FOR DEBBIE AND DAN Matthews of Waikele, home is a cozy place for their collection of American and European antiques and a pair of St. Bernards. Nancy and Ron Espiritu, who share their Kapolei home with three grown children, a dog and a cat, like to keep their home uncluttered and scented with cinnamon-fragrance candles.
Waikele homes achieve
The floor plan By Suzanne Tswei
symphonic harmony as
they reflect individual
styles and tastes
Star-BulletinUp the street, Kaea and Jeff Mariano welcome their young grandsons every weekend but still manage to maintain a formal interior focused on an Asian theme.
The three families all have the same house: Symphony D Major model by Schuler Homes, Inc., a top-of-the-line model with living room, family room, den, four bedrooms, three baths, entry lanai and garage. But despite having the exact floor plan, each house is a different home with distinct character reflecting the owners' lifestyle and preferences.We peaked inside each home to see how they decorated 2523 square feet of space under roof. While each family took a different approach to decorating, they all came to the same conclusion: Don't be in a hurry when furnishing a new home. (The wives were the major decision makers in decorating, but accepted input from the husbands.)
"Something can look really good in the showroom, but when you get it home, it can be a different story," said Ron Espiritu, who had to return a sofa with yellow-and-pink upholstery that looked out of place in his living room.The Espiritus had to pay a $35 return fee but considered the money well spent. They took their time looking for another sofa, eventually settling on one with muted olive upholstery.
The Matthews amassed their antiques and antique furniture over many years, some inherited from family and others purchased when the couple lived in Europe. They don't try to buy pieces that match, only whatever strike their fancy. The one theme that is constant in their home is their collection of St. Bernards: a pair of 10-year-old males and a seemingly endless collection of rugs, pictures, pillows, figurines, stuffed animals and other items bearing the dogs' image.
"I always just buy what I like. I figure if I like it, I can always find a place for it," said Debbie Matthews.Kaea Mariano is a perfectionist when it comes to furnishing her home, taking her time to make up her mind and then carefully shopping for just the right piece at the right price. She always knew she wanted Asian style furniture because she likes the look and wants her home to reflect the part-Chinese heritage she and her husband share.
"We want our home to look formal, but we don't want people to think they are stepping into a museum and be afraid to touch anything or sit down," Mariano said.The Marianos began buying furniture five years ago, beginning with a carved rosewood set inlaid with shell for the living room. They purchased second-hand but quality furniture from friends or through ads in the newspaper, but found pieces that matched well.
The families all said they enjoy their new homes and spend most of their time together in the family room while reserving the living room for more formal entertaining.For the extra personal touch, the women advise homeowners to use craft items that they make themselves. The Espiritus have floral needlepoint hangings on the walls, the Matthews scatter country crafts throughout their home, and the Marianos use indoor water fountains to add interest in the living room.
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Three families worked with the same floor plan, shown below. Space matters
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