The working relationship between a contractor and homeowner can be intense. “You get to know your clients well, because you are with them day in and day out,” says Breck Dangler, of Dangler Construction Inc.
Dangler, a general contractor and certified kitchen designer, has built a great working relationship with one particular homeowner, who entrusted Dangler to completely gut and remodel three condos in a Honolulu high-rise.
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The view from the top is closely rivaled by the distinct interior details, such as Imperial plaster and a lifetime’s collection of artwork.
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At the same time, “the homeowner certainly knew what he wanted,” Dangler says. In fact, the homeowner’s eye for fine detail meant he was hands-on while choosing everything from cabinet glazes to marble colors and appliances. Redoing homes was his passion, even noting he might have missed his calling as an architect.
With architect Tom Hackett’s plans in hand, Dangler and the homeowner parsed each detail, honing the design process as they worked from room to room. “We walked through and bounced ideas,” Dangler says. “He’d ask, ‘Can we put an arch here?’ or ‘How about marble on this wall?’ We left no surface untouched.”
The kitchen is a glowing example of Dangler’s meticulous design mixed with the homeowner’s traditional style. Originally, the ’70s kitchen featured bright tulip-print wallpaper and dark cabinetry. The space was cramped and closed off from the rest of the home. It was a place to prepare meals, but not to enjoy them.
First, they took down a few walls that enclosed closets and a laundry room. This freed up space for the kitchen. Next, Dangler rearranged the appliances, paying special attention to water lines and connections within the building. A window was cut above the sink to visually connect the kitchen with the living room. New booth-style seating now offers an eating area under a panoramic view of the Koolau hillside.
The homeowner envisioned furniture-like cabinets. Dangler delivered with solid maple cabinets in a sandstone stain. A furniture glaze gives the cabinets a soft sheen. Crown molding encases the entire room. The homeowner’s keen eye found the perfect slab of caramel- and gold-swirled granite countertops to complement the cabinets.
Similar cabinets were installed in the master bathroom. Instead of granite, the homeowner found warm marble for the floor and countertops. The layout was also rearranged; the sink, shower and toilet had to be moved. This meant drilling through the concrete ceilings into the downstairs-neighbors’ condo.
Luckily, the meticulous Dangler is also a mediator. “You have to be very diplomatic, which is one of my areas of expertise,” he says.
Another task was to incorporate the homeowner’s collection of Asian artwork into the redesign, which is now on display throughout the entire condo. Gathered during his years of world traveling, the collection includes pieces found in Japanese galleries, as well as Paris flea markets.
“We knew which artwork would be installed, so we designed around it,” Dangler says. This design element includes display lighting for large screen prints in the living room, and shelving in the den for numerous statues and figures.
The blending of the homeowner’s style and Dangler’s design talent is evident in several other custom features. Marble side tables, for example, built from slab remnants, flank the sofas. The baseboards, crown molding and door frames are tailored to the homeowner.
The entire condo is covered in hand-troweled Imperial plaster, with smooth, rounded corners. Even the lanai is covered in plaster, allowing Dangler to hang lighting fixtures outdoors. Custom, stacking shutters were ordered without bottom tracks to make them easy to use.
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Dangler’s design incorporates the homeowner’s interests and travels, including display lighting for Asian prints and specialized shelving for statues.
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“This is thousands of measurements,” Dangler says of his original creations. “All of the dimensions are critical when ordering custom materials, so they just fit.” The end result is something the homeowner loved, and that Dangler shows off proudly.
But of all the custom details, which one is Dangler’s proudest accomplishment? “The collaboration was the most enjoyable part,” he says.
