She kicked off the project by vaulting the low ceilings, which were made of a product composed of sugarcane stalks and commonly used in older homes. Then she added trusses and a shed dormer to let more light and air into the living room. Though the home had a spectacular view, a hodgepodge of window styles distracted from it. Linnea remedied that problem by spanning the waterfront wall with three large picture windows and opening each corner with glass doors leading to the lanai. Because Hawaiian beach homes rarely have air-conditioning, she installed jalousies (shutters with adjustable horizontal slats) below the windows to cool the living spaces.

To expand the kitchen, Linnea reworked an unused bit of floor space behind the stove and cabinets. “There wasn’t even room for a big table, and the owners are very family-oriented,” she says. Now, a large island serves parents, kids, and grandkids, and new sliding glass windows open to an outside bar.

Interior designers Marion Philpotts and Jonathan Staub of Philpotts & Associates brought in a neutral palette of soft grays, whites, and a pale aqua the locals call “Lanikai blue.” “We reinforced the kamaaina [classic, local] beach house look,” Marion says. “It was important to keep the quiet, unpretentious nature of this home.”

Because she had no space for a formal dining room inside, Linnea moved it outdoors, to a forlorn interior courtyard (where former owners had allowed a dense mass of foliage to grow). After clearing the area, she poured a concrete floor and built a sheltered dining room. “When you close the doors into the house, you can’t even feel the wind here,” Linnea says. She completed the idyllic scene with railings featuring a Hawaiian tea-leaf design. “It’s the perfect setup for pre-dinner play, barbecuing, or romantic dining,” Marion says. “It’s expansive enough that you don’t think, ‘Let’s move on already.’ And you still have an ocean view.”

To accommodate the homeowners’ many guests, Linnea added a bath to the spare bedroom. But the highlight of the sleeping quarters is the former outdoor lanai and bar. Using the same slab and little else, she created a bunk room that sleeps six children and still has room for built-in storage and space on the floor for board games. “We took the tea-leaf railing concept and combined it with a nautical theme in here,” Marion says. Because it feels separated from the rest of the house, and thanks to the space-saving bunks, “It’s like a clubhouse—a place where the kids can have fun,” Jonathan says.

Add a manicured lawn and fresh paint job and nothing’s left to remind visitors that this was once a sad rental. Now, hanging around the beach shack is almost as much fun as hitting the sand beyond.

Taming the Great Outdoors
Consider these simple tips when planning an outdoor space.

Seek shelter. If the intended site for your room bears the brunt of high winds, you’ll need to consider a more protected area. Sheltered spaces are more practical for dining or reading the daily paper. (You won’t lose the Travel section to an unexpected gust.)

Consider a roof. Linnea’s choice of a trellis-like roof for the dining area provides protection without closing off the room entirely. Trees growing over the rafters give the impression of eating under an arbor, while a slight difference in height between this roof and the home’s roof allows a stream of light to flow through.

Invest in quality. Even stainless steel can suffer in a tropical climate. If sand and salt spray threaten your fixtures, try copper. While pricey, its rosy sheen will add vintage flair and last for years.

Opt for durability. Furnishings have to be extra-tough to survive outdoors in steamy weather, so Marion chose pieces composed of hardy materials. She recommends using 100 percent acrylic outdoor fabric for cushions. You can also use it on indoor furniture to combat the damaging effects of wet swimsuits.