Upcountry Maui: A Designer’s Vision Brought to Life in the Forest Above Makawao

Komorebi – A Visual Gift From the Sun and the Trees

Have you ever heard the term “Komorebi“? It’s a Japanese word that describes the very specific dance of sunlight and shadows through gently swaying leaves. When a Maui designer found a piece of land on Piiholo road surrounded by towering Olinda Forests, she knew that the constant dance of sun through the swaying forest canopy would be the perfect companion to the construction of a new House and Cottage. And so began her meticulous creation. (Spoiler alert: It’s now for sale!)

Site and Scale

Having lived on Maui for more than a handful of decades, and in particular having lived on Piiholo road many years ago, she was well acquainted with the invigorating eucalyptus scented air — the contrast of warm days and cool nights, and she has imbued the project with this intimate knowledge of the site. The scale and size of both houses bring a balanced perfection to the choice we all must make: “How much space do I really need?” — The main house is assembled around a covered lanai, and a stylish modern kitchen/living space with an auto ignition fireplace. At opposite ends of the house are two separate “suites” each of which have an amply sized bedroom, a private bathroom, and separation from the living space — yet miraculously, both have prime access to the spacious lanai – the focal point for outdoor lounging. There’s also a dedicated laundry room and sink (with its own window!) What, you want a walk-in closet? Got that too. (With its own window too!).

Cool Upcountry Nights: The Perfect Romantic Sweater Weather

While the Maui sun shines plentifully up in these forests during the day, at night the dew gathers and the temperature cruises downward. It’s the perfect atmosphere to move indoors and light the fire and get busy in the kitchen. The Auto Ignition Gas Fireplace creates a cozy environment for nesting. But what’s truly life changing is the radiant heating in the floor. Boasting 3 zones each individually controlled, you can combat cold toes by creating subtle warmth underfoot wherever you need it.

Forest Love Gathers in Every Window and Skylights Deliver “Komorebi” to the Inner Sanctum

The main house backs up against a very private forested valley — the master bedroom windows and the master bathroom all snuggle up against this valley creating the perfect sleeping opportunity — imagine being bathed all night long in forest scented air? The kitchen window below looks out into a private level garden sitting area surrounded by flowers and edibles. Not to waste any space, the entry hall doubles as an efficient office space — a great place to hunker down and turn the forest light into meaningful work.

The Cottage – The Clever Offspring of the Main House

As if the main house weren’t enough, Linda turned her attention to a small but enchanting corner of the land that still enjoys a peekaboo ocean view from its lanai. Oriented away from the main house, this 1 bedroom house still oozes space and volume. More skylights, more forest light, and a modern kitchen make this a noble getaway from the bustle of downcountry life. A thoughtfully placed laundry room has its own window — just another example of how every detail and every desire has been satisfied in this cleverly designed space. And to top it off, the bedroom has its own sliding glass doors to a very private sanctuary garden.

How Did She Do It?

Okay, are you ready to take a technical look at this magic? Here are the two floor plans of the main house and cottage:

More Possibilities than ever via a completed CPR process – The two houses are now for sale.

Knowing that people have different needs at different times of their life, Linda has turned each house into a separate CPR Unit allowing a future sale of either the main house or the cottage. The two are being sold together now, but just think of the future possibilities. Can’t swing the whole thing? Get a friend to buy the cottage! Here’s a link to the full listing.

Take a Tour From the Comfort of Your Own Device:

And here’s a Video Walk Through:

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