian interiors.

The entrance was reimagined to create a more dramatic effect from the second you walked onto the property. Low-profile furniture and tall windows allow you to see the ocean views as soon as you walk in the gate. Anne Michaelsen Design selected textural stones and bright landscapes that amplify the surroundings, which set the tone for the rest of the house. Plush, outdoor fabrics were selected for the interiors to promote seamless indoor-outdoor living, allowing the clients to casually lounge from the pool to the great room to their bedroom, and without fear of fading.

The vintage posters and bikini artwork selected for the project, seen in the hallway and secondary bedrooms, are a nod to early vacationers. Each bedroom has an adjacent personal Lanai, which includes secluded outdoor seating areas and showers, allowing houseguests privacy while enjoying nature and stunning views. From the interior layout to the textile selection, the design of this Modernised Hawaiian Retreat raises the standard of indoor-outdoor living for the clients.