--- title: "April Acquavella — Kitchen & Bath Designers | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/april-acquavella-pfvwus-pf~1040190456 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1040190456.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "April Acquavella" category: ["Kitchen & Bath Designers"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/4b8388b301c0806c_8888-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "Honolulu, Hawaii, United States" latitude: 21.3179 longitude: -157.8521 phone: "(808) 398-7451" website: http://acquavella.me/ rating: 4.9 review_count: 11 best_of_houzz_awards: 3 followers: 21 last_updated: 2026-08-28 --- # April Acquavella Original Houzz profile: [April Acquavella](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/april-acquavella-pfvwus-pf~1040190456) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** Kitchen & Bath Designers - **Location:** Honolulu, HI - **Serves:** Honolulu, Pearl City, Kailua, Waipahu, Kāne‘ohe, Kaneohe, Mililani Town, Hālawa, ‘Ewa Beach, Ewa Beach, Waimalu, Hālawa Heights, Waipi‘o, Aiea, Kaneohe Station, ‘Aiea, ‘Āhuimanu, Iroquois Point, Waimānalo, He‘eia, Maunawili, Fort Shafter, Hawaii Kai, Kahala, Mililani - **Houzz rating:** 4.9 out of 5 (11 reviews) - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2018–2025), for Service. ## About ### Houzz Badges - Star Houzzer - Houzz Influencer - Recommended on Houzz - 100 Ideabook Saves No project is too small because to you, it's a big project. As a Kitchen Designer, I have a pragmatic approach towards beautiful kitchen design stemming from decades of visual design experience and a degree in carpentry. Acting as a design "sounding board", I supply professional expertise to help turn your kitchen concept to a stunning one fit for magazine covers. \*Now accepting clients for 2023\* ### Services Provided - Kitchen Design - Custom Cabinets - Bathroom Design - Custom Kitchen Cabinets - Project Management - Kitchen Remodeling - Design Advisor ### Areas Served - Honolulu - Pearl City - Kailua - Waipahu - Kāne‘ohe - Kaneohe - Mililani Town - Hālawa - ‘Ewa Beach - Ewa Beach - Waimalu - Hālawa Heights - Waipi‘o - Aiea - Kaneohe Station - ‘Aiea - ‘Āhuimanu - Iroquois Point - Waimānalo - He‘eia - Maunawili - Fort Shafter - Hawaii Kai - Kahala - Mililani ### Typical Job Cost $25,000 - 110,000 ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | April Acquavella | | Address | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | | Phone | (808) 398-7451 | | Website | http://acquavella.me/ | | Followers on Houzz | 21 | **Social profiles:** - Blog — http://acquavella.me/ ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [April Acquavella](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/april-acquavella-pfvwus-pf~1040190456) - **Website:** http://acquavella.me/ - **Phone:** (808) 398-7451 ## Credentials - **Best of Houzz:** 3 awards (2018–2025), for Service. ## Reviews **Overall rating: 4.9 out of 5 — 11 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 45.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### All 11 reviews **★★★★ — San Antonio Furniture Care, July 2024** > April helped me with the complete remodeling of my sister's kitchen. We appreciated her understanding of both the construction and design sides of the project. She made suggestions to make it better! The staff is always friendly and helpful. Highly recommend! **★★★★★ — Jacqueline Sylva, April 2024** > Working with April Acquavella was an absolute pleasure! Their attention to detail and creative vision transformed our outdated kitchen into a modern and functional space. From the initial consultation to the final installation, the entire process was seamless. Highly recommend! **★★★★★ — HU-514740264, Dec. 2018** > April is very professional and easy to work with. She proposed innovative suggestions that utilized the available space in an otherwise tight, narrow kitchen transforming it into a warm, inviting space with more counter space and a seamless transition into the living room. **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Thank you for trusting me to help update your kitchen! I enjoyed working with you, and I hope that your family is able to enjoy the space for years to come. **★★★★★ — Jim Kelly, Nov. 2018** > We gave April a challenging mission - renovate a dated kitchen and a hideous master bath in a small 1960s house with a decent but not lavish budget..And find room for a claw foot tub. And create a island Asian meets midecntury modern vibe. She came through on everything. She’s creative yet practical, communicates clearly, follows through, listens carefully. She has a great eye for detail and came up with a lot of touches we never would have thought of. A total pro with an enthusiastic spirit and can-do attitude - we recommend her wholeheartedly > . **★★★★★ — wesnomura, July 2018** > April did such a good job assisting us with our kitchen, we worked with her to renovate our rental. > > April is easy to work with and has good ideas to maintain the quality of the project while staying within budget. > > Highly recommended! **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Thank you! I enjoyed the whole process with you and you were always so hospitable. Your new tenants are lucky to have a beautiful new space! **★★★★★ — amy cabral, March 2018** > Working with April was absolutely wonderful! We had been struggling to organize our plan and make decisions for over a year before April stepped in. During our first meeting we discussed our goals, preferences, budget and timeline. April was very patient in hearing our ideas as well as introducing ideas we wouldn’t have thought of on our own. She even gave us a rendering of our new kitchen. This