When Brooklyn-based architect Roberto Sosa sent us photos of his renovated farmhouse in upstate New York, we were enamored. Recently we’ve been admiring another project Sosa sent our way, this one nearly 5,000 miles away in Paia, a bohemian surf town on Maui’s wild north coast. Owned by two veterans of the fashion industry, the two 1940s beach cottages—one a traditional Hawaiian cottage, the other a stone carriage house, both surrounded by ancient trees and lush tropical plants—were recently renovated by a team of architects and designers who restored them to their laid-back Hawaiian charm. Today we’re taking a look at the main house. Join us for a tour.
Photography by Kate Holstein.
In renovating the 1940s-era main house, George and Angela Hensler wanted to preserve the home’s history, taking cues from the area’s natural beauty and laid-back style. Together with Rene Holguin from LA-based shop RTH and Sosa (then with Aero Studios), they restored the original wood siding, painted the exterior a custom dark green color, and added mahogany sliding doors. The effect: an indoor/outdoor home that looks one with the lush Hawaiian vegetation.
In the kitchen, the team added a modern edge—poured cement countertops—to the cottage-style cabinetry. The fridge, a paneled-front Subzero, is disguised in a row of oversize cabinets, vintage green bottles included.
In one bath, a marble-topped vanity, large format cement tiles by Clé Tile. (For a similar subtle look, see our post A New Blue Delft Tile Line from a California Artist.) The built-in shelving for towels adds a luxurious, hotel-like feel.
N.B. For a look at the property’s lush gardens, see Vacation Rental: Maui Beach Cottage with a Tropical Garden on Gardenista. For a look at the property’s carriage house, see Hawaiian Summer: A Charm-Filled Stone Carriage House on the Maui Coast, Restored.
Ready for summer? Take inspiration from these beachside cottages:
- A Chic Fixer-Upper on Fire Island, Budget Edition
- Before & After: A Summer Cottage Reborn on the Connecticut Coast
- The Soulful Side of Old Cape Cod: Justine’s Family Cottage
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