As Hawaii’s only luxury, adult-only resort overlooking Maui’s southern coastline, Hotel Wailea is a truly unique property. Adding to its allure, Marion Philpotts-Miller of Philpotts Interiors and her team recently designed the hotel’s new bar and lounge, Bird Cage. Philpotts-Miller has been working with Jonathan McManus, Hotel Wailea founder, to transform the hotel since its inception with the most recent renovation being the large, previously underutilized lobby.

Inside the aptly named space, where birds have always fluttered in and out, large custom-designed, cage-like light fixtures set the tone, while a hand-crafted bar by Maui Custom Woodworks activates the space. Philpotts-Miller also took inspiration from the glamour and style of New York City bars and restaurants to create a timeless and alluring lounge. Jewel-toned textiles, bold prints, and textures along with eclectic furnishings such as peacock chairs and bird feet tables, set an enchanting feel. Luxury meets tropical in the decadent space fitted with natural teak wood bar stools, opulent velvet, and faux Crocodile leather tufted sofas and black marble tables, and more.

While the hotel and newly designed space embody a fresh and whimsical vibe, the design process and time period was anything but, hampered by the pandemic. Yet, instead of halting the project, McManus pushed forward and took the opportunity of an empty hotel to install new large slab granite flooring and make other upgrades. Shelter-in-Place orders throughout the world made it difficult for the team to receive containers of furniture and custom pieces made in Bali.