was invaluable as it helped us to visualize and discover what we truly wanted. Once we had a plan in place April laid out a project schedule with all of the goals and milestones for each part of the project. She was always available to answer any questions and guide us when dealing with contractors. April’s experience, knowledge and guidance helped make our dream a reality! **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Thank you! Both of you were so easy to work with, and I thoroughly enjoyed helping you complete your project. You did a great job in tying together the different spaces in your apartment. Once the ball started rolling, you took it and ran, and finished beautifully! **★★★★★ — Molly Corcoran, March 2018** > April helped me with the complete remodeling of my friends condo -he was out of the country at the time so she was invaluable-her knowledge of flooring choices along with countertops and cabinet design, just perfect! I had unexpected health issues towards end of project so she took over completely-ordering the appliances. April can do anything! > I would recommend April to anyone who needs help with planning and design! **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Thank you, Molly! You made the process so efficient and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to cross paths with you. Best to you and your family! **★★★★★ — Andrew Corcoran, Feb. 2018** > April was outstanding. Based on a few ideas from me, she was able to design a kitchen that exceeded my greatest expectations while staying within a budget I could afford. April also navigated me through the entire process, not a simple process since I lived in Taiwan during most of the construction. She worked well with the construction crew but I felt she was always looking out for my interests. **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Thank you, Andy! You were wonderful to work with. All my best to you! **★★★★★ — Sharon Freitas, June 2017** > April truly made this kitchen remodel a positive experience. We appreciated her understanding of both the construction and design sides of the project. With her help the kitchen that we imagined was actualized. What a pleasure to work with someone who is bright, knowledgeable, > professional yet friendly. We are definitely happy with the design and quality of the cabinets. **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Both of you were so enjoyable to work with and I loved how everything came together at the end! Here's to a great new space for you and your family. :) **★★★★★ — Kathryn Kirley, June 2017** > Due to a major water leak in our condo, I needed to come up with a kitchen design fast. In came April. She was a calm and wonderful resource for me when time was of the essence. Her exacting computer renderings, list of resources for tile, sinks, countertops, cabinets, hardware etc., helped me to come up with a plan within weeks. She visited me at home, sent renderings via email, and made specific product suggestions via the houzz app. All the while being very patient, professional and making little tweaks to my ideas. I love our new kitchen! She even sent more recommendations for future tweaks to other parts of my space. Let the improvements continue! Thank you April! **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Thank you! It was always such a delight throwing around design ideas with you–you have such a great eye. It's already so amazing, but I can't wait to see the final evolution of your place! Keep me posted! **★★★★★ — arsimages, March 2017** > When April and I sat down at the beginning of my kitchen renovation to discuss my vision of a new kitchen, her subsequent rendering of the project from our discussion went well beyond my expectations. Not only did she listen to what I wanted, she made suggestions to make it better! My beautiful finished kitchen matched April's 3D rendering exactly. Not only did her professionalism and skill as a designer impress me, but she was a wealth of information in plugging me into the services I needed for all my renovation needs - from disposals, sinks, tile and counter tops, she made it easy for me to find what I needed. She was a powerful resource. I truly enjoyed working with her. I found her open, easy going communication style a pleasure to work with as it made this kitchen renovation flow nicely from start to finish. I would highly recommend April for your Kitchen renovation. **Comment from April Acquavella:** > Thank you! It was such a pleasure working with you! It was so rewarding to see it come together. I hope that you enjoy your new kitchen for years to come. ## Selected projects - [Modern Fun](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/modern-fun-pj-vj~7128309) - Location: Honolulu, HI - Photos: 9 - [Honolulu Apartment Kitchen Remodel](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/honolulu-apartment-kitchen-remodel-pj-vj~2888305) - Location: Honolulu, HI - Photos: 2 - [East Oahu Kea](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/east-oahu-kea-pj-vj~2552436) - Location: Honolulu, HI - Photos: 2 - [Project Management & Coordination](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/project-management-and-coordination-pj-vj~1980877) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 8 - [Budget Basement](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/budget-basement-pj-vj~553795) - Location: Not specified - Photos: 1 - [Townhouse Kitchen Remodel - From mediocre to modern](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/townhouse-kitchen-remodel-from-mediocre-to-modern-pj-vj~401073) - Location: Springfield, VA - Photos: 12 - Description: We immediately fell in love with this Northern Virginia townhouse due to the