Haute couture meets panoramic ocean views in an Oahu home for sale for $23 million.
European, Japanese, American and Hawaiian influences are perfectly fused in a home called “Casa di Alta Moda” or House of High Fashion.
The property at 360 Puuikena Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii, was designed by Jeff Long, a well-known architect on the island. It comes fully equipped with designer furniture from Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Cassina, Mies Van der Rohe, Tresserra and more.
“Honolulu is the perfect blend of Japanese and American culture,” the designer-salesman said in marketing material for the home. “I wanted to emphasize this in the interior design of this home. The fusion of two cultures is what fascinates me. Modernism … has its roots in Japanese minimalism, and various parts of Japanese modern architecture were heavily influenced by Western architects such as Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright.”
The owners, who wished to remain anonymous for this article, are selling the home because they are moving back to the East Coast, according to Yvienne Peterson of The Agency, who is the listing agent for the home along with Brad Kaneshir of List Sotheby’s International Realty.
The five-bedroom, six-bathroom home, which sits at 8,795 square feet on half an acre, has been “gutted to the ground” and completely renovated in 2022, according to the property listing.
The gated, private residence offers an “impeccable European finish,” according to The Agency.
Those finishes include automated German metal shutters on doors and windows for a “lock-and-go lifestyle”; the Snaidero kitchen designed by Pininfarina, Ferrari’s design firm; Snaidero wardrobes and bedrooms; Molteni & Dada wardrobes with the work of skilled craftsmen; Spinneybeck leather walls; and Limestone Company staircase and walls.
“No expense has been spared to make this property extraordinary,” the listing reads.
“We first walked through the house with architect Jeff Long when it was being built and thought it was the most amazing place,” the owner told the Robb Report. “The road was amazing and the views were crazy. We bought it within a few days. After Covid-19, we destroyed the house and remodeled everything. He was well built and had great bones. Now it is completely current and beautiful.”
The home is light-filled and somewhat minimalistic in design, but each room is carefully furnished and decorated with a purpose.
“I wanted the house to be modern, not modern,” said the owner-designer. “I chose classics that will never go out of style as a backdrop for fun and colorful art. All the furniture is a mid-century modern classic or a modern classic that combines Japanese elements in the design.”
The property is the second most valued property in the neighborhood, according to the Agency.
“Although this is the second highest priced home in the area, the cost of remodeling, labor, design, imported luxury materials, exclusive items that were created especially for this home, and renowned contractors that were used on-site for the remodeling, all justify the price of this home ,” said Peterson, the listing agent, in an emailed response to the Sacramento Bee.
The property has an infinity pool with salt water and a large terrace with a pool. Inside, a pneumatic lift serves two levels.
“Life in Hawaii is paradise, and the view of the ocean rejuvenates the soul,” said the seller. “I spend so much time in Paris that the influence of Western design naturally blended with the lightness of Hawaii. As a designer, I wanted to bring all these other elements into an Omakase-style home that would combine history, art and fashion.”
David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and a longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.