Grandmas
are full of wisdom. The common adages they pass on, such as, When life
hands you lemons, make lemonade, or Haste makes waste, are always true,
even if they are a little cliché. She might also remind you that, If it
ain’t broke, don’t fix it—an old proverb that guided one grandmother’s
new Nuuanu kitchen remodel.
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| Anderson
replaced harsh, overhead fluorescents with soft lighting from pendants
and recessed can lights. The homeowner added her own touch by painting
the separate pendants to match. |
When
it came time to update her old, brown kitchen, she knew she didn’t need
to start from scratch—especially when choosing a professional designer.
Previously, Glenda Anderson, of Details International, had updated the
home’s master bedroom and bathroom, as well as two first-floor
bathrooms. Having enjoyed their working relationship, the homeowner
presented Anderson with the kitchen challenge: to integrate old and new
elements, while returning the kitchen to its classic, Old Hawaii feel.
Keeping
with the If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it mantra, the homeowner wanted
to remodel without changing the kitchen’s layout. “It had a good
working triangle, plus I had a lot of storage. But, the kitchen was
ugly, and the old appliances had to go,” the homeowner says.
“When
there is no reason to change something, don’t change it,” Anderson
adds. “You can mix the old with the new, and if you do a good job, they
will look like they were meant to be that way from the beginning.”
While
the basic layout would remain the same, several elements needed a face
lift. The burlap-like wallpaper, beaten-up linoleum and dropped ceiling
were out. The biggest problem was the unsightly, brown cabinetry, which
was readily replaced with new, bright cream, Downsview Cabinetry.
Anderson chose the company’s Victoria III design, known for its
tailored molding, which offers the desired Hawaii-in-the-’20s feel. To
accent the cabinetry’s cream tones, Anderson painted the trim and walls
a cool celadon green.
“The kitchen brightens me up when I walk in. It is just so fresh and clean,” the homeowner says.
The
sturdy cabinetry features the highest density fiberboard available,
which won’t warp in the damp Nuuanu environment. Dovetail construction
and marine-glued veneer make this cabinetry some of the best Hawaii has
to offer. Plus, the Italian-made Downsview trusts its craftsmanship and
materials so much that it offers a lifetime warranty on all the
cabinetry’s moveable parts.
In
the original kitchen, the homeowner relied on a large center island for
preparation, serving and storage. Anderson upgraded the island with a
warm maple butcher-block top. The wood’s Varnique finish makes it
shine, and protects the block from wear and tear. The island’s ample
storage was enhanced with pullout drawers. New, bar-style seating was
added to the island’s opposite side, away from the storage and
preparation areas. Seated here, grandchildren are out of the way, but
close enough to chat with grandma.
Finishing
touches revived the Old Hawaii feel. Bamboo laminate flooring replaced
the linoleum. “After all these years, all the children and dogs and
cats, we had the worst linoleum floor,” the homeowner says. The
natural-looking bamboo laminate was installed before the rest of the
kitchen construction, and readily stood up to the beating. Finally,
Anderson covered a few accent walls with red wallpaper with a floral
pattern. “Old Hawaii homes always used wallpaper. And, it really sticks
in our environment,” Anderson says.
Restoring
the kitchen’s simple style also restored its soul, Anderson says. “It’s
Grandma’s kitchen. It feels like she should be cooking preserves.”
