USA Houzz: Maui Revamp Sets the Stage For Life-Changing Romance
The sophisticated renovation of a traditional island cottage provides the building blocks for a couple's fresh start on life
The first time Sarah Schmidt came to Hawaii on holiday was 15 years ago. At the time, she says, “I thought to myself, ‘I could live here’ and I almost quit my job.” It wasn’t just the welcome break from her high-stress job on Wall Street in New York City. Schmidt spent her childhood in the Bahamas, so she was no stranger to the laid-back island lifestyle. Her return trips to Hawaii sparked her love of windsurfing and a deeper desire to live more simply. In Maui she felt a connection to nature and the ocean-loving people and knew this was the place she wanted to call home.
She purchased a 93-square-metre cottage on three acres of lush land in Makawao, on Maui’s North Shore, with plans to use it as a holiday home. But as she worked long distance with architectural designer Linda Lange and builder Todd Boyd, she decided to change the focus from holiday to full-time home. The decision was made easier by her budding romance with Boyd.
“The scope of the project changed once I decided to live in the house with Todd,” she recalls. “I really poured my heart and soul into it!” The result is a cohesive blend of city and island that is a perfect fit for the couple.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Sarah Schmidt, Todd Boyd of Todd Boyd Homes, and Charles the cat
Location Maui, Hawaii
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
She purchased a 93-square-metre cottage on three acres of lush land in Makawao, on Maui’s North Shore, with plans to use it as a holiday home. But as she worked long distance with architectural designer Linda Lange and builder Todd Boyd, she decided to change the focus from holiday to full-time home. The decision was made easier by her budding romance with Boyd.
“The scope of the project changed once I decided to live in the house with Todd,” she recalls. “I really poured my heart and soul into it!” The result is a cohesive blend of city and island that is a perfect fit for the couple.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Sarah Schmidt, Todd Boyd of Todd Boyd Homes, and Charles the cat
Location Maui, Hawaii
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The new house required considerable effort to transform it into a comfortable, light-filled home. They opened up the interior space by eliminating one of the three bedrooms. Working alongside Boyd, Schmidt selected everything – each paint colour, finish, appliance and piece of furniture. “It was a typical renovation at first, then next thing you knew, we tore it apart,” she says. “Todd ripped the house down to the studs – every door was moved; every light fixture was changed; the plumbing was replaced; insulation was installed, as well as solar attic fans.”
A 152-metre-long driveway leads to the cottage, which sits in a gated area. Boyd kept the roof but changed the latticework on the ground level. He also planted fruit trees around the property, including tangerines, Valencia oranges, grapefruits, avocados, mangoes and a stunning white shower tree.
Cladding: HardiePlank; painted Green Blue (top) and Stiffkey Blue (bottom): Farrow & Ball
Cladding: HardiePlank; painted Green Blue (top) and Stiffkey Blue (bottom): Farrow & Ball
An out-of-the way corner of the great room is home to an antique desk from a second-hand shop in New York. The foo dogs were found at the same store, and the painting was done by a friend of Schmidt’s from university, contemporary artist Marlena Chumo.
The open kitchen exemplifies the attention to detail that was paid to the entire renovation. “Sarah was adamant about white marble benchtops,” Boyd says. After an extensive search, Boyd came across two slabs of Italian white statuary marble – a rare find in the Hawaiian Islands – at Central Maui Baseyard. The finished marble was used throughout the home, from the kitchen island and benchtops to the bathroom floors and the coffee table top.
In addition, “Sarah wanted the whitest white we could find for the cabinets and drawers,” says Boyd. The result is a light-filled space.
In addition, “Sarah wanted the whitest white we could find for the cabinets and drawers,” says Boyd. The result is a light-filled space.
The original structure featured vaulted ceilings. Boyd installed tongue and groove timber panelling to brighten the space. The floors throughout are Brazilian hardwood.
For a clean and modern look, Schmidt elected injection-moulded polycarbonate chairs. “Because of the damp climate, I didn’t want anything with cushions,” she says.
Charles Ghost chairs; Design Within Reach; refrigerator: Sub-Zero and Wolf
For a clean and modern look, Schmidt elected injection-moulded polycarbonate chairs. “Because of the damp climate, I didn’t want anything with cushions,” she says.
