Mid-Century Modern Reimagined
When first approached about a new project in lower Mānoa Valley, designer Jamie Jackson was delighted to discover that the home had never been remodeled—it was a gem amid the valley of rainbows. Although the time capsule property was weathered and in poor condition, many of its iconic 1960s elements remained in their original form ... and now entrusted to her vision for revitalization.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say, the older the better,” Jackson says with a laugh, “But for this project I was especially pleased that the home had not been remodeled in the ’80s. No design-disasters to be corrected, and many of the existing design features could be reimagined.”
The home, perched on Sonoma Place, with sweeping views from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor, was an original 1960s Mid-Century Modern Hawaiian home. Built in the same era of architect Vladimir Ossipoff, Jackson quickly realized that the property was built with intentional integrity, so it came as no surprise to learn that it was actually built by an architect for himself and his family to enjoy.
“This home was a treasure trove of original features ready to be repurposed,” Jackson explains. “We were able to reuse 18 of the original doors. We were respectful to the original redwood, which we decided to whitewash. That extra-care decision set the tone for the entire project in terms of color palette, mood and interior atmosphere. You can’t just go out and buy old-growth redwood anymore, so we decided to celebrate it.”
In addition to the rare redwood, brick pillars remained, framing the home’s entrance—a threshold where hospitality and ‘ohana came together to create this iconic home. Inspired, Jackson expanded the entrance by installing a grand front door that, when opened, welcomed each homecoming with dramatic views. She then reconstructed the pillars on the interior of the home using a new tile product that perfectly mimicked the vintage 1960s brick.
“We were excited to find that California-based Clé Tile actually makes a tile version almost identical to these vintage bricks,” she says. “Although they are a different textile, we were able to use them in place of the bricks as a continuum of look and feel throughout the home.”
When asked about her process, Jackson, a celebrated interior designer with more than 20 years of experience in Hawai‘i, says what she enjoys most about her job is working with people—from homeowners, creative contractors—explaining that it’s an honor to be entrusted with someone’s most sacred space, their home. Her commitment with each property is that it ultimately reflects the client’s dreams, lifestyle, home values and investment.
“In a remodel, I look for my favorite part of the home and use it as an anchor to inspire the transformation,” Jackson explains. “But ultimately, it needs to work for the client, I want it to be their space, not mine.”
To do this, Jackson explained that she often gives her clients homework, tasking them to make a list of how they live, so she can integrate both design and function into the final product. On initial consults, clients often say that they “just live where they land,” but when challenged to take a deeper assessment of how they live ... they learn why those choices matter.”
Like most families today, the kitchen was a priority for the homeowners of Jackson’s Sonoma Place project. A multi-generational family, they wanted to open and expand the dated galley-style kitchen, which in actuality, was comprised of three small dark rooms. To do this, Jackson brought in local architect, Fritz Johnson. He added a mere four feet that transformed the kitchen into an expansive indoor and outdoor culinary oasis with panoramic views from Le‘ahi (Diamond Head) to Downtown Honolulu.
To continue the mid-century modern style of the home through the newly expanded kitchen, Jackson and her team commissioned custom stainless-steel countertops, which fit both the style and vibe of the home while also meeting the client’s “durable” guidelines.
“One of the client’s main desires was to keep the home low-maintenance in terms of the common weather elements that come with living in Manoa,” Jackson says. “So, for materials, we chose Dekton for the kitchen counter, a manufactured stone that could also be used outside on the lanai countertops. For flooring, we ran porcelain floors to create a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor living.”
For the finishing touches on the home, Jackson sourced an original Beau Hauss light fixture from Eastern Europe. Rumored amid her close-knit artisan community was of a group of young European artists working with original Beau Hauss designs. As a true design catalyst, Jackson was able to source the fixture for the Sonoma home. Jackson also sourced a modern rug used in the kitchen from a designer out of Finland. While it is made out of paper and linen, the area rug pays a modern homage to a traditional Polynesian lauhala mat.
“When you work with me, you will also see that I am dedicated to work with local designers and small companies,” states Jackson. “I’m always meeting new artisans and looking to support their craft as much as possible. In fact, all of the custom pillows in this project were hand-sewn by a girl that neighbors me in Portlock. New ideas, talents and craftsmanship are often closer than we realize, especially in Hawai‘i.”
The end result of Jackson’s Sonoma Drive revitalization not only evokes the passion and talent of the home’s original architect owner, but also Jackson’s collaborative artisan approach to design. Her decades of experience as a designer shines through in her progressive stewardship of this vintage estate.
“If the bones of the home are there, I am all for remodeling. I prefer to not throw any more structures into our landfills,” she advises. “Of course, there are some homes that would require more time and expense to remodel than a true rebuild, but if we can save something and restore its splendor ... I am all for design legacy.”