Modern Luxury Hawaii Article

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Through light, proportion, and texture, we aim to create spaces that inspire calm and connection, a return to nature - places that ground us in the present and invite a slower, more intentional way of living.

The design of our Big Island retreat embodies a home that dissolves the boundaries between interior and exterior, softening the threshold between landscape and living. Balancing rough, rugged materials inspired by the island’s expansive volcanic terrain with the soft, budding bloom of new growth seen in the soft textiles and delicate details of the design. Inspired by the Big Island’s landscape and materiality, the design expresses both strength and softness, permanence and renewal, creating a harmonious dialogue between architecture and its surroundings.

Design: @house.of.tropics
Visualization: @noasrender

So honored to be featured in Modern Luxury Hawaii! Thank you for showcasing our Hanalei Bay Beach Bungalow renovation in the November/December 2025 issue.

Throughout the years, through personal relationships, I have had the opportunity of spending time on Lānaʻi, for which I am very grateful. The island continues to be a source of inspiration for me, drawing me back to its grounded-primal presence, its vast landscape of rolling red earth and whistling winds, calmed only by a thick blanket of stars.

This past holiday season we took a drive down to a good fishing spot and noticed the water level had dropped and the sun came out hot, quickly drying out the earth, creating a beautiful clay texture along the water. This pattern currently occupies my creative mind and I look forward to watching it bloom.

With Aloha,
Amy Vicente

It’s not always about the ocean view.

This video was taken from the lanai of our Pupukea studio in late September of last year, looking out at the mature bamboo planted by our previous landlord and dear friend Jim sometime in the early ’80s.

We find so much joy in hearing these tall, towering shoots creak and sway in the trade winds - telling their own quiet story of place, time, and continuity.

The dining room of our Hanalei Bay Bungalow renovation.

Reimagined as the heart of the home, this gathering space is designed to bring people together through a seamless connection to a shared view. Centered around a custom monkey pod table and accessorized with island-made pottery, it’s a place to linger - where daily meals turn into meaningful moments, the sun sets beyond the landscape, and Kaua‘i’s starry nights slowly emerge.

Designer: @house.of.tropics
Builder: @bonsaidesign.build
Production: @fioreproductions
Photography: @michaelarabinov

A Space to Breathe

The beginnings of a material palette - inspired by tropical landscapes where architecture and interiors unfold gently, moving in harmony with nature and the surrounding views, and supporting an architecture of stillness - where each element contributes to a peaceful retreat experience.

Rooted in natural stone, soft plaster, and sun-warmed timber, the palette embraces materials that feel honest and calming. Limestone and basalt ground the architecture with cool, earthy tones, while light woods, bamboo, and woven fibers introduce warmth and tactile softness. Choosing materials for the way they age gracefully, celebrating time, texture, and imperfection.

While assembling this palette in our studio, we found ourselves pausing often to watching the light dapple across the materials as the wind moved the trees outside. That fleeting play of shadow and softness became part of the process, reminding us why we design this way. The palette came together slowly, intuitively, shaped by light, movement, and a shared love for calm, intentional spaces.

- House of Tropics

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