Gentry Pacific Design Center brims with retailers who are also professional designers

Sometimes it takes a lot of work to make a dream come true. Jeri Lynch and her husband Jerry discovered that when they purchased their Kahala home in 2001. “The interior décor was very French,” recalls Lynch. “The living room had floor-to-ceiling wallpaper in pink silk, and the bedroom looked like Marie Antoinette slept there; it was froufrou and frilly, which is not our taste at all! We envisioned an Asian/tropical style.”

It took seven years for the couple to redo virtually every floor and wall covering. They completely remodeled the master bedroom and master bath, and two other baths. They added a bath and workout room, and are in the process of renovating the kitchen and Lynch’s art studio.

According to Lynch, work on the extensive project has been much easier thanks to Gentry Pacific Design Center, a vast and vibrant collection of specialty design shops and boutiques .  Billing itself as “Honolulu’s Interior Design Headquarters,” the Center lives up to its reputation, as Lynch happily attests. “We did most of our shopping for furniture, accessories, art and carpets there,” she says. “The stores carry a great selection of quality merchandise. Some offer kama‘äina discounts, and the sales staffs are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable.”

Gentry Pacific is housed in a two-story, 175,000 square foot structure that was built in the early 1930s as a factory for the American Can Co., which manufactured cans for Coke and Del Monte, among other businesses. The factory closed in the early 1970s, and a mixed group of tenants subsequently rented space there for over a decade.

In 1985, developer Tom Gentry purchased the five-acre property and began a multimillion-dollar renovation that transformed it into one of Hawai‘i’s premier resources for construction, remodeling and home furnishings. Opened in the late 1980s, Gentry Pacific houses 27 tenants that share a common goal: to assist homeowners in every phase of their personal “extreme home makeovers.” Leaders in the industry, these professionals keep abreast of the latest design and construction trends, and search the world for cutting-edge products—from lighting, window treatments and flooring to furniture, original art and upholstery fabrics.

Bella Pietra is a purveyor of fine stone. Owner Layla Dedrick and her husband Andrew make several overseas trips each year to inspect materials, develop new products, and meet with managers of quarries and factories. They currently import beautifully patterned stone from 30 countries—including Peru, Italy, Israel, Greece, Egypt and India—for flooring, walls, driveways, garden paths, exterior cladding and more. The shop’s unique offerings include slabs of amethyst, tourmaline, rose quartz, rainbow jasper, tiger eye opal and other semi-precious stones for vanities, countertops and art pieces.

Judy Daniel of Interior Accents personally selects armoires, tables, chairs, vases, mirrors, pillows, and other home furnishings and accessories in China, Ecuador, Brazil, Italy, the Philippines and other exotic locales. The exquisite workmanship of Vietnam-based Theodore Alexander is evident in everything from lamps with decoupage shades to cabinets made of mappa burl, rosewood, mahogany and walnut woods. Featuring eglomise, handpainted decorations, and turquoise, quartz, jade and mother-of-pearl inlays, many of the pieces are reminiscent of Asian and European antiques.

Indich Collection specializes in magnificent “art” for floors; its 250 different Hawaiian Rugs are especially popular. Owner Bill Indich’s wife Susan is among the talented artists who create the stunning tropical motifs, most of which have been inspired by nature (think flowers, fruits and ferns). The Hawaiian Rugs range in size from two-by-three feet to 12-by-15 feet. Rounds, squares and runners also are available. As with the store’s contemporary and classic designs, each is handwoven from the finest wool and silk fibers by master craftsmen in Nepal, India and China, using centuries-old techniques.

Siblings Rick and Tiare Cowan lead Archipelago Hawai‘i’s team of award-winning interior design experts. They recently completed a kitchen renovation in a plantation-style Kailua home dating back to the 1930s that fulfilled their client’s desire to incorporate “green” features. Among these elements were IceStone countertops made of recycled glass and concrete; Wicanders natural cork flooring; and Studio Becker cabinets constructed from wood from sustainable sources and recyclable materials that are free of formaldehyde and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) so they don’t emit poisonous gases.

Whether it’s a small job that can be completed in a few days or a big-budget venture requiring months of work, the success of any residential or commercial project depends on the expertise of the professionals involved. That’s why Gentry Pacific wholeheartedly supports the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), including collaborating on promotions for Hawai‘i residents and corporate clients. The Center also makes its conference room available for the organization’s continuing education classes and other workshops.

“Our merchants work on projects with ASID designers throughout the year,” says Shelley Morisaki, principal broker and property manager for Gentry Properties. “Basically, we’re partners offering exceptional services and shopping experiences for the designers’ clients who are homeowners and businesses looking to improve their living and work environments.”

Recognizing that education is a key part of the process, in June ASID and Gentry Pacific hosted Designer Saturday, a day-long event for the general public that featured five workshops: Color and You, Finding Your Style, How to Hire and Work with an Interior Designer, Trends in Interior Design, and Feng Shui and Your Home. Attendees were able to meet and talk one-on-one with ASID members, and browse for bargains at the concurrent Designers Finest Home Furnishings Sale. Hundreds of items including samples, showroom models and overstocked items were marked down well below regular prices.

“That was our big annual event, but we also spearhead other activities during the year,” says Morisaki. “We’ve held workshops with designers on specific topics such as flooring, indoor-outdoor furnishings, and environmentally friendly design and products. We’ve invited customers to consult with an interior designer free of charge for an hour to discuss their plans and to receive answers to questions they might have. We’ve also had National Kitchen & Bath Association events, during which professionals specializing in kitchen and bath design showcase the latest products, materials and design concepts.”

Such events familiarize consumers with the Center and reaffirm its standing as Honolulu’s interior design headquarters. “The Gentry Pacific Design Center is unique in that the majority of our merchants are not only retailers, they’re designers,” says Morisaki. “Customers can find everything they’re looking for—from knowledgeable professionals to the newest products—under one roof. It’s the only resource of its kind in Hawai‘i.”