A Maui Retreat Rooted in Craft and Connection

Designer Stephanie Brown brings a modern farmhouse sensibility to Maui, balancing durability, craftsmanship, and a deep sense of place in this vacation home design.

Designer Stephanie Brown in the mudroom of the White Palms home. Product: Farmhouse 3018 in Ash. Photographer: Phil Crozier (all images).

Vacation homes aren’t meant to be precious — they’re meant to be lived in. At White Palms in Maui, Vancouver-based designer Stephanie Brown designed a retreat that balances everyday durability with artisanal beauty.

For Brown, whose firm has specialized in high-end residential projects for more than two decades, crafting this sprawling getaway was both a challenge and a joy.

A Designer’s Journey

“Our clients were seeking a shared vacation home,” Stephanie explains of her Vancouver clients’ dreams of a Napa Valley-inspired modern farmhouse. “It was meant to be a very nice, welcoming, large gathering space. That’s why there are two primary suites and a whole bunch of fun guest rooms, which can either be for friends that come and visit or for the kids.”

Durability and casual elegance guided every decision. Indoor-outdoor living defines the rhythm of daily life here — moving seamlessly from the pool to the basketball court in the driveway, to open-air entertaining in the vaulted great room. “You don’t want anything to be precious,” she notes. “You want things to be extremely durable but still look good.”

From sinks that patina with grace, to a mudroom made memorable, to a kitchen designed for barefoot gatherings — each choice became a guidepost for creating a timeless retreat.

A Home Built in the Shadow of the Lahaina Fires

When the devastating Lahaina wildfires swept through Maui, White Palms was nearing completion. For Stephanie and her clients, the experience underscored just how fragile the process of building in paradise can be.

“It was incredibly scary,” she recalls. “We were probably two-thirds of the way through the build, and the fire came very, very close to our client’s property. Communication was down for so long — it was tragic.”

The home sits on a site once scarred by fire — the original house had burned years earlier. That history only deepened the commitment to creating a space that could endure, grounded in natural materials, resilient design choices, and a spirit of renewal.

Architecture Rooted in Context

The architecture, developed in close collaboration with Kasprzycki Designs, Inc., reflects both modern farmhouse lines and contextual sensitivity to Maui’s agricultural community. Every property in the neighborhood must include an agricultural element, and the homeowners opted for an orchard, grounding the project in local tradition.

The powder room features Nipomo in Ash | The butler’s pantry features Ventana in Ash

Materials with Patina and Presence

Inside, materials tell the story. Tumbled travertine flows across floors; natural quartzite countertops with leathered finishes add resilience and patina. Throughout the home, Native Trails’ NativeStone sinks anchor key spaces, offering both sculptural beauty and artisan durability.

“We just wanted to bring in character and texture and patina,” Stephanie says. “It adds so much more life and depth to the space than had we done just basic stainless steel or porcelain sinks.”

In the kitchen, a farmhouse sink and prep basin serve as functional workhorses. A laundry-mudroom hybrid includes a striking apron-front sink that turns utility into a focal point. Even the butler’s pantry showcases the subtle texture of concrete, echoing the home’s natural palette.

The Kitchen as Centerpiece

The kitchen is perhaps the heart of the project — an expansive vaulted ceiling with wood beams, a navy-blue island and a soaring pass-through window that connects to the outdoor bar. “It was just a no-brainer to go with those slabs once we found them,” she recalls of the quartzite countertops.

Beyond the Obvious: Vacation Home Design Ethos

Vacation home design, in this context, is not about theme or trend but about authenticity. Rather than leaning into tropical motifs, Stephanie and her team source globally, shipping most finishes and furnishings while carefully curating local art and craft.

“We like to support Maui and Hawaiian makers,” she adds. “Our clients love knowing that there’s a touch of local culture and that they’re supporting artisans.”

The 3 Essentials for Designing Your Own Retreat

1. Design for Durability. Choose finishes and fixtures that can stand up to everyday life.
2. Choose Materials with Presence. Let patina, texture, and natural beauty tell the story of your space.
3. Let Architecture Respond to Its Place. Ground your retreat in its setting.

Always a New Challenge

For Stephanie, designing vacation homes is about immersion: “Every aesthetic is different, every layout is different. It’s always a new challenge.” But in Maui, this modern farmhouse retreat stands as proof that when thoughtful architecture meets enduring materials, a vacation home can feel both timeless and alive.

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