Working with the beautiful blue-green ocean as a backdrop is always a plus for interior designers in Hawaii. Trans-Pacific Design was recently given this opportunity when we were hired to transform a two bedroom villa in a tropical resort community into a contemporary corporate retreat.

Scope of Work for this Design

• Select paint colors and wall materials
• Design feature wall in living room
• Redesign functionality of entry closet
• Design and selection of furnishings for owner’s approval
• Space planning
• Create floor plans and elevations to show the design intent
• Purchase and install all furnishings
• Review contractor’s work on behalf of the owner

Hawai'ian Corporate Retreat

The client wanted to completely refurnish this home for a corporate retreat. They use it twice a year for several months and have employees stay in the home. It needed to have a master suite for the owner of the company and a twin room for visiting employees that would stay for a week at a time. They wanted a contemporary design with clean lines.

Challenge – long and narrow living area

To expand the space we added mirrors on one wall and softened the look of the mirrors by framing them on each side with wide louvered panels with matching trim top and bottom. We also floated artwork over the mirror to break up this large expanse. Custom colored and sized area rugs were ordered and we selected colors similar to the flooring to make the spaces appear larger.

Chinese end tables were added for client storage that repeats the Asian styling of the entry cabinet, Master bedroom media table and dining side table. These paired well with the contemporary styling of the lamps, chairs and sofa. To keep the space visually open we included two small bunching tables instead of one larger coffee table.

Cozy and practical work spaces

In the dining area we made the far wall appear more like a niche by papering this wall in a dark Asian textural wall covering. The small custom designed table to the left is laptop height for our client to check their email when in residence. We also designed the dining table and had it made in Asia as well. The owner’s entry closet was a mess of shoes, and various unused shoe boxes etc.  We redesigned the closet to hold all the various sizes of golf shoes they have for their employees. The other side of the closet retained the hang rod.

The twin guest bedroom headboard wall below the windows was very unevenly spaced due to a bump out on one side of the room.  It made it awkward and unsymmetrical for two individual headboards so the we created a paneled wall behind each bed which stepped up to the shelf between the beds. This solution removed the distraction of the spacing. The headboard wall, nightstand and dresser were all fabricated in Asia.

For the master suite, the female client wanted a contemporary but restful room.  She requested white on white which we used on the custom upholstered bed, bedding and upholstery. The headboard wall is covered in an off white rice paper. We installed a wall mount TV over a Chinese alter table and modified the interior to hold their AV equipment. Glass lamps to either side of the bed reflect the feminine nature of this room as does the oversized framed mirror, rounded upholstered chair and shagreen topped side table.

Designers in Hawai'i use outdoor space as an extension of indoors

On the lanai a large seating area outside the living room was designed and a relaxing round lounge off the dining room. We added handmade ‘lava’ pots on the lanai and contacted the landscaper to provide water lilies. The existing entry planters were moved to the master lanai and new imported carved marble planters were added to the right of the entry door. These contain small fish and water lilies.

The Hawai’i Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers has annual awards in several categories celebrating good design by Hawai’i designers.  Trans-Pacific Design won an award in the residential mid-size: 1,500 to 3,500 sf. category. This condo was 2,042 sf. See some before and after images in our Hawai'ian interior design photo gallery.

Our client really liked the work. They are looking for a larger home and have contacted us to work on it with them when they find just the right location.

If you would like help transforming your interior please contact Trans-Pacific Design.