Location: Hanalei Bay, Kauaʻi HI
Type: Residential Remodel
Completed: 2025
Designer: House of Tropics
Builder: Bonsai Design Group
Photography: Michaela Rabinov
Production: Fiore Productions
A 1970's Hanalei Bay Beach Bungalow tucked away on a lush private lot, with direct views of the adjacent Hihimanu mountain ridge. This residence was renovated with the intention of celebrating its connection to the surrounding landscape, fostering a gathering space that could accommodate the client's large family and potential vacation renters, and to create a home that feels relaxed yet elevated, rooted in its rich history yet contemporary in its approach.
The extra-large dining table serves as the central gathering point of the home, designed to accommodate both family dinners and larger entertaining. Crafted from a single slab of Monkeypod wood, an abundant and invasive species in Hawaiʻi, the piece highlights the natural beauty of local materials. A softly worked organic edge offers a smooth, welcoming touch, while the preserved saw marks from the milling process introduce a raw, handcrafted quality. This balance between refinement and authenticity results in a table that embodies the spirit of Hawaiʻi, inviting connection, shared meals, and lasting memories.
The home unfolds as an environment of quiet sophistication, where every space invites comfort and repose. Woven textures, curated ceramics, and natural materials soften the modern lines, while open layouts and abundant light blur the line between indoors and out. There’s an intentional ease to the design, an elevated informality that feels both timeless and distinctly of place. This is not a house that shouts for attention but one that whispers, inviting families to gather barefoot on the lanai, to savor the scent of salt air carried through open windows, and to pause and feel the rhythm of Hanalei Bay. Ultimately, this cottage is more than a renovation, it is a living expression of Hawaii’s ethos - rooted in history, connected to nature, and stories told through artistry.
A custom Susanna L Cromwell diptych anchors one of the bedrooms, layering in texture and subtle island references that unify the design.
A striking Pegge Hopper landscape graces one of the guest bedrooms, infusing the space with atmosphere and a gentle wash of color.
Subtle references to the 1970s bohemian aesthetic of the original residence are layered with a contemporary sensibility, honoring the home’s history while introducing a fresh perspective. The result is a retreat that reflects island living at its most authentic - inviting, effortless, and deeply rooted in its surroundings.
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