When Jeff and Paige Brattin decided to relocate from O‘ahu to the Big Island in 2018, they sought a house that would give them plenty of space for their young family of four. Little did they imagine they would end up building a unique, three-hale home from the ground up on a 2.6-acre lot next to a stream on the dry side of Waimea.

Located halfway between the cool upcountry town of Waimea and the sunny resort communities of the Kohala Coast, the property is surrounded on all sides by the dramatic desert and mountain scenery. Completed in 2022, the home infuses elegance with simplicity inspired by Scandinavian architecture. 

Three separate pods of equal size connect via glass-enclosed breezeways, or “gem boxes” that light up at night. The living hale contains the kitchen, living room and Paige’s office, while the guest hale includes a bedroom, TV room, kitchenette and Jeff’s office. The master suite and children’s en-suite bedrooms comprise the entirety of the sleeping hale. 

“I love the separation of space between the hales,” says Paige. “We can see Mauna Kea from every room, and we hear and see the stream from the inside of the house as well. During the short-lived eruption of Mauna Loa in 2022, our entire house was aglow in a fiery red at night. We obviously were very safe, and we had an incredible view of the rising plume.”

Intelligently oriented on the desert landscape, the home is built within yards of Keanu‘i‘omano Stream, which during heavy rains, cascades like a river across the property. Large picture windows reveal views of the Pacific Ocean and the vast lava plains and pasturelands that descend all the way to the coast. Beautiful Mauna Kea rises within view to the southeast, as does the lush expanse of the Kohala Mountains to the north. 

The home was designed by Winton Nicholson, LLC, of Kailua-Kona, and built by Puako-based Mike O’Toole of Pacific Isle Homes. Paige collaborated closely with Nicholson in conceiving the vision. It took about a year and a half to build. 

When considering paint colors for the board-and-batten exterior, the couple wanted something that wouldn’t compete too visibly with the landscape. Upon Nicholso’s recommendation, they chose all black, which evokes the barren lava fields of the Big Island and also reflects the changing natural light of Waimea’s vibrant blue skies and ever-unfolding translucent clouds, tradewinds and misty rainfall. 

“We talked about maybe going with a burnt umber or rust, but ultimately we chose black, I’m really thankful we did,” Paige says. “The black exterior does not compromise or conflict with the nature around us. It absorbs light. Even the metal roof is black. I think the monochromatic quality of the black exteriors helps the home sink into place so that all the nature surrounding it can be seen and heard.” 

The creativity of the design is exemplified by some very unique architectural additions including his-and-hers garages. 

Devised so she can unload her groceries from the car with ease, Paige’s garage is attached to the kitchen of the living hale. Jeff’s garage is attached to the guest hale where he keeps his tools and bikes. 

“The key to a happy marriage is his-and-hers garages,” shares Paige with a laugh. “Every couple should have them, along with his-and-hers offices, water closets and vanities, which we also have.”

With its five en-suite bedrooms, the home is designed for practical living. The contemporary-style mudroom is lined with floor-to-ceiling custom closets, shoe drawers and storage for bulk purchases. There’s even a small fridge in the pantry for the kids.

In contrast to the black exteriors, the interiors showcase a cream palette with elegant touches of gold accents including gold grout in the bar tile. Custom hickory cabinetry from Pacific Source (Kailua-Kona) merges handsomely in the galley kitchen. Ocean views prevail from the prep counter and stovetop, while the sink faces the other direction toward the Kohalas. “I like to be able to look out at the ocean from the kitchen and also see the kids in the pool when I’m cooking,” Paige says.

The pool is angular just like the house. The family loves to soak in the hot tub at night and gaze at the incredibly vivid starry skies above. From furnishings to fixtures, Paige made all of the interior design choices herself. Local artwork on display includes pieces by Mark Cunningham, Terry Field, John Koga and Krista Skehan. A custom coffee table is crafted of local olive wood by Kamuela Hardwoods.

For the Brattins, the home-building process unfolded in the spirit of creativity, open communication and teamwork.

“It was a very collaborative experience working with Winton, and Mike’s guidance was invaluable every step of the way,” says Paige. “They both understand how to integrate simplicity into design elements. We’re thrilled with the results.”