DETAILS INTERNATIONAL
Stiletto lounge chairs, at right, were the inspiration for the design of the disco room of this Kahala home, one of 10 on The Great Kitchen & Bath Tour Sunday.
Underneath it all Walter and Tiffany James didn't look for conventional accessories when they started decorating their four-bedroom, four-bath Kahala home.
The Jameses of Kahala built a
successful career on lingerieBy Ruby Mata-Viti
ruby@starbulletin.comInstead, the couple who built their careers on selling lingerie through home parties created their own homage to lingerie, and, of all things, disco.
It's all in fun, their philosophy of life reflected in the place they call home, and something anyone taking in the Great Kitchen And Bath Tour will be privy to view from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday as the James home is one of 10 stops on the tour.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
A wood carved sculpture in Walter's study.
Don't be fooled by the marble and slate courtyard and pool/fountain you pass before reaching the front door. Though the grand scale continues with a marble floor entryway, pieces placed throughout the home convey the couple's lightheartedness.
A custom-carved wood bra and panty sculpture, for instance, is displayed on the counter of Walter's study, and a print on the wall shows Tiffany lounging in a corsalette.
When the couple entertains, Tiffany said she'll show guests around the house and "When men come in, they look at the picture, they look at me, then they look as though they're not quite sure they should say anything."
Of course "someone will finally ask 'Is that you?' "
She'll respond with a straightforward "Yes, a few years ago," and cuts through any ensuing speechlessness with, "We're in the lingerie business, it's really OK," she said, laughing.
Other home features, such as his study and her salon, his and her bathrooms, and separate walk-in closets respect their individuality.
"Our offices have always been separate," said Tiffany.
His TV room, as well as his study and bath is dark toned, with cushy seating; her salon, across the hall, and her bathroom is light and contain frills such as delicate porcelain pill boxes and tea sets, and a carousel horse.
"I'm so hyper, which is why I need to have soft and pretty around me," she said.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tiffany and Walter James in their kitchen, tiled with high quality vinyl that looks like slate, which they sought for its warmth and softness
THE JAMESES, married 32 years, live part time in Boston. They started Undercover Wear, a home party and mail-order catalog business selling lingerie and apparel 25 years ago in Massachussetts.
"We're from Middle America, and we worked hard. I started out doing home parties at my mother's house," she said. "We look out at that ocean every night and feel very blessed to be living in Hawaii, and to share it in this way (through the NKBA tour) is the best thing."
Any hint of lingerie is kept out of the kitchen, the domain of Walter, whose specialties include borscht and a chicken curry.
"There isn't a style you can call the Jameses'," said Glenda Anderson, owner of Details International, who collaborated with them on the interior design. "They are into enjoying life."
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Tiffany in the office she calls her salon.
Anderson said she asked the couple, who divide their time equally between Hawaii and Boston, to send pictures of their mainland home to get a sense of their style. Inspiration for the disco room was found in lounge chairs shaped like stiletto shoes. The room boasts a wooden dance floor, two stiletto lounge chairs, a complete bar and framed art of leggy women in stockings and garter belts. Swizzle sticks find a home on the counter in a pair of Tiffany's (unused) covered stilettos.
"Why a disco room? Because we thought it would be fun. No other reason," said Walter.
The Jameses own a condo in Florida as well.
"We take certain things seriously," said Tiffany, who has appeared on the Oprah, Phil Donahue and Montel Williams television talk shows to talk about lingerie and the value of positive attitudes.
"We take our commitment to each other very seriously, our family life and our business decisions very seriously. However, we also laugh a lot. We believe if it's not life-or-death (situations), then it's everything else and everything else is nothing; it's just fun.
"Oprah said to the audience, 'Tiffany looks like lingerie.' I love lingerie, as you can see in my closet. I didn't just put those things in there because I knew you were coming."
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Walter with a portrait of Tiffany behind him
It's a closet that would put Imelda to shame, with sliding shelves lined with rows of stilettos and fluffy mules, bins of lingerie, and a section for hanging silk robes and the like. Though impressive, the closet is not part of the kitchen and bath tour.
The adjoining powder room is designed and accessorized like a dance club bathroom, sans attendant, with towelettes and toiletries on the counter for guest indulgence.
Missing from the disco room was the signature mirror ball of the '70s, though a friend gave the Jameses an updated version with colored lights, which he plans to hang in case tour participants want the full effect to point their index fingers skyward and jut their hips out a la John Travolta.
It's all in fun.
Hawaii Habitat for Humanity benefits from the Great Kitchen and Bath Tour. Habitat is one of the largest home-builders in the United States, completing a new home every 45 minutes on average in one of its almost 1,600 chapters nationwide. Helping Habitat
Its most famous volunteer, former President Jimmy Carter, recently received the Nobel Peace Prize in part for his efforts at the charity.
The organization provides homes to low-income families -- those who earn least than 50 percent of the median -- at a nonprofit, no-interest price.
Source: www.honhabitat.org
The Great Kitchen & Bath Tour
The Aloha Chapter of the National Kitchen and Bath Association invites you to meet the designers of 10 residences and see the latest in kitchen and bath design trends.When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Cost: $10 per person, tax-deductible. Proceeds benefit Hawaii Habitat for Humanity. Tickets available at all NKBA member associations or can be purchased at the homes the day of tour which may start at any home you wish.
Call: 734-2891, DESiGNER Kitchens and Baths
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JOHN COOK KITCHENS
A Tantalus home kitchen on the tour features an easy- access wine cellar.
The Great Kitchen & Bath Tour sites
KAILUA
584 Pamaele St.
Kitchen remodel
by American Cainetry, Inc.
Features cooking island, nook area, display/dry bar, Sub-Zero wine storage unit.
HAWAII LOA RIDGE
688 Kaulana Place
Kitchen remodel
by Highline Kitchen Systems
Features custom kitchen with African ribbon mahogany.
KAHALA
4997 Kolohala St.
Kitchen remodel
by Details International
Elegant styling and signature 'disappearing' laundry.4461 Kahala Ave.
Kitchen remodel
by Details International
Renovation also included family room, powder room and salon, and a disco bar.
DIAMOND HEAD
3826 Poka St.
Kitchen and bath remodel
by Homeworks Construction, Inc.
Features the finest cermic, limestone, marble materials and rich cherry cabinets.
TANTALUS
2661 Aaliamnu Place
Kitchen and bath remodel
by John Cook Kitchens
Features custom island, cherry cabinets, stainless appliances and more.
PUNCHBOWL
2756 Tantalus Drive
Kitchen and bath remodel
by Kitchen Concepts Plus
Fully renovated home features a dream kitchen with a view.
AIEA
98-1401 Kaonohi St.
Kitchen remodel
by DESiGNER Kitchens & Baths
Features skylights, angled bay windows, faux painted walls and more.98-1861 Hapaki St.
Kitchen remodel
by Lifestyle Kitchens
Features kitchen that functions well for entertaining, with maple cabinetry and more.
MILILANI
94-323 Kaholo St.
Kitchen Remodel
by The Gene Schick Company
Features an enlarged complete Viking kitchen.
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