Ossipoff-designed home for rent

When Chalsa Loo’s parents bought a parcel of land in lower Tantalus in 1951, the city of Honolulu had just two rules: 1) build on the land within two years, and 2) no chicken coops.

Not only did they follow those rules, they raised the stakes and hired famed architect Vladimir Ossipoff to design their home. Ossipoff was designing the historic Liljestrand house up the road during the same time.

One of the things Loo’s parents admired about Ossipoff was his ability to figure out the best view plane on a property and construct from there. What a view it is. As you walk up the flagstone path outside, you can see all the way through the house to the sweeping views of Diamond Head, the ocean and the city.

Loo, a psychologist in Honolulu, said in recent years the tri-level home became too difficult for her parents to navigate. After her father passed away in 2010, Loo and her family had the four-bedroom, three-bathroom house completely restored paying meticulous detail to keep Ossipoff’s original design.

Now, the home, which is on the Hawaii Register of Historic Places, is available for rent. Click here for details.

While Loo wanted to restore the home to preserve its integrity, her family decided to rent it to help with the expenses for her mother’s care.

Here are just a few of the house’s fantastic details: A dumbwaiter between the dining room and kitchen allows you to send a tray of snacks to the lowest level, the kitchen features cork flooring and an original antique Chambers gas stove with two Chambers ovens that have been refurbished and recalibrated (one oven was shipped to California for repair), and the living areas boast hardwood mahogany floors (Loo’s father had covered them with green carpeting).

During the renovation, modern features including new kitchen appliances (aside from the stove), granite countertops, new electric wiring and plumbing were installed. Interesting note: Ossipoff designed the kitchen countertops on two levels to make room for a desk area and a nook to tuck in a 1953-sized Oahu phone directory. Loo chose to keep that detail rather than making it all one level – a contractor’s suggestion.

Three bedrooms, including the master suite, and two of the bathrooms are on the middle level of the home, while the remaining bedroom is the lower level.

The lowest level opens up to the mosaic-tiled, free-form pool where you can go for a dip while taking in more of the expansive views. There’s a detached two-car carport with room for extra storage, plus an extra car or two can fit in the driveway.

Absolutely no pets or smoking allowed. A one-year lease is desired. The rent includes pool and yard service.

Money talk: $5,700 a month, plus utilities
Contact: Sheila Kawakami, The Property Managers, Ltd., 808-596-2511 ext. 213, sheila@rentalshawaii.net