Philpotts Interiors, one of Hawaiʻi's most storied interior design firms, is known for creating spaces that blend Hawaiian culture with modern design into a wide-ranging portfolio that spans residential, commercial and hospitality designs.

Renowned for a unique approach to the craft of design, and with a footprint that reaches across the Pacific to the U.S. mainland, the legacy firm synthesizes art, craft, and culture to create extraordinary spaces for living and working that reflect a deep respect for place. 

Throughout the last six decades, the work of Philpotts Interiors has been guided by a simple, enduring belief: that thoughtful design—rooted in Hawaiʻi, shaped by intentionality and restraint, and centered on people—creates lasting value. That legacy lives on in the following projects led by different generations of leadership and which reflect the firm’s work across different building types and regions. 

Modern, Island Residences

Kūkiʻo: For this residence, Director of Design Kristie Kiggins helped the clients envision a resort-style home that offered a creative and comfortable tropical beach experience. To bring that vision to life, the design is centered around an open-air great room with uninterrupted sight lines to the pool and ocean, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living. These thoughtful touches extend the tropical retreat experience well beyond the walls of the home. From shared gathering areas to cozy nooks, the design balances playfulness with comfort, allowing the home to grow and evolve.

Mauna Kea: Nestled within a private enclave at Mauna Kea on Hawaiʻi's Big Island, Director of Design Kristie Kiggins collaborated closely with the homeowners to curate a meaningful design narrative. The interior environment was thoughtfully composed to honor and highlight the family’s cherished heirlooms, artwork and antiquities—treasures preserved and passed down through generations. The project called for a comprehensive interior renovation with the goal of creating sophisticated, fresh, and modern living spaces. Unexpected design elements were seamlessly integrated to create fluid transitions between interior rooms and the outdoor lanai, enhancing the home’s connection to its natural surroundings.

Urban Island Living

Park Lane: For this urban condo, the primary challenge was creating a more vibrant and layered aesthetic while maintaining harmony with the owners’ existing artwork and furnishings. The goal for Director of Design Kristie Kiggins was to refresh the different spaces by thoughtfully mixing color, pattern, texture, and furnishings. Each selection was intentionally chosen to complement the owners’ personality and collection, resulting in a home that feels authentic, collected, and uniquely their own. The collaboration allowed the design to be expressive and personal while still maintaining a sophisticated sense of balance and cohesion.

Historical Residences

Mary's Residence (‘Āhuimanu): Built back in 1942 by architect Hart Wood, Mary's Residence or ‘Āhuimanu sits on a quiet street in Nu'uanu Valley. Leading up to the house, the driveway is lined with palapalai, bromeliads, and other local flora. The residence, which was the final home of late firm founder Mary Philpotts McGrath, blends Mediterranean, Colonial and Renaissance influences, reflecting Wood's desire to integrate classical architectural forms into a distinct Hawaii aesthetic. 

The discovery of the property was accidental: Mary had just remarried and owned a home in the Dowsett Highlands area. Her daughter, Marion Philpotts-Miller, decided to tour the home with a few family friends, Allison Hopper and renowned artist Pegge Hopper. The rest was history: “The four of us walked into the drive-way, and it was like my mom fell over, she was so enchanted,” Philpotts-Miller recalls. The house, which Mary purchased in 1992, was recently sold again following her passing and will always reflects an important moment in the Philpotts' family legacy.

Historic Manoa Residence: This special island home had been in the clients’ family for generations. Of utmost importance was the need to restore and modernize it, while also keeping true to the cultural and historical elements that the clients so loved. Listening to the history of the house helped guide the team, led by Marion Philpotts-Miller. For example, the house had great bones, but the original floors were over one hundred years old, and couldn't be refinished due to termite damage. The team introduced modern Ohia wood as well as mahogany wood for the staircase, and oak and douglas fir in the upstairs bedrooms. 

In an effort to make the bathrooms and kitchen indicative of the times, the team sourced new appliances, a clawfoot tub, updated flooring, tiling and cabinetry and oversaw updated electrical and plumbing work; while in the living spaces, custom sofas and entertainment and reading nooks make the spaces feel cozy and warm. Sustainability was also important to the clients, who don’t have air conditioning, and instead rely on ceiling fans and the ocean breezes to cool the home. The original jalousie windows were replaced with new windows.

"Off Island" Residences

Pacific Northwest Residence: For their latest “mainland” residential project, Senior Designer Anne Tanaka and Marion Philpotts-Miller worked closely with the homeowners to create the perfect summer house. Given their large multi-generational family, the homeowners desired a place ideal for different ages and generations where they could come together and make long-term memories. Located in a quaint vacation destination in the Pacific Northwest, the homeowners were immediately drawn to the property for the breathtaking lake views. As such, one of the design team’s goals was for every space to have a view of the lake. The aim was to create lots of indoor and outdoor opportunities to enjoy lake life, including soaking in the hot tub, roasting s'mores around the fire pit, watching the sunset over the lake and more. Highlights of the residence include the cozy, nautical themed bedroom with four bed bunks and trundle bed; the hair salon bathroom where younger generations can get ready in a space that feels like an old-school hair salon complete with a shampoo bowl and hairstyling chair.