72-3209 Ka Nehe Place, Kailua Kona

Designed and furnished by architectural and interior designer Jennifer Day, ASID, IIDA, this private island residence is as expansive, luxurious and stunningly beautiful as the resort community within which it resides, Kuki‘o, the only private Golf and Beach Club on Hawaii's Big Island. 

Each of the home's 20 artfully appointed rooms and seven "lanais" - uniquely Hawaiian covered, open-air balconies and verandas - capture stunning, unobstructed views of the ocean, as do the saltwater pool and spa on the rear lawn. And the home has easy access through the resort's golf cart path to the blue waters and white sand beach at Kua Bay.

Set between the home and the pool, the spacious landscaped rear lawn provides generous open space for special events and an ideal environment for entertaining large families and friends.

The Entry Courtyard

Family and guests are welcomed Hawaiian-style by the home's Entry Courtyard. Custom-made by Hawaiian Craftsman Atlee Riddle, intricately-carved Brazilian Cherry wood entry gates evoke a wave-like ripple effect, a theme repeated throughout the home.

The Living Room Area 

Recessed folding doors in the home's Living Room open to the ocean side of the home, providing magnificent unobstructed views of the ocean and the whitewater below. The room's soaring 13-foot-high mahogany barrel-vaulted ceiling gives the room a grand, spacious feeling, and the glass in the vault between the living room and lanai allows the eye to travel the space unimpeded, bringing the outdoors into the living space.

The designer chose transitional upholstery, traditional case goods and contemporary art in the living area, and a distinctive color scheme in the living room and throughout the home. A departure from traditional Hawaiian interiors, Day's colors lend the home a cheerful, comfortable atmosphere.

Made of porcelain tile, the floor is impervious to the ocean elements and salt air and never needs refinishing. The large windows to the east display spectacular mountain views. The living room is furnished with large comfortable sectional sofas made by Century Furniture, two upholstered swivel chairs made by Michael Berman and cabinets crafted by Theodore Alexander. A low table behind the sectional sofa at the entry is made by Baker Knapp & Tubbs and the artwork includes an original photograph on film made by an artist on the mainland. 

The Living Room Lanai

All furnishings in the Living Room Lanai are upholstered in waterproof Sunbrella fabrics. The loveseats are part of Century Furniture's outdoor collection. Michael Berman created the two custom chairs with Donghia Sunbrella fabric. The teak chair at the bar is imported from Bali and both ottomans near the pool swivel so that parents can easily turn to watch their children in the water.

The Outside Kitchen is fully equipped with a circular Evo commercial grill, sink with prep bowls, disposal, icemaker and refrigerator. The lanai roof protects the Evo grill from inclement weather. The kitchen is located next to the formal dining to ease the transfer of gourmet meals to the table.

Pool and Spa

The infinity saltwater pool and spa, located on the other side of a vast grassy lawn, are equipped with an automatic cleaning system.

Chef's Kitchen

Designed with entertaining in mind, the home's Chef's Kitchen is open to the ocean through triple windows and features two bars and a large island, made of Brazilian cherry with wave-like scoring, that allows guests to sit, mingle and talk with the cook in comfort.

The kitchen includes custom cabinets made of Sappelle Pomelle, a wood from West Africa milled so that all of the cabinet fronts display a continuous run of wood. Made by Master Hawaiian craftsman Atlee Riddle, the Brazilian Cherry wood countertop is scored in a wave-like pattern.

The kitchen features granite countertops and sink surround with built in drain board; barrel-vaulted mahogany ceiling with recessed lighting; kitchen island with custom fabric and painted light fixtures above; and a Thermadore refrigerator with electronically-controlled Liberty shelf that moves up and down for taller items.

The Gagganau cooktop has an additional European 25,000 BTU hob feature to accommodate large woks, plus a steamer and telescopic vent system. The Gagganau oven is equipped with a side-opening door, warming drawer and microwave. The Perlick undercounter refrigeration system has three separate temperature settings for wine, sodas and water. The cabinets are filled with dinnerware, flatware, copper cookware and appliances to provide owners with everything they need from the day they arrive.

The Formal Dining Room

The designer set the Formal Dining Room apart from the living/kitchen space to allow the executive chef to prepare and serve meals without disturbing the family. Open to the ocean on three sides, the dining room enjoys delightful island breezes.

Made by local master craftsman and artist Tai Lake, the custom mango dining table is composed of two heart slabs with curves for elegant dining. The table seats 12 in handmade walnut chairs that surround the table. The curves of the chairs continue the wave pattern that accents much of the home's furnishings. The cabinets are by made by Theodore Alexander and the playful original art on the walls lend a cheerful feeling to the room. The dining room's close proximity to the outdoor cooking area allows for the easy transfer of grilled foods to the table. 

The Study

Located between the Living Room and the Master Bedroom, the Study has doors on each of its walls to allow the owner to open up the space between the kitchen and the master bedroom to create a dramatic continuous 140-foot space. An adjoining long space runs all the way from the back of the gallery hallway to the ocean. The study's doors close easily to provide privacy for the master bedroom or study.

Custom made by Mike Riddle, the desk is topped with Ohia, a wood gathered from the southern part of the Big Island and stands on legs made of black walnut from Maui. The study floors are made of tiger wood from Brazil.

