Home away from home

A design team has six weeks to turn an unfurnished condo into a tropical retreat

This three-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath resort condominium was purchased as an unfurnished space. The clients wanted to create a comfortable, attractive tropical vacation retreat that also felt like home -- all in time for their family reunion, which gave us six weeks.

Designing Minds On the first Friday of each month, the Star-Bulletin and the Hawaii chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers feature a local designer sharing details of a recent project, whether it involves a room transformation or a project started from the ground up. This month we feature Elise Yates of Elise Yates Interior Design. The Design Team Elise Yates, Allied ASID, interior designer; Hanan Katz of Layout, Etc.

On their specific wish list was to add an entertainment and display cabinet in a large existing alcove off the living room.

The space included mahogany cabinetry with bronze hardware, slate and sea-grass floors, granite and marble counters and dark mahogany doors and trim. The goal was to furnish the home in a style that would complement the existing finishes and the beautiful natural surroundings while providing comfort and functionality.

Along with the built-in entertainment/display cabinet, we had to obtain and place furniture, accessories and artwork, all within a tight time frame.

The budget was based on estimates and prices for millwork and furnishings; we worked closely with the client for cost approval throughout the project.

The primary challenge was the deadline. We worked closely with the client to quickly determine an overall design and furnishings desired. This included comprehensive outings with the client to select items. Most were purchased through suppliers in Honolulu. But in some instances we had to search outside Oahu, and shipping time was a consideration.

Because we were using existing colors, finishes and surroundings to guide the furnishings, we settled on Balinese and Asian influences. These complemented the rich woods and natural building materials. Subdued, rich and sophisticated fabrics and artwork worked well with the clean lines of the quality architecture.

The built-in cabinet would occupy a prominent space in the primary living space, so it was essential that scale and design be perfect. To keep it cohesive, we matched it with the existing cabinetry in the kitchen, bathrooms and wet bar. Re-creating every detail and finish became imperative. The installation went exactly as planned, and the beautiful cabinet works well as a TV and audio center, with open shelving to display Asian artifacts and other artwork.

The project was completed on time. The home has a distinct, exotic and comfortable style, and it feels complete as a second residence.