Page Title

Remodeling Moku Place

Larry and I bought this
16-room fixer-upper
house in the exclusive
neighborhood of Ainako
Terrace. Built in 1978,
it was a Lindal Cedar
post & beam home,
(photo #1).

One of our first projects was to replace several
lower-level windows, (photos #2 thru #4).

Our next major project was
to add on a storage room on
the south side of the house,
(photos #5 thru #9).

With the new storage room
complete, we began work on
transforming the old storage room
downstairs into a second kitchen,
and adding on a new laundry area,
(photos #10 thru #18).

Next to the landscaping, the new kitchen
and laundry area was the most labor-intensive
project, but by far, the most rewarding. Other
than an electrical inspection, some minor plumbing
and the counter top installation, we did all of the
design work and labor ourselves.

Home

It took us just over one year to have
the third acre lot transformed from
lava rocks into a lush tropical garden.

#1. Moku Place in April of 2002. Moku Place in February of 2004, not yet painted.

#2. We wired for exterior lighting while
the framework was exposed.

#3. And added a layer of tar-paper before
replacing and repainting the cedar siding.

#5. We first had to build the frame.

#6. Then we covered the frame with
tar-paper, as no insulation is needed in
Hawaii.

#7. And replaced the exterior walls
with the original 9" cedar siding.

#8. We dry-walled the
interior, adding shelves,
plugs-ins and lighting.

#9. Intended for storage, this area ended
up housing the new solar hot water heater.

#11. First we had to
frame-in the new walls
and doors.

#12. Then we installed
our new electrical and
plumbing.

#13. The angled walls that I had included in our
design made dry-walling a challenge.

#10. The original
storage room, soon-to-
be kitchen.

#14. We painted the
walls and installed
wood and ceramic tiles.

#15. We installed all
new cabinets and
appliances.

#16. I hand-finished
all of the woodwork.

#17. We had the
solid-surface counter
tops installed...

#18. ... making the
lower-level a full one
bedroom apartment.

#19. With us, it was never all work and no play!

Other major projects included...

...replacing a rotted landing
and redesigning one of the
three entrances.

#20. The whole landing had to be rebuild. We put in a new sub floor, tiled it with imported Italian tile, installed a new
entry door after pushing it out three feet, and installed a privacy door to the lower-level apartment.

We fixed ceilings.

Replaced all of the kitchen
appliances upstairs with
top-of-the-line stainless.

...on December 21st, 2003,
despite his excellent health as
a paddler, Larry suddenly and
unexpected passed-away.

Our dreams ended that day!

Three months later I sold the
house and moved to
Tucson, Arizona.