In search of kitchen remodeling ideas, a couple in Kona, on the Big Island of Hawaii, traveled to the Honolulu showroom of Archipelago Hawaii, refined island design. When they saw a display called "Zen," they knew they had found their design inspiration and their designer, Rick Cowan.

According to Cowan, the couple requested that the redesign of their 135-sq.-ft. galley kitchen and a 55-sq.-ft. outdoor entertainment area (or lanai) be contemporary in style yet Asian and tropical in feel to complement the hillside home's L-shaped floor plan, which surrounds an infinity pool and garden. The two spaces are separated by a large sliding glass door, with the lanai being sheltered almost 8 ft. under the eaves. "We wanted to stay with natural elements because it's an indoor/outdoor type of space," said Cowan, who used slate, travertine and soapstone, along with stainless-steel appliances and fixtures, to achieve an Asian sensibility with a contemporary edge. "We didn't want anything too polished but we wanted a refined look."

To create the illusion of a larger, lighter and more open space, the heavy redwood crown molding that originally ran around the kitchen was removed. In its place, drywall and uplighting were added to highlight a stunning, open-beam ceiling. The tongue-and-groove paneling, also redwood, surrounding the refrigerator was also replaced with drywall so that the fridge would be flush with the cabinetry.

Although in some parts of the kitchen the new layout differs little from the old, Cowan's solution incorporates a few changes to expand functionality. The work triangle, for example, was improved by relocating the oven and replacing it with a coffee bar. And while the sink and cooktop are still situated opposite each other, prep space was maximized with custom soapstone counters measuring 9 1/2 ft. and 10 1/4 ft.—longer than the average slab. The stone's pattern and grain are well matched and the seams where the slabs join are nearly invisible to ensure a clean, uniform look.

As is the convention in Hawaiian homes, upper cabinets are limited in the kitchen to capitalize on the room's generous windows and incredible views. In addition, noted Cowan, because many households are multi-generational, undercounter storage better serves the needs of all family members. Initially, high-gloss cabinet doors in red were chosen to complement the redwood paneling used throughout the house, but when a sample arrived, the effect was overwhelming. In the end, Cowan opted for Birdseye maple doors, handmade to resemble fine furniture, because they had more character.

Outside, the redwood siding presented several challenges where it met the new soapstone counter, river-rock wall and existing grill. "I have to tip my cap to the carpenter. We were trying to use existing structures but build it new," said Cowan, who wanted to ensure the juxtaposition of different materials would still look purposeful and clean. "He removed some of the siding, shaved it, trimmed it down and matched it to fit with the countertop."

Perhaps the biggest challenge, though, was designing and fabricating the outdoor sink area and river-rock column, which flows into an oversized, soapstone sink built for gardening. To give the two elements a monolithic appearance, as if both were built out from the wall, and to ensure the sink was leak-proof, Cowan constructed the column in two parts. First, the entire sink structure was created to accommodate plumbing for a wall-mounted faucet and then the tumbled river rock was laid on top. The custom sink, which measures 30 in. x 21 in. x 12 in., also required additional reinforcement to support its weight.

On the other side of the river-rock column and near the cooktop, a slate backsplash and soapstone shelf create a decorative niche. To offset it, two glass cabinets bisected by another soapstone shelf were added diagonally across the kitchen. It's an innovative design that is a natural extension of the home's original decor. "They wanted to make sure that the new kitchen design didn't distract from the style of the home," said Cowan. "They didn't want you to walk in and say, 'Oh my god, that's a new kitchen,' but they still wanted to make a statement."


SOURCES

Designers: Rick Cowan, CKD—Archipelago Hawaii, refined island design, Honolulu, www.archipelagohawaii.com; Carolyn Pace, AKBD
Manufacturers: Cabinetry: Studio Becker; Refrigerators: Sub-Zero; Cooktop, oven, dishwasher and coffee maker: Miele; Microwave: KitchenAid; Faucets: KWC; Kitchen sink and garbage disposal: Franke; Trash compactor: GE; Backsplash: Davis Tile & Marble; Lighting: Hera Lighting
Photography: © Augie Salbosa