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P R O F I L E | P L A N TAT I O N G A R D E N S
P L A N T A T I O N DA Y S
A renovated oasis embracing a lush setting on Kauai brings a modern
island vibe to an Old Hawaii establishment.
W R I T T E N B Y J E N N T H O R N T O N
A
great chef is like a talented designer, inclined toward presentation, whether it concerns a creation
from the kitchen or the creation of the kitchen itself. Plantation Gardens Restaurant, a staple on
the South Shore of Poipu on the island of Kauai, is a case in point. Certainly from the point of
view of Philpotts Interiors' associate senior designer, Avery Solmssen. Having frequented the restaurant
as a child, she says: "I vividly recall the plantation charm of yesteryear." But this memory was a stark
contrast to what the designer later encountered. Seeing the place "…all covered up and in disarray was
a little heartbreaking," confesses Solmssen. "I saw our job as honoring the original vernacular while
meeting the needs of today's customer."
Located in a restored plantation manor from the 1930s, the restaurant that
embraces lush Moir Gardens had been, until its revival, the victim of one
regrettable design decision after another, leaving a historic structure stripped
of its prize—plantation-era character. e windows were etched, the paneling
installed and inappropriate, and the walls… well, the walls. at they featured
a haphazardly selected paint palette is perhaps the kindest way to put it.
To restore the building's resplendent architectural attributes while gracing
it with a sense of fluidity, the idea was to open the space to highlight the
original architecture, replacing the questionably etched windows with larger
alternatives that would immerse the restaurant in natural light, fresh air and
the garden views that are primary to the result. Less obvious decisions such as
using custom banquettes to raise the seating and put patrons in closer proximity