open floor plan between the dining and living area. However, the kitchen seemed ill-conceived. Too wide to utilize the opposing counters as a galley and too small to have a decent island, the kitchen seemed spacious enough but was highly inefficient. And to make cooking a challenge, the path between the sink and range was interrupted by a doorway. I could bear with the uninspiring traditional design and bland color sche… [See all 6 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/kitchen-and-bath-designers/april-acquavella-pfvwus-pf~1040190456) ## Ideabooks - [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/159801599/list/wish-list) — 3 ideas - [Kirley](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/78572208/list/kirley) — 31 ideas - [Ohbe](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/169392621/list/ohbe) — 2 ideas - [Laundry Room](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/112641234/list/laundry-room) — 2 ideas - [Island to table](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/44776922/list/island-to-table) — 35 ideas - [C&L Kitchen](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/137415825/list/c-l-kitchen) — 9 ideas - [2018 - Chouljian](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/98663730/list/2018-chouljian) — 131 ideas - [Kimura](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/124853035/list/kimura) — 6 ideas - [Modern Banquette](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/83187173/list/modern-banquette) — 10 ideas - [Countertop Edges](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118720267/list/countertop-edges) — 4 ideas - [Details & Ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/116205070/list/details-ideas) — 4 ideas - [2018 - EK 96821](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/115640516/list/2018-ek-96821) — 11 ideas - [Research & Education](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/118022131/list/research-education) — 1 idea - [2018 - FC 96815](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/115640647/list/2018-fc-96815) — 4 ideas - [Kitchen ideas](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/11243177/list/kitchen-ideas) — 51 ideas - [White & Wood](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/115489695/list/white-wood) — 1 idea - [Cabinet Trim Details](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/115271097/list/cabinet-trim-details) — 2 ideas - [JN - Kitchen Addition](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/114598744/list/jn-kitchen-addition) — 3 ideas - [Modern](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/112759691/list/modern) — 3 ideas - [Acquavella Design Projects](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/113534894/list/acquavella-design-projects) — 3 ideas [See all 48 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/levelplumbsquare) ## Community Q&A **Q: Wrong cabinets!** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hi everyone, my mother in law is remodelling her kitchen. She ordered her cabinets based off of the plan that her original contractor put together. My brother-in-law had to take over and unfortunately neither caught that the wall cabinets were too tall for her 7 ft ceilings before putting in the order. So, now we have cabinets that are 36” instead of 27” or 30”. This leaves only about 14-15” between the countertop and the cabinets. Is it worth buying replacements or can the small space work? A: 18" is the standard so the cabinets would be 3" to 4" lower than standard. The 18" is based on average human height and proportions as well as the typical countertop small appliances. If your mother-in-law or people living in that house are taller than average, it may get a little uncomfortable with visibility working at the counter. Lower wall cabinets can also make the space feel more cramped. It can be a personal preference as my personal kitchen wall cabinets were set 22" above the countertop. I would consider it worth buying replacements in the long run. Hope it turns out! **Q: Is LED overload a possibility?** *(in Design Dilemma)* Hello, We are about to finalize all the lighting in our new construction house and I’m a little concerned about LED lights. For the most part, we like layers of light with the ability to dim lights and rarely are we drawn toward super bright lighting. In addition to many recessed LED lights in our new home, we’ve chosen many LED lights - if not exclusively - in varying light directions. They are all pretty modern, which we like, from brands like ET2, Elan, and Kichler. Sconces, pendants, a chandelier, bathroom lights, etc. We’ve already installed proper dimmers for all of the incoming light selections, and many of the lights are indirect style so it lights up the wall, not direct. The light temps are from 2700-3000k. Honestly, the style we light seems to come exclusively in LED but I wanted to see if anybody can shed some insight into all LED lighting. Thanks in advance! A: If you have dimmers then you can't go wrong as you can control the intensity. LEDs also come in different temperatures, and although you have already bought bulbs, if it really bothers you, you can change them out. Or you can also add lamps to use as mood lighting on occasion. **Q: how to utilize deep cabinet space above the refrigerator to ceiling** *(in Design Dilemma)* also the cabinet space between above the wall oven and cabinet space up to the ceiling. These two cabinet spaces area are high and deep and wide. It is hard to reach those back side of the cabinet. Any suggestions or ideas what to do with those spaces? A pull out tray better than the fixed shelf in side the cabinet? A: Agree with both. The area above the refrigerator isn't the most convenient, so store items that don't need to be accessed that often. The depth offers a good place to store baking sheets and trays which are items that aren't used on a regular basis. Adjustable vertical dividers are perfect. **Q: Other suggestion than Cambria Britanicca?