Charles Ghost chairs; Design Within Reach; refrigerator: Sub-Zero and Wolf
Schmidt found herself researching range cookers on Houzz and fell in love with La Cornue’s, but “they were just too expensive,” she says. “I wanted two ovens, but I only had a certain amount of space. Todd and I discovered the Lacanche French ranges showroom in Manhattan. The stoves come in 25 different colours – we chose French Blue Enamel. Each one is made to order in France.”
Artisan Stand Mixer: KitchenAid; Dish drawer: Fisher & Paykel
Artisan Stand Mixer: KitchenAid; Dish drawer: Fisher & Paykel
Light-coloured walls also keep the kitchen space light and airy. The island is new. “I wanted an island that we could also eat at in case it’s too windy outside,” Schmidt says. Above the island hangs a rectangular pendant in polished nickel. That and the stainless steel kitchen sink give the room an industrial vibe.
Skylight wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Roark pendant: Ralph Lauren Home; kitchen sink: Kohler
Skylight wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Roark pendant: Ralph Lauren Home; kitchen sink: Kohler
In the living room, adjacent to the kitchen, a flat-weave rug in indigo and chambray adds a touch of coastal charm. Sarah found the sofa at a second-hand shop in New York and had it reupholstered. The coffee table is an antique. Almost all of the furnishings were in Schmidt’s Manhattan apartment and arrived in Hawaii in a 12-metre-long shipping container.
Though the couple lost a bedroom in the renovation, they realised that outdoor living and entertaining were top priorities on their list. Patio doors lead to a 46-square-metre verandah, where the couple gravitates to dine and entertain friends. It features a glass window on the northwest side to protect them from Maui’s trade winds.
Cameron Stripe rug: Ralph Lauren Home; coffee table: One Kings Lane; sliding patio doors: Fleetwood Windows and Doors
Though the couple lost a bedroom in the renovation, they realised that outdoor living and entertaining were top priorities on their list. Patio doors lead to a 46-square-metre verandah, where the couple gravitates to dine and entertain friends. It features a glass window on the northwest side to protect them from Maui’s trade winds.
Cameron Stripe rug: Ralph Lauren Home; coffee table: One Kings Lane; sliding patio doors: Fleetwood Windows and Doors
The landscape painting that hangs on the living room wall is by artist Jason Monet. Schmidt had seen his work when she was in Bali.
She topped the side table base, by Julian Chichester, with a slab of marble.
Kelly Wearstler chair (on right): One Kings Lane; wall sconces: Aerin
Kelly Wearstler chair (on right): One Kings Lane; wall sconces: Aerin
Schmidt carved out a nook in the wall to house the flat-screen television. “We made that wall extra thick and framed it underneath,” Boyd says. The antique coffee table is from the Bahamas.
Schmidt furnished the entire space with family pieces, artwork, colourful textiles and artefacts discovered during her travels.
Hampton pendant: Aerin
Hampton pendant: Aerin
“That cool wooden sign came off my dad’s catamaran from the 1960s,” Schmidt says. “He kept the sign his whole life. He had it in New York and in the Bahamas at his resort on Harbour Island.” The sign was originally made by Roddy Choy. ‘Nai’a’ is the Hawaiian word for ‘porpoise’.
The guest bathroom was inspired by the posh penthouses of Manhattan. The Caesarstone counter in Piatra Grey was originally intended for the kitchen island.
For a touch of drama, Schmidt painted a raw-wood mirror from Bali a vivid orange-red. The sleek wall sconce above is Robert Abbey’s Chase Bath Strip, from YLighting.
For a touch of drama, Schmidt painted a raw-wood mirror from Bali a vivid orange-red. The sleek wall sconce above is Robert Abbey’s Chase Bath Strip, from YLighting.
“Ikea’s Maskros pendant lamp makes a cool pattern on the wall at night,” Schmidt says.
The dark walls and 2.5cm by 5cm glass metro mosaic tiles contrast with the light colours found throughout the rest of the house, while white fixtures and accessories add a crisp, nautical touch.
Tea-for-Two shower and bathtub: Kohler; shower head: Grohe; shower curtain: One Kings Lane; toilet: Toto; slate grey tiles: Ann Sacks; Down Pipe wall paint: Farrow & Ball
Tea-for-Two shower and bathtub: Kohler; shower head: Grohe; shower curtain: One Kings Lane; toilet: Toto; slate grey tiles: Ann Sacks; Down Pipe wall paint: Farrow & Ball
Built-in units maximise the space in the guest bedroom. Schmidt says, “It was a bay window before, with no cabinetry. Originally, our architect designed the built-in to float and the drawers were more equal in size, which was too contemporary for me. I wanted it to feel clean and timeless.”
