Pu'uhonua Estate, Kula, Maui, Hawaii
Well, now I've done it. One little Pinterest search for "grasscloth wallpaper ceiling" and now Google thinks I'll like every grasscloth wallpaper image as insistently as Dish Network thinks I want to watch Two and a Half Men.
I had to do the search, though. Pu'uhonoa means place of refuge, and a place of refuge like this just can't have plain, ordinary ceilings. This 7,200 square feet estate built in 1926 is set on 16 lushly landscaped acres. It has 2 guest houses and a 3 bedroom apartment above the garage.
This is the garage:
Here are the guesthouses:
This is the trellis walk from the first guesthouse up to the main house:
All that to say, by the time you enter the house, you expect it to look a certain way inside. This is not it.
The inside doesn't live up to the outside.
Here's how I would up the refuge factor:
I'd also add a grasscloth ceiling between the panels, to up the Hawaii factor.
Here's the existing dining room, which could also use some sprucing up:
Here's the design inspiration for a makeover:
There's my hard-earned grasscloth picture, as well as a beautiful nod to the lush garden outside.
The listing photos of the 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom estate also include a paneled library...
...a shiny, retro kitchen...
...and a bedroom fit for a Pu'uhonua princess...
...with a view of the lush courtyard below...
...and beautiful Kula to enjoy:
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Kula means open country or open meadows. In the mid to late 1800's it was divided into ranches by wealthy families. Even today, 'gentleman farmers' still own these exclusive properties. Most of Hawaii's cut flowers, including proteas and nearly all of the carnations used in leis, come from Kula.
The listing is here. Be sure to watch the video -- the music will make you feel like you're watching a movie preview. As for me, maybe I'll finally watch an episode of Two and a Half Men.