** *(in Design Dilemma)* I love the large grey wave pattern Britanicca offers. All the other quartz that is white background with grey through it looks like veins going every direction. I prefer the look of Britanicca because it goes one direction (from end to end) and doesnt seem to have a ton of veins that branch off going all directions. Anyone find something close? Im hoping for kitchen counters and up the backsplash, and going with Cambria will just be too expensive. A: Take a look at LG Viatera which is a Korean line. My client was very happy with the outcome. **Q: Looking for Kitchen Layout Design Suggestions, Peninsula vs Island** *(in Remodeling)* We are currently working on a kitchen remodel that will begin in the next couple of months and are looking for layout suggestions and opinions. A general contractor will be removing a wall that currently divides the kitchen and dining room. Once the space is open, we would like to add a peninsula or island to the space. We are also looking to add additional pantry cabinets, as we do not have a separate pantry. All of cabinetry, appliances, and counter tops will be replaced. The current hardwood in the dining room will be matched and laid in the kitchen. Besides my husband and myself, we have one child. I enjoy cooking and cook almost every night. I am primarily the only one using the kitchen work space. We do a lot of entertaining, year-round, and it seems everyone likes to gather and hangout in the kitchen. Flexibility We would like to keep all of the current windows and doorways the same. We would like to keep the sink, dishwasher, and gas range in their current positions, though we are open to other considerations. The sink is currently centered under a window. The gas range is currently located under a pass through opening to our living room. It is currently a downdraft range which will be replaced with a regular gas (or duel fuel) range - along with an overhead hood, blower, and make up air damper. The cabinets are being made by a local woodworker (made to order) So, any custom configurations can be made. Appliances 36'' Gas Range, 6 burner (with proper venting and make up air damper) No Wall Ovens We rarely use the microwave and are thinking of placing it in the pantry cabinetry Standard dishwasher 36'' Built In French Door Refrigerator/Freezer (flush inset installation) 24'' Under Counter Beverage Center I have included the dimensions of the room below, once the wall is removed. There are also two rough layouts that we have come up with so far - one with a peninsula and one with an island. \*\*These are rough layouts, as we are currently just trying to get the cabinet layout together and have not contacted a kitchen designer\*\* • The upper cabinets will be placed at the ceiling and finished with crown moulding. • The dining room built-in and pantry cabinets will be floor to ceiling. (8 foot ceilings) • Pull out trash bins will be located in the base cabinet to the right of the sink (or in the island) • We are open to a prep sink in the island • The peninsula in the first layout would extend 90'' from the wall, with a 12'' counter overhang into the dining room for seating. • The island in the second layout would be 36'' x 96'' (we are open to seating options, if space allows) • There are obviously no counters shown in the layouts, but there will be counters. Thanks in advance for any, and all, suggestions! A: Great research! For your needs, I would recommend your island configuration. The island will serve as a central gathering place for entertaining while keeping some separation from the "back kitchen" activities. The island should also give you more storage as the peninsula configuration creates a large amount of dead space. Also, the built-in fridge location in the peninsula layout may feel inconvenient as there's no adjacent (or close) landing spot when you pull items out of the fridge. A couple ideas to consider: \- Use a furniture island (as opposed to installing cabinets) that can be moved (and add a little more personality to break-up all the cabinetry) \- If there's only one person 90% of the time cooking/cleaning, you can reduce the work aisle space (sink side) so the pantry cabinets can be 24" deep to better accommodate storage/small appliances. All my best for a wonderful remodel! **Q: Framed vs frameless...talk to me please!** *(in Design Dilemma)* Ughhhhh. Just met with our contractor’s cabinet guy and they only do framed. He’s trying to convince me that it doesn’t make a big difference, but I feel otherwise. Am I wrong?? I know the look is similar with full overlay. But the interior space is what I’m concerned with. I’ve been planning all along for frameless. I had it in my last home and loved it. I’ll have lots of drawers and I’m concerned with the interior height as well. Someone talk me down and convince me that framed isn’t so bad lol A: Some homeowners are very particular about any extra space they can squeeze out (no matter how small). Sophie Wheeler had a lot of good info and was right that custom cabinets + a good kitchen designer will make the biggest difference in maximizing space efficiency. Design and function-wise, I do prefer frameless construction for full-overlay doors. My uncle is a cabinetmaker and very pragmatic; he only does frameless cabinets (by choice). Find yourself a cabinetmaker who does a lot of frameless and you should be happy with the results! --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-28.*