The Master Bedroom

Opening onto a lanai that faces the ocean, the home's Master Bedroom has tiger wood floors and a mahogany barrel-vaulted ceiling that gives the room height and grace. The recessed doors, when open, provide a 12-foot opening to the ocean view and island breezes. The sitting area allows the homeowner to relax and view the whitewater below. Appointed with Century furniture and Baker Knapp & Tubbs furnishings, the bedroom has two entrances - one from the gallery hallway and one from the study. The room overlooks the murano glass light and water feature in the interior courtyard.

The Master Bath

Offering an ocean view through the home's entry gate, the Master Bath has two sets of doors - one leading to the outdoor tub and the other to the outdoor shower. The Master Bath is adorned with asymmetrical Italian-made vanity cabinets. The granite Linkasink "magic square" sink has a removable tray made of mother of pearl resting over the drain to allow the water to run off the face of the tray to the drain below.

The spacious room has a bench made of Koa wood created by Hawaiian craftsman Tai Lake and indoor shower with a teak slat floor that allows the water to flow to the invisible drain below. The outdoor tub is made of basalt from Indonesia and the spacious outdoor shower area, planted with local flora, enjoys a view of the ocean from an open exterior gate.

The Master Closet

The Master Closet is set apart from the Master Bath to provide privacy for anyone using the bath area. The closet contains individual his and her's areas, custom cabinets made by an Hawaiian craftsman, full-length mirror, Theodore Alexander-designed "walk-in" jewelry chest and original art created a local artist in Holualoa, above Kona.

Interior Courtyard

The home's bedroom wing contains an Interior Courtyard with views of Pu'u ("hill" in Hawaiian) to the south. The courtyard's four exterior doors, when open, allow island breezes to flow through the bedroom wing and bring the outside landscape into the home. The courtyard's stone water feature is topped with an Italian murano glass light from Leucos.

The Gallery Hallway

The six-foot-wide Gallery Hallway leading to the bedroom wing of the home has wood floors made of tiger wood. Running 60 feet in length, the gallery opens to the ocean from the doors in the study. Located just outside the study, the gallery's art niche contains all original artworks and custom cabinetry accessible to the study. The desk area has a built-in refrigerator that serves the bedroom wing.

The Media Room

Located in the bedroom wing, just off of the living room, the Media Room has a view of the Pu'u through a large interior window. The window also provides a view of the beautiful water feature in the inner courtyard and, when open, lets in its soothing sounds. The window may be closed for movie watching. The room is pre-wired for surround sound.

Family and Guest Bedrooms

All three of the home's Family and Guest bedrooms have ocean views, tiger wood floors and original art on the walls. Bedrooms 2 and 4 have king-size beds and large outdoor showers. Bedroom 3 has two twin beds. Bedroom 2 has a soft light under the vanity to illuminate the room at night for children.

The Powder Room

Located off the living room, the Powder Room is painted purple - Jennifer Day's signature powder room color. Mike Riddle created the custom cabinetry and a mirror made of one slab of monkey pod. The room is adorned with volcano photographs taken by Brad Lewis, a resident of the Hilo-side of the island. The largest, taken in March of 2009, depicts the lava flow on the south side of the island.

The Ohana Living Room

The designer has incorporated the Ohana Living Room into the main structure of the home instead of using the typical Hawaiian pod-style layout. The room has comfortable seating, a wet bar with built-in refrigerator, an ocean view through the home's large entry doors and an adjoining lanai with ocean view.

The Ohana Bedroom opens to the Ohana Living Room as well as the inner courtyard. The room has a king-size bed with art above, specially commissioned by the designer. The Ohana has a view of the rocks at Kukio beach by the clubhouse and a bath with large outdoor shower. 

Utility Rooms

The home has two Laundry/Utility rooms - one near the kitchen and the Ohana and one in the bedroom wing. Both have washers and dryers made by Asko, a Swedish company, stacked and hidden behind custom cabinetry, with a "hidden helper" ironing board. The sinks incorporate micro-jets to thoroughly launder delicate washables. The base cabinets contain two hampers.

Kona and Kuki'o Beach Club

Kona, which means "leeward" in Hawaiian, for its location along the sunny west coast of Hawaii's Big Island, enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Warm all year round and embraced by balmy, sweet-scented pacific ocean trade winds, Kona is famous for sportfishing, snorkeling, gorgeous sunsets and its inimitable Kona coffee. Its La'aloa Beach Park is known as Magic Sands beach - "Magic" because when rough surf hits, all of the sand is emptied off the beach, to magically return soon after.

The only privately-owned Golf and Beach Club on Hawaii's Big Island, Kuki'o features a full service Member's Clubhouse, extensive spa and fitness facilities, dining pavilion, beach bar, 10-hole Tom Fazio-designed short course and Kukio's signature Outdoor Pursuits Ocean Sports program.

Upslope from the short course is Kuki'o's 18-hole Tom Fazio-designed championship golf course, offering dramatic panoramic views of the coastlines. The Kuki'o Golf Clubhouse includes an open-air bar, dining pavilion, full-size men's and women's locker rooms and Golf Shop.

Nearby Uluweuweu and Kua bays extend Kuki'o's natural beauty, and the adjacent Kikaua Point Beach Park includes two pristine white sand beaches ideal for swimming and ocean sports.