Speaking of her work at a 7,500-sq.-ft. oceanfront new-build in Hawaii, Lisa McDennon, owner of Laguna Beach, Cal.-based Lisa McDennon Design, recognizes the professional importance of the project. “This was an extraordinary opportunity to create a space that celebrates the island’s natural beauty and authentic design influences,” said McDennon. “My vision was to blend organic materials with modern luxury, crafting a home that feels both elevated and deeply connected to its surroundings.”
The project started pre-COVID and then during pandemic the job was shut down for almost a year because of travel and construction work bans. McDennon remembers, “We were so thrilled to pick back up on this project again! I remember the first trip back to the site when we were allowed to travel – I think I was only one of maybe ten people on the plane. It was surreal.”
Much of the materials were ordered on the mainland and shipped in containers to Oahu. For example, the cabinets were milled in California, shipped over and final assembly and install was done on-site. Stone and tile were also crated and transported across the ocean. A few slabs cracked in transit – a minimal amount of damage, considering the amount of material that was shipped.
Sophisticated Island Kitchen
The open plan for this expansive home set the stage for McDennon to create a kitchen that not only was functional but also a dramatic showcase.
The kitchen island is 25 feet long, with a floating wood top that was sourced from timber native to Oahu and specially crafted by local artisans.
Notable features of the back wall of the kitchen are the marble-sheathed range hood and the windowed backsplash. The fixed-glass backsplash allows views of the lush greenery outside and admits dappled natural light; “It draws a beautiful garden feel into the space,” said McDennon.
The backsplash is bookended by two large armoire-styled cabinetry towers wrapped in vertical grain eucalyptus wood. The tower adjacent to the dining room houses a breakfast bar with pocket doors that conceal a built-in Miele coffee unit and pull-out shelving for coffee cups and glassware. The lower drawers house a panel-ready drawer refrigerator unit and storage for dishware.
“I love creating work zones in my kitchen designs, and with a kitchen of this scale (the space measures approximately 31 feet by 14 feet) I was able to create several “stations” within the space,” said McDennon. These include a breakfast bar and a dual-zone butler’s pantry.
Pantry Perfection
The pantry is tucked away behind the refrigeration wall in the kitchen. There is no door closing it off from the main space; rather, a narrowed hallway creates gentle visual separation and spatial transition. The pantry houses additional prep and cleanup areas that are fitted with a sink, ice maker, dishwasher, warming drawers and hook-ups for future steam ovens.
In terms of finish, as opposed to the bright white acrylic cabinets and the white figured porcelain found in the main kitchen, the pantry has a darker palette incorporating the eucalyptus wood for the cabinetry, black Zimbabwe counters, dark tile backsplash and blackened steel doors.
Sources
Design: Lisa McDennon, Lisa McDennon Design; Photography: Konrad Sliwiak, Andy Katz; Architects: Geoff Sumich, Stan Andrade; Builder: Nicholson Companies KITCHEN Accessories: Nuance Home & Lifestyle; Cabinets: Artisan Custom Builders; Cabinet Hardware: Emtek, Nest Studio, Luxholdups; Countertops, Tile: Venetian Tile & Stone; Dishwasher: Bosch; Faucets: Dornbracht; Lighting: Arteriors; Microwave, Range: Wolf; Paint: Dunn Edwards; Refrigerator, Wine Cooler: Thermador; Seating: Palecek; Sinks: Kohler