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Building Bali-Style

Architecture Design by/MichaelMcLychokInterior Design by/ Vanessa Grant and Andrea Lecusay

Text by/ Sophia V. SchweitzerPhotography by / LinnyMorris

BALINESE-INFUSED TROPICALLUXURY HOMES MATCH

EXPRESSIVE HARDWOODS WITH IMPRESSIVE BEAUTY.

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LEFT: Black lava stone pavers leadthrough a mystical antique gate,tropical garden and on to the out-door waterfall shower.

BELOW: The main entrance to thehome features solid Acacia wooddoors, hand-carved to a customwoven pattern where the couplesson Foster stands guard.

ABOVE: High cathedral ceilings,exposed hardwood rafters withbamboo underlay, symbols ofBalinese architecture, create astunning first impression of bothdrama and warmth. The colorpalette of the room was inspired

by Vanessa Grants abstract art-work which radiates colors ofruby red, marigold, tangerine,and avocado. TropicalModern describes the cleanlines and simplicity of thehomes design and its interiors.

NESTLED IN THE VERDANT FOOTHILLS OF MOUNT NAMAHANA,on the secluded north shore of Kauai, stands a homethat lifts the celebration of tropical living to the nextlevel of art. High cathedral ceilings with exposed hardwoodrafters and rattan meet small hand-carved wooden lotus flowersthat neatly cover construction bolts. The bathtub and sinks arecustom-carved. Expansive glass sliding doors open onto anextensive deck. An infinity-edged, salt-water pool cascades overtwo hand-carved black lava stone carvingsreplicas from a tem-ple in Java. A gazebo sits at the pools edge. A Buddha statuesmiles.

But what exactly sets this home apart? Each detail fits withits environment, says Lani McLychok, who owns the home withhusband Michael. Everything is made in Bali or inspired by itscultural environment.

This strong Asian influence evokes awe in anyone who vis-its. Take the pool and an outdoor waterfall shower, both laid inBali Green stone. The shower lies hidden behind a mysticalantique gate. The gazebo, called bale in this Asian context, isdesigned with two oversized lounging areas, perfect for mas-

sages. Topped by a high-arching ironwood roof, a rice barn over-looks a private lake. In Bali, this would be where the rice work-ers find shade during harvest. On Kauai, it serves as an extrabedroom, art or yoga studio...or a play hut for the McLychokstwin sons.

The front entrance doors to the property feature thick aca-cia wood. Each half is one solid piece, hand-carved to suggest awoven composition. Chunky hand-crafted, aged-brass handlesgive a solid feel, which exemplifies the homes general moodand thememeditative, casually elegant, and warm. But eventhe smallest details reflect the beauty of Balinese artisanship.Lani brought in several artists to create this harmonious look.

Vanessa Grant, Artist and environmental home consultantand owner of Grant by Design specializing in clean interiors,helped with initial furniture designs, which were then custommade in Bali. A special shopping trip to Bali and Southeast Asiaallowed Grant to find the McLychoks their antique doors, vani-ties, statues, outdoor furniture, garden pots, stone lanterns, andunique accessories. A prime example of her close collaborationwith the McLychoks is a majestic, zen-like gong, which sits onthe middle of the lnai and resounds across the entire three anda half acres of grounds.

BELOW: The McLychoks in thepools bale with twin four year oldsons Max and Foster.

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LEFT: The Asian-influenced, customlight fixture was handmade in Baliand crafted of steel and bambooand is suspended over the solidAcacia wood dining table, an artpiece in itself.

LEFT: Hand-carved lotus flowersbolt covers reflect the detail andcraftsmanship of the home.

Lani remembers, I got a long distance call from Vanessa,who was in a small village marketplace trying to decide whichgong to purchase. She hit about 12 to see which one I liked best.I picked the second one because of its deep resonating sound.Then she hit them all again in a different order, and I stillpicked the same one. Of course, thats the one she bought.

