Eternal Sunshine - Ku'u Home Magazine

A Garden Island home provides bright ideas for year-round staycation comfort

By: Darlene Dela Cruz

May 1, 2026

Perhaps it’s fitting that a Kaua‘i couple who owns a popular coffee shop and juggles a multilocation clothing boutique finds respite in a home full of energy and personality. Interior designer Christina Higham, founder of the firm Sun Soul Style, curated warm, functional spaces where the couple and their three sons can relax and gather casually with extended family.

“The goal was to create a layered, collected home that felt joyful, welcoming and distinctly theirs,” Higham says. “Not a neutral backdrop, but a vibrant reflection of their lifestyle and spirit.”

Higham and the homeowners digressed from traditional island aesthetics. Instead of selecting resort-inspired tropical prints, dark woods, teak and woven textures, they established their own sense of place with bold patterns and colors. Backsplash tile with a pink-and-yellow geometric design by Elisa Passino is “a conversation-starter” that makes the kitchen “feel like the heart of the home,” says Higham. Custom summer-stripe upholstery from Rebecca Atwood Designs brightens a U-shaped banquette that serves as a hub for entertaining.

Retro shapes and a vibrant backsplash fill the kitchen with energy.

The U-shaped banquette is upholstered with a summer-stripe fabric that is resistant to everyday wear.

The stripe pattern flows through the rest of the home.

“[The upholstery] offers durability against spills, sunscreen and everyday wear while still feeling soft and elevated,” Higham says. “In a home where last-minute gatherings are the norm, it allows the space to feel beautiful without being precious.”

The family prioritized versatile, long-lasting design elements to support their busy lifestyle. They built the banquette to do more than accommodate cousins and relatives stopping by — integrating hidden storage beneath the seats keeps nearby living areas clutter-free. Project contractor Justin Terpening of Creative Woodworking on Kaua‘i also constructed a custom white oak vanity in the primary bathroom. Its oversized drawers are practical and decorative, with a natural finish and round pulls that add “a subtle retro influence,” Higham says.

“In a family home, that kind of thoughtful storage makes all the difference between a space that looks good in photos and one that truly works every day,” she adds. “The result feels fresh but with a hint of nostalgia — fun, graphic and intentional.”

The homeowners and their three sons lead active lifestyles and regularly welcome relatives and friends who stop by, so they choose versatile, durable and comfortable finishes and storage features.

A custom white oak vanity in the primary bathroom has oversized drawers with round pulls that fit the nostalgic design themes.

Interior designer Christina Higham says she enjoyed infusing elements that show the individual personalities of each member in the ‘ohana (as seen in the bath and bedroom spaces above).

Higham notes that she and her team have designed many homes on Kaua‘i, but “this project felt distinctly different from the start.”

“It proves that island living doesn’t have to mean one specific look,” she says. “It can be bright, fearless and full of individuality while still honoring its setting. In many ways, this project felt more about storytelling than tradition. It’s not just a beautiful island home. It’s their island home.”

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