Home Tour: Get a Peek Inside Director Bryan Spicer’s Kāne‘ohe Bay Oasis
(Sponsored) From sweeping views of the Ko‘olau’s to a dreamy outdoor shower—we chat with builder Homeworks Construction about all the gorgeous details.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
When we visited award-winning director and producer Bryan Spicer at his Windward O‘ahu residence, the view from his first-floor deck framed a rare scene, a glassy Kāne‘ohe Bay mirroring the blue sky and rolling mountains in perfect symmetry. A prime setting for quiet creativity and island leisure, the location suits his custom home, designed and built by Homeworks Construction, complete with precisely engineered angles and nuanced finishes that reflect Spicer’s eye for detail and storytelling.
“I wanted a modern house with warmth and charm,” says Spicer. “All the rooms have large, open windows facing across the bay toward the Ko‘olau Mountains. We also rotated the house on the property so that it lines up with picture window views.”
Spicer says he selected Homeworks for the build after seeing projects by the firm in the Diamond Head and Laie areas that he liked. Homeworks president Marshall Hickox, an industry veteran, brings thoughtful solutions that balance practicality and aesthetics, even on the most complex sites with structural challenges.
Drawing on his expertise, Hickox worked with the project team to site the home with just the right offset for pristine panoramas. He also accommodated Spicer’s requests to consider neighboring sightlines and soundproof the roadside portion of the house. The property itself required thoughtful planning to maximize the potential of a steep lot sandwiched between the shoreline setback and the street.
“Bryan wanted the lower floor to have as few steps as possible to the rear yard ocean area,” says Hickox. “We needed the second level to have a driveway and access that was manageable for the carport as well. The result was a two-story home with a split-level entry that meets both needs.”
Outside, the home is a recreation lover’s dream. A mix of monochromatic exterior finishes and naturally textured wood and stone is both intriguing and inviting, elevated with Hue lighting at the front entry by night. A large lanai accommodates covered and open-air entertaining, with tiki torches adding to the ambience.
The verdant lawn leads down to a personal boat dock, one of the many features that earned the project an outdoor living recognition from the Building Industry Association of Hawai‘i in the 2023 Building Industry Design and Construction Awards. Homeworks also incorporated an outdoor shower and wet bar to round out the amenities.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Inside, interior designer Elyse Grable carried the sophisticated monochromatic palette from the exterior, with walnut cabinetry and accents adding earthy warmth. The home’s open floor plan and high ceilings encourage easy flow between spaces.
Stonework selections throughout the home keep things contemporary—contrasting colors on the kitchen counters, textured basalt tile accent walls in the wet bar and powder room, and crisp white tile in the bathrooms and showers. “Homeworks helped add some nice touches with detailed finishes,” says Spicer.
The home is made for comfort and conversation. It’s perfect for Spicer as he welcomes thoughtful chats about the local film industry, the latest happenings at his music ventures—Island Sound Studios and The Velvet Monkey speakeasy—and what makes life in the Islands so unique.
It takes a solid working relationship between contractor and homeowner to create the right residence, and Spicer advises anyone planning a build or remodel to approach things patiently and prudently. Delays in permitting and higher shipping costs are inevitable in Hawai‘i, he says, but you can work with your contractor on ways to streamline materials and construction timelines to achieve the results you envision. “Try to plan as many details as you can,” he says.
Project Subcontractor and Suppliers
- Bella Pietra
- Chris’ Tile
- Daltile
- Innovative Air Conditioning
- Kāhala Flooring
- Lighting Concepts
- Marmol Hawai‘i
- Pacific Source
- Prestige Plumbing
- Reflections Glass
- Tile Warehouse
Homeworks Construction, 2111 S. Beretania St., 2nd Floor, McCully-Moili‘ili, (808) 744-3421, homeworkshawaii.com, @homeoworkshawaii