Dedicated to timeless living environments and green prac-tices, interior designer Andrea Lecusay, owner of LakshmiInteriors, joined Lanis and Vanessas efforts. Her touch in theMcLychoks home provided additional architectural nuanceand furniture design, custom-lighting designs, plus a refinedcolor scheme. The home combines a variety of woods with nat-ural textures, she says. So we chose a color scheme inspired byGrants tropical abstract artwork, which radiates with colors ofruby red, marigold, tangerine, and avocado. This palettebrought the whole concept to life, and made it all come togeth-er in an inviting, calming ambiance.

Miranda Dornfield ensured harmony in the home with aFeng Shui consultation, and, naturally, the landscaping becamean integral part of the balanced design as well. The McLychokshome melts into a meandering landscape of trickling streamsand lily-filled water gardens, mature palms and tropical foliage,complemented by strategically placed natural rock walls. WillieShook, owner of Namahana Nursery and Landscaping onKauai, worked with Lani to create a blend of Balinese meetsHawaiiana.

The main visionary behind the McLychok masterpiece?Michael McLychok, who designed the home. It was meant formy family, he says. Then something happened: Peoplestopped by when we were building, and somehow we sold sevensimilar homes before ours was halfway completed, which was inDecember 2006.

As a result, the house provides more than a great place tolive, and now doubles as a model for the McLychoks business,Bali Built Homes, LLC. We formed a partnership with a topBalinese architect, and started working with his talented pro-duction and design team to offer others here open-style, tropi-cal luxury living, Michael explains. We now create drawingsthat deliver building systems combining client-adaptable archi-tectural designs with Balinese materials and craftsmanship.Grant, Lecusay, and others who helped the McLychoks original-ly, are part of the Bali Built design team on Kauai.

The McLychok home is made of all Balinese hardwoods,including the ironwood roof shingles. But you dont see whatsinside your walls or under the floors, Michael says. So we rec-ommend that our clients build up to the top plate with sustain-able construction materials such as concrete forms or recycledsteel, then use the hardwoods where they can be appreciated. It

The generous kitchen island fea-tures a raised bar at one and is oftenthe popular gathering spot for fam-ily and friends.

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The Bali greenstone waterfall show-er features a carved black lavarelief, basalt stone floor and isentered by a stone path throughtropical foliage

LEFT: The guest bath featuresbronze faucets on a grooved stoneaccent wall, above the Bali green-stone sinks which sit on theantique vanity.

ABOVE: Frosted glass doors andstriking red accent wall mark theentrance area to the master suite,which overlooks three lily pondsand the Kauais mount Wai ale ale.Brightly colored silks sprinkle theroom, Bali-style. When we wakeup in the morning and hear thebirds, we feel like we are truly liv-ing in paradise, says Lani.

is more eco-friendly and provides the same look.The exotic hardwoods in question are, primarily, bangkarai

and merbau, which are farmed and come from legal govern-ment sources. Because of the woods density, they are termite-resistant, and dont require chemical treatment. UnlikeDouglas Fir or softer woods, these hardwoods may last for cen-turies, without needing to be replaced.

The McLychok home design doesnt actually consist of justone building but comprises a flowing system of pods intercon-nected by covered breezeways. Yet, if, in the middle of the night,Lani wants to fetch a glass of water from the kitchen, she has toventure outside. Its a great opportunity to feel the warmbreeze, take in the fresh air, and look up at the stars, Michaeland Lani say. When its raining, we can enjoy the fresh scent ofa tropical rain, because the breezeways keep us dry. It makes usrealize how special it is to be living in Hawaii. Where else canyou live like this?

The McLychok home infuses luxury resort-style living withromance, beauty, and passion. Its a dream of the good life andthe Balinese style, and it appears well-suited to our Islands.

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ABOVE: Relaxing in reclining loungechairs by the infinity-edged pooland the lake beyond offers resort-style living at its best

A covered breezeway opens onto toa spacious lnai centered betweentwo bedroom wings. The majestic,Zen-like gong holds center stage, itsdeep reverberating sound resonatesacross the property grounds.

RIGHT: Two stone fountains high-light the steps into the infinity pool.The pools bale is detailed withtiger bamboo railing and provides aunique lounging and entertainingexperience.