Hawaiian Summer: A Charm-Filled Stone Carriage House on the Maui Coast, Restored - Remodelista
A few weeks back, we took a look at a restored vintage Hawaiian plantation cottage—and the surrounding tropical gardens—in Paia, a laid-back, bohemian surf town on Maui’s north coast. Photography by Kate Holstein and art by Pete Cabrinha. Today we’re kicking off the Fourth of July on the only non-continental state with a tour of the small stone Carriage House on the property, recently transformed by the fashion-industry owners (and a team of designers) from a 1940s-era garage into a charm-filled getaway. The Carriage House, formerly a three-car garage with a caretaker’s apartment above, is tucked into a corner of the garden. Owners George and Angela Hensler had the existing wood siding removed and replaced with coral stone for a Hawaiian look. The exterior has a traditional roof; new, low-profile aluminum casement windows swing outwards. At right, a chair with custom cushions in Hawaiian barkcloth hints at the tropics. The Henslers collaborated with New York–based Aero Studios (at the time headed by NY-based designer Roberto Sosa) to transform the interiors from garage into fully appointed cottage. The U-shaped kitchen, with an economical Seagrass Mat. Though they look like concrete, the counters are, surprisingly, a sheet of durable gray rubber, which Aero Studios sourced from Musson Rubber Co. (Rubber was also used for the stair treads and bathroom counters.) A straw hat serves as decor above the dining table. The walls throughout are painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove Paint; the ceiling is made of woven bamboo matting and plaster for a tropical and textured touch. Much of the cottage’s furniture was custom-designed and built on site, including the living area’s low wooden lounge, envisioned by George Hensler. The downstairs bedroom overlooks the garden. A local cabinet maker built the custom bath vanity out of teakwood. Cutouts, rather than drawer pulls, maintain a streamlined look. Upstairs, an airy bedroom under the woven bamboo ceiling. A closet and built-in reading nook make use of a narrow space under the eaves. Triangular windows flank the mirror; the brass light is from Big Ship Salvage, a nautical salvage shop in Ohio. A bathing suit hangs to dry in the shower. A necklace hangs from a brass window latch sourced from House of Antique Hardware. The countertop is also clad in gray rubber. Outside, a pergola creates privacy and an outdoor dining space, caned chairs included.