Tropical paradise with lofty ambitions

Diverse materials and a focused color palette fill this open-layout Hawaiian penthouse with vibrant task areas

Staff -- Interior Design, 3/1/2004 12:00:00 AM

The condominium is located in the 2,000-square-foot penthouse of a 36-storey, 600-foot high skyscraper in Honolulu, HI, that overlooks the ocean from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor. "It was a stripped shell when we came onto the project, and the clients requested something creative, loft-like, colorful and fun," says Troy Adams, CKD, Troy Adams Design, Los Angeles, CA.

Adams based his scheme on his Fusion Design™ philosophy, which combines an Asian feel with European sophistication and an American desire for functionality. He delivered exactly what the clients had in mind: an open, loft-like space filled with color and fun detailing.

"The only walls are in the kitchen and in the hallway that connects with the entry door," notes Adams. "It was a fun project especially because there aren't many lofts in Honolulu and you don't see them so colorfully outfitted."

Kitchen

The kitchen cabinetry projects a vibrant reddish-orange hue. The cabinet doors are constructed of glass panels painted on the backside and then applied to MDF boards. Slender stainless steel trims and sleek metal hardware are the finishing touches. "There are no dimples in the door surfaces as there could be with lacquer and it is easy to clean—just wipe with glass cleaner," Adams explains.

Creating a focal point above the sink are open shelves accented with striking angled stainless steel bars. Halogen lights have been mounted on the insides of the bars to illuminate shelf displays.

The stainless steel backsplash has a whirl pattern to mask fingerprints and minor scratches. The stainless steel countertop and sink complete the metal accents.

The microwave is built in with a custom trim kit. Next to it stands a 27-inch refrigerator/freezer as well as a wine unit with refrigerator drawers.

The island benefits from the same technique used to create the kitchen cabinetry, but in this instance green/blue frosted glass panels are back-painted white and mounted onto white MDF boards. A generously sized stainless steel toekick finishes off the look.

The color of the ocean outside has been duplicated in the crackled enameled lavastone island countertop in a color aptly named Ocean Blue. Integrated into the seamless countertop is a smooth electronic-touch control cooktop.

The glass and stainless steel vent hood appears as if it is floating in air against the background of the black-painted ceiling, but it is actually suspended with threaded rods. "There were so many pipes and ducts that painting the ceiling black made it visually disappear," says Adams. The ceiling rises to about 10 feet in most areas and a few feet higher in others. The kitchen not only includes under-cabinet lighting, but general illumination provided by ceiling-mounted MR-16s, which are used throughout most of the apartment. In contrast to the black ceiling is the neutral, light-gray concrete floor.

Bedroom & Master Bath

"The bedroom and bath space is unique. We built it up on a platform because elevating the floor allowed us to move the plumbing around," says Adams. The vanity countertop is made of solid surface material that mimics the look of green glass, which was chosen to continue the look of the green glass doors in the adjacent wardrobe area. A vessel basin, glass shelf and towel holder offer functionality along with the rotating mirror, trimmed in stainless steel, mounted on the post bolted to the floor and to one end of the vanity.

Sliding doors close off the shower and toilet area. There is an additional clear glass partition in that area which separates the toilet from the shower.

The wardrobe area to the right of the bathroom includes a shoe carousel and pull-out, full-length mirror. The doors and partitions are made with frosted glass trimmed in metal and are combined with wood elements.

In the event the owners require privacy, a series of sliding panels can be unfurled to close off the bedroom/bath area. The panels are mounted on a stainless steel I-beam that extends from the kitchen to the building exterior.

Guest Bath

Fixtures in the guest bath depart from the clean-lined contemporary style of the rest of the apartment. The free-standing bathtub, accented with ornate, wrought-iron claw feet, is complemented by the sink basin supported by an equally ornate, three-legged wrought-iron stand. Though there is no shower stall in the guest bath, the tub fittings do include a hand-held showerhead. Demarcation is established between the tub/toilet and sink areas by partitions of Argyle-patterned glassblock trimmed with stainless steel, which maintain the light, airy feel of the apartment.

The floor has been elevated in this bath as well to manipulate the plumbing. The guest bath, illuminated by track-mounted MR-16s, is spacious enough also to include exercise equipment. The flooring is porcelain tile.

Powder Room & Laundry Area

The clients wanted a powder room, so Adams accommodated their request by situating it in the area off the halllway near the entry door. A glass vessel sink rests on a stainless steel countertop. The vanity and toilet are separated from the adjacent laundry area by partitions of Argyle glassblock trimmed with stainless steel.

The laundry area includes a washer, a dryer and a stainless steel sink integrated into the stainless steel countertop. The reddish-orange hue of the walls in both the laundry area and powder room is the same as the color in the kitchen cabinetry. Concrete flooring runs throughout both spaces as well.

The finished ceiling near the entrance allows the use of both track-mounted MR-16s in the powder room and recessed downlights in the laundry area.