She had the chair reupholstered in raw silk with navy velvet piping.
Italian brushed nickel hardware: Gruppo Romi
She had the chair reupholstered in raw silk with navy velvet piping.
Italian brushed nickel hardware: Gruppo Romi
The red tray is from HomeGoods. “I took it to an auto body shop and asked them to spray it in glossy apple red,” Schmidt says. The amethyst vase is from her travels to the Czech Republic. The painting is by Laura Owens.
The guest room includes other personal touches. “My mum found the cool monkey fabric in West Palm Beach, Florida, and we made curtains and a tiny pillow to match,” Schmidt says. An antelope shag rug found on eBay has a bit of eccentric flair.
‘Oval Room Blue’ wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Bed: Weego Home; linen: Pratesi
‘Oval Room Blue’ wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Bed: Weego Home; linen: Pratesi
The 3-metre ceilings are painted in ‘Skylight’ by Farrow & Ball. “We wanted to set off the moulding a bit and soften the room,” Boyd says.
The black and white photograph, titled ‘Morning Girl’ (North Shore, Hawaii, 1959), by Grant Rohloff, was a gift to Boyd for his 40th birthday. He says, “The photo is the same one that hangs in the Paia Fish Market, and I fell in love with it long ago.”
Wall sconces: YLighting
The black and white photograph, titled ‘Morning Girl’ (North Shore, Hawaii, 1959), by Grant Rohloff, was a gift to Boyd for his 40th birthday. He says, “The photo is the same one that hangs in the Paia Fish Market, and I fell in love with it long ago.”
Wall sconces: YLighting
The master bedroom has ocean views across the tall cane grass. The walls are the same shade of blue as in the guest room, but other touches vary, including the jewelled chandelier and the window covering. Schmidt came across the white duck canvas shade lined in black with the perfect dimensions and style on the online shop Chairish, for $100.
‘Oval Room Blue’ wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Audrey by Canopy Designs chandelier: ABC Carpet & Home
‘Oval Room Blue’ wall paint: Farrow & Ball; Audrey by Canopy Designs chandelier: ABC Carpet & Home
The antique 19th-century bed frame was Schmidt’s parents’ from the Bahamas. “They found it in an old abandoned house,” she says. Two Italian Murano glass wall sconces from New York flank the bed.
The wooden nightstand is also an antique. Above the bed hangs an enlarged X-ray of a chrysanthemum, from Fred Segal in Los Angeles.
The wooden nightstand is also an antique. Above the bed hangs an enlarged X-ray of a chrysanthemum, from Fred Segal in Los Angeles.
“The goal was to maximise my wardrobe space!” Schmidt jokes about her design for the wardrobe. “I wanted to make sure the doors opened out instead of sliding across.”
Wardrobe doors: Pacific Source; hardware: Emtek
Wardrobe doors: Pacific Source; hardware: Emtek
“I’ve always liked a white bathroom,” Schmidt says. “We wanted the colour to flow with the Italian white statuary marble counters and floors,” Boyd adds. He made the large wall mirror to go with the rest of the room.
The sconces on either side of the mirror are from Gracious Home in New York. Schmidt found the industrial-look full-length medicine cabinet at Restoration Hardware.
Dimpse wallpaint: Farrow & Ball; hardware: Emtek; Allen Linear Sconce: Ralph Lauren Home
The sconces on either side of the mirror are from Gracious Home in New York. Schmidt found the industrial-look full-length medicine cabinet at Restoration Hardware.
Dimpse wallpaint: Farrow & Ball; hardware: Emtek; Allen Linear Sconce: Ralph Lauren Home
The shower features matt metro tiles by Ann Sacks in ‘Mist’, finished with a silver grout. “The matt finish reminded me of aged sea glass that you’d find at the beach, and the metro tiles are a reference to New York City,” Schmidt says. Boyd created the shower floor with 2.5cm hexagon statuary marble and made the border from the leftovers from the worktop. The window overlooks the citrus trees and has an awning above to provide some shelter from the sun.
Rain showerhead: Grohe
Rain showerhead: Grohe
Schmidt’s cat, Charles, made the big move from Manhattan and seems to be adjusting to the laid-back Hawaiian lifestyle.
Schmidt, shown here with Boyd, successfully combined her sophisticated urban leanings with an aesthetic suitable to the island scenery and lifestyle throughout the new residence. In the process she discovered a passion for interior design, which she is now pursuing full-time.