Sitting squarely on top an 1801 lava flow on the Kohala coast is a home of extraordinary beauty and design. The superb design by architect Mark de Reus is an interpretation of the Japanese aesthetic. Philpotts Interiors added decorative Hawaiian kapa-inspired elements fabricated in Bali to soften the overall effect. The home made up of a series of separate hale, or structures, created from materials selected for their durability and modern feel.

Landscape architect David Tamura added to the success of the home’s design with planting that furthers the exotic, yet ultra-simple aesthetic. At the entrance is the sense of floating on water. The clean, almost severe lines are softened by the contrast of light and dark.

Philpotts designers worked with the client to select a palette for the home. Luckily the client knew just the look she wanted. The entire house is restrained. A contemporary free-form wood sculpture was found in Bali, as were the custom dining table and lychee wood coffee tables. Headboards for the beds were also created in Bali. Polynesian tapa patterns were carved into teak for many pieces of furniture. In one bedroom is a modern take on traditional lantern lights.

Operable wood screens throughout create not only privacy, but a mysterious “veil” that further enhances the architecture by filtering out daylight.

In the master bathroom are dynamic architectural elements such as carved walls of Calacatta marble including a stone shower wall. The cool marble is contrasted with a teak vanity. Limestone walls behind the master bedroom headboard and on the back wall of the kitchen were inspired by a graphic kimono pattern.

The guest hale is playful and fresh created with the liberal use of color and pattern. The walls are hung with surfboards by Firewire/Sig Zane Design, a custom albizia and koa long board by Gary Young, and a rare “ulu” wood surfboard handcrafted by Tom Pohaku which was wave-ridden before it was hung.