One of the many great things about living in the tropics is the weather and in Hawaii we love our outdoor space. This outdoor tropical living is most reflected in home furnishings and décor.
In addition to the traditional chain furniture stores, Hawaii boasts a large selection of smaller custom stores that feature Asian and Pacific style home décor. Due to its unique location, Hawaii is an ideal place to pick up pieces from Southeast Asia and the Pacific that reflect the island vibe in their designs and fabrics.
The best spot to shop for creative and unique island home décor is at the Gentry Pacific Design Center. This cluster of fine specialty stores is the spot for one of kind items that make a spectacular statement. The Gentry Pacific Design Center is one stop shopping for residential and professional décor featuring a huge assortment of merchants. www.gentrycenter.com
Within the Design Center, is the fantastic Baik Designs. They display fine Indonesian furniture personally hand selected from Southeast Asia and shipped via container to Hawaii. These are true museum quality pieces and most are one of a kind. The owners have been traveling to Indonesian, Burma and Thailand for more than 20 years sourcing the top craftsmen in the regions. Baik Designs offers a range of Teak antiques, reproductions, stone carvings, garden accessories, to home accents. It is best to call ahead and make an appointment and talk to a consultant on what type of items you are looking for. www.baikdesigns.com
Also at the Design Center you will find Pacific Orient Traders. Their design mission is that home furnishings should be exceptional in comfortable, design, and quality. Pacific Orient Traders is full-service in the sense that they can help you select home furnishings as well as design your room! They have talented interior designers and stylists on their team of ten to help you bring your lifestyle vision to life. www.pacificorienttraders.com
INspiration Interiors is a creative retail spot featuring fine contemporary quality Italian furnishings from Cattelan Italia, Molteni, and Natuzzi. They carry more than 15 million dollars of inventory in-stock to insure quick delivery times, which can often be an issue here in Hawaii. Inspiration’s design philosophy is to live colorful and have fun which is easy since they have an espresso counter, wine bar, and restaurant within the premises! Even is you are not shopping for furniture, I would still give this place a look and then grab a glass of wine upstairs. Who knew furniture shopping could be so fun? www.inspirationinteriors.com
Last but certainly not least is a brand with a long history in the islands for furnishing gracious Hawaiian living – Martin & MacArthur. With more than 50 years of tradition, Martin & MacArthur is the destination for a true local hostess gift for someone in Hawaii. Their prices may be steep but the quality and craftmanship are unmatched for beautiful items. In the Hawaiian Islands, Koa wood has been highly prized for its strength, beauty, and durability. In fact, it was the choice material for items made for the Hawaiian Monarchy. Items made with Koa wood have made a great resurgence, with a nod to history and heritage, Martin & MacArthur creates magnificent Koa furniture, bowls, gifts, food, and dining elements and lamps. Martin & MacArthur has a commitment to the community, and plants a new Koa tree on the slopes of Mauna Kea in honor of certain purchases. www.martinandmacarthur.com
