Designing With Place in Mind

An interior designer’s perspective on the Hawai‘i home

By: Avery Solmssen

Mar 2, 2026

Designing a home in Hawai‘i isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about paying attention. The land, the light and the pace of life here all speak first. As a designer, my job is to listen.

I always start by observing: where the trade winds come from, how the light shifts through-out the day, what the landscape is offering. These details guide everything from the place-ment of a window to the texture of a floor. The most successful homes here are not im-posed on the land but shaped in conversation with it.

One of my recent projects, Hale Kai Apo at Kohanaiki on Hawai‘i island, was designed with this philosophy in mind. The design is intentionally quiet — stone, wood and textiles that support, rather than compete with, the expansive ocean views. The interiors recede into these surroundings, creating calm, tactile spaces that feel timeless and rooted.

Hale Kai Apo at Kohanaiki is designed with its Hawai‘i island culture and surroundings in mind. Photos Courtesy Mariko Reed
Interior designer Avery Solmssen uses textures and materials that work well in the island sun and coastal salt air.

If you’re building or renovating in Hawai‘i, invest in materials that will wear well with salt-air and sun. Choose finishes that feel good underfoot and age gracefully. Let your home open up to the outdoors but also provide places for retreat.

And don’t overlook the art: Thoughtfully selected artwork — especially by local artists — can bring a layer of depth and soul to your space, connecting it to the culture and story of the islands.

Ultimately, designing a Hawai‘i home is about restraint, respect and rhythm. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what’s right for the place — and for the people who will call it home.

Art and décor anchor a home to the rich history of Hawai‘i.
Solmssen includes places of recreation and retreat in her designs.

Avery Solmssen is the cofounder and principal designer of Averylily Design Studio. Born in Tokyo and having lived in Seoul and the U.S. continent, Solmssen brings a well-traveled perspective to her 22 years of experience in the interior design field. Her Native Hawaiian roots and Hawai‘i island family ties inspire the modern interiors she designs with cultural and traditional grounding.

This story appears in the March/April 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.