The owners of the home in Kauai were happy with the layout of their original kitchen, but they wanted it to feel more open, bright and reflective of their personal style. Christina Higham, founder of Hawaii-based Sun Soul Style transformed the spirit of the space though color and light.
“The biggest change we made was opening up what was previously a very small window between the living room and kitchen, replacing it with an expansive archway which makes the kitchen feel much larger,” said Higham. She points out that the move also makes entertaining feel more natural, as hosts can easily chat with guests in other parts of the home.
In the kitchen, the arches help balance all of the linear elements: the cabinetry, countertops and appliances. They introduce a sense of movement and softness, keeping the space from feeling too rigid. The designer carried the shape into other key moments, like doorways and transitions, so the eye moves fluidly from one space to the next.
Hawaii Style
“There’s something inherently relaxed and welcoming about an arch,” said Higham. “It subtly echoes the natural surroundings on Kauai – the curves of the landscape, the horizon line, even the organic shapes found in the terrazzo. That connection was important to us; we wanted the home to feel rooted in its environment rather than overly formal.”
The designer opted to keep the original cabinets, which were solid wood and in good condition, and to have new slab fronts fabricated and painted. This was a budget decision – “Normally we wouldn’t recommend keeping original cabinets if we were re-configuring an entire kitchen, as the labor involved in repurposing often ends up being just as expensive as replacing with new,” notes Higham – but in this instance she felt it made sense.
The designer approached the palette as a balance between playful expression and visual grounding. The backsplash tile from Elisa Passino set the tone early on, with its retro, almost nostalgic energy. “We wanted to honor that personality without letting the space feel overly busy or theme-driven,” said the designer.
From there, Higham kept the cabinetry intentionally clean and quiet in a warm white. That allowed the color story to shine while still giving the kitchen a timeless foundation. For the countertops, she chose a surface with subtle movement – nothing too veined or high-contrast – so it wouldn’t compete with the terrazzo flooring or the backsplash, but would still add a layer of softness and depth.
Asked about her favorite feature of the project, Higham said, “There are so many moments I love, but what stands out the most is the way the space feels both joyful and grounded at the same time. The backsplash is definitely a favorite – it’s playful, a little unexpected and sets the personality for the entire kitchen. I love when clients are willing to take a bit of a risk with tile – it always pays off!”
Sources
Design: Christina Higham, Sun Soul Style Interiors Contractor: Creative Woodworking Kauai Photography: Lauren Andersen/SEN Creative Photo Styling: Jen Macbeth of California Casa KITCHEN Countertops: Caesarstone Dishwasher, Range: Café Espresso Machine: La Marzocco Flooring: Concrete Collaborative Lighting: Allied Maker (pendants) Paint: Benjamin Moore Seating: Stowed Home Tile: Elisa Passino DINING NOOK Art: Darcy Bartoletti Banquette: Creative Woodworking Table: Concrete Collaborative, Van Dykes Restorers Upholstery: Rebecca Atwood
