Hearth & Home
What is the journey through a home? How are various living spaces made accessible? When do doors make for better walls, or when is it better to have no walls at all?
Drive up the hill to Kapalua on Maui’s northwest coast and one particularly elegant home may not even be readily apparent at first glance. Here, no security gate is necessary; natural foliage along a curving path helps conceal the entrance from passersby. Pull up to the freestanding porte cochere for a sense of entry and step through the flowering garden — past the rock waterfall — to reach a palatial retreat that overlooks the legendary waves at Honolua Bay, the northeast tip of Moloka‘i, and the Pacific Ocean.
Your path might’ve taken you across a small footbridge to either one of the two front doors. Maybe you used the stepping stones from the master bedroom to cut through to the rear pool deck. If you had parked in the garage, you would still be able to take in views of nature through the glass hallway leading to the dining room. Either way, all roads lead to the grand lanai, an open-air space that is equal parts living room and lounge that serves as a bridge between the north and south wings of the home. It’s the perfect gathering place for friends, family, and guests. Then again, so is this entire property. “This is a house where you can have a lot of people in all different areas but, because every- thing opens up and there’s high visibility, you feel like you’re all part of the same party,” says architect Rick Ryniak.
Six years ago, Ryniak flew to Colorado to meet with the future owners of this Maui home to better understand their goals for the project. Over the course of several days, he sat at their dining room table to ask questions, draft concepts, receive input, then continue drafting. “They’d stick their heads around the corner every once in a while and say, ‘Wow, he’s still sitting there working!’” laughs Ryniak. Using an iPad and digital apps, Ryniak rendered 3D models of the home as soon as he had concepts in mind. “They were able to experience a virtual walkthrough instead of just looking at a drawing. If they have questions or suggestions, I make them right in the middle of the meeting. I don’t say I’ll do it later. If they have the time, I want to show them what it’s going to look like.”
Back on Maui, Ryniak visited the site to soak in the environment: The topography, the views, which direction the wind flowed, where the sun rose and set each day, and so on. He incorporated pocketing doors into his designs to help capture trade winds — or protect against Kona winds suddenly gusting through the house. Ryniak controlled the placement of glass to maximize views of the outside while being mindful of the sun’s direction to limit solar gain and the amount of heat that glass windows would absorb and radiate. “When this was still an empty field, I asked the family to put down a chair towards the direction they wanted to face. They did, and that’s where the house faces today,” Ryniak says. “It’s not straight west, but instead perfectly centered to look out on even amounts of ocean to your right and left to create a sense of balance.”
Water played a major role in the development of this space. The spacious pool that stretches nearly two-thirds the width of the house features a waterfall, a slide, a secluded grotto on the lower level perfect for watching the stars, and two infinity edges; one facing a circular fire pit lounge and another that faces out towards Honolua Bay. “One of the owner’s biggest passions for this project was water,” says Ryniak. “He wanted a jacuzzi large enough so six grown men could sit without bumping into each other and we made it happen.” At the other end of the pool, a wet deck is perfect for the family’s grandchildren to play in the water. The grown-ups turn the pool lounge chairs around to create a barrier from the deep end, allowing the kids to play in the shallow water while parents and grandparents can watch from the grand lanai. Beyond the pool, a long putting green overlooks the ravine above The Plantation golf course, keeping golf enthusiasts connected to the game.
Inside, there are two large gathering places for families: the entertainment room, which features a home bar and connects with the guest bedrooms; and the great room, dining room and kitchen. More intimate meals can be shared on the chef’s table at the kitchen bar, while larger gatherings can take place on the barbecue deck right outside the great room, which is under a covered lanai and features a pizza oven, beer tap for three types of beers. Elevated roofs and eclectic chandeliers add additional presence above the dining room and kitchen; Kathy Merrill Kelley of Merrill & Associates, Inc. helped bring the spaces throughout this entire home to life, with furniture pieces that highlighted simplicity. Tables and chairs constructed from natural materials, such as wood and fiber, added warmth while sophisticated patterns and vibrant blues dazzle the eye without being ostentatious.
The journey through this oceanside home even continues on the roof: take the spiral staircase in the garden to an elevated observation deck, perfect for sharing cocktails over a late afternoon sunset. “There are these little moments wherever you are in the home. Every bedroom has a view to the ocean and nearly anywhere you are in the house, you still feel connected to everyone else, you’re not shut off,” Ryniak says. “You have the ocean behind the house, the lookout over the ravine, and flowering landscapes on all sides. This home is a journey and there’s color and energy on all sides.”