Hawaii Modern Architecture and Interior Design

Dian at Hawaii Modern Architecture and Interior Design was an excellent guide when I decided I wanted a quality sofa that would last a lifetime, but my research soon showed that I could not find the small-living-space dimensions, or quality that I wanted via internet vendors or most Honolulu stores. Most internet furniture descriptions are thin on details. I wanted to avoid more lumpy sofas, poky feathers flying out of cushions, sink down to the floor sofas, permanent mystery stained sofas... My friends, there is a separate custom furniture marketplace that purposely only markets to designers or retail stores because quality furniture has a lot of important details in design, construction, most importantly family safe materials. Dian is a deeply knowledgeable professional with a wide range of industry connections and suppliers who I could not have accessed on my own. She is a patient counselor, ready with the facts. I will definitely work with her again.

Dian was a true pleasure to work with; we were teamed up on an unusually difficult project with various constraints, and she really brought it to life in a way that impressed everyone and made the Owner extremely happy. Can't ask for more than that!

We have collaborated with Dian on many of our projects and our clients have been extremely happy with her work. She is incredibly thorough and thoughtful and a pleasure to work with. Her expertise and dedication make her someone we routinely recommend. Dian has an extensive portfolio with a wide variety of projects and styles however she particularly excels in contemporary modern design. More and more of our clients are requesting modern houses and Dian's interior design selections always complement our architecture beautifully. She has an incredible ability to create the perfect sleek and sophisticated interiors that incorporate client's personal tastes and preferences turning houses into homes. She is the obvious choice for modern interior design in Hawaii.

Hawaii Modern Interior Design is an exceptional group, led by Dian Cleve. She is outstanding in her commitment to her craft and her customers. Her vision, attention to detail and knowledge of material, space, and resources elevates her to the top tier in the Hawaii market. It takes a certain caliber to effectively distill a customer's vision into a coherent masterpiece, and she has shown that she can do it, and do it well. Her award-winning design garnered more than one top prize in Hawaii. I anticipate a great deal of future success for this delightful interior design firm.

Dian came highly recommended to us for a remodel of an apartment in Honolulu. We were not disappointed. Throughout the process, Dian was always pleasure to work with and her sense of style and space resulted in the apartment remodel that far exceeded our expectations. Dian helped us transform a dark and tight space into an light and airy, very usable space. We love the results. We highly recommend Dian as someone you can trust with your project.

Dian has a great sense of modern yet timeless design. She's well-educated in the most current materials and design options such as lighting, space-saving elements, contemporary trends and innovative products. One of the things I like best about her work is that it always looks very clean and elegant yet each component looks special and is based on high quality. I have worked with her on higher and lower budget projects and she is very mindful of making the client's money get the best bang for their buck. Her knowledge of Hawaii's unique design advantages and challenges takes a lot of the guesswork out of what kind of design concepts may or may not work. She also keeps an eye on what will look good now and for the long term which is especially valuable expertise.

My goal was to design a home that fit our lifestyle. I wanted clean lines, a modern vibe, and a warm and inviting home that we could live in comfortably and entertain in style. When I reached out to Dian I wasn’t quite sure what I really needed because I had never built a home. Dian took control of everything that I didn’t want to think about. Things like "where do we vary the ceiling heights for the best impact, where do we wire for lighting fixtures, where should the outlets be placed"? The fun part was collaborating on the interior design and furnishing the home with pieces not seen in every home in Hawaii. Some of the furnishing were custom designed by Dian and her team. My red leather dining chairs with inset leopard fabric were designed to be 2” wider than a normal chair to comfortably seat a larger figured woman. My favorite WOW is the backsplash in the kitchen. I saw a piece of art while traveling and wasn’t quite sure where it would go. Dian suggested that we have it produced by Bizazza tile and this spectacular 5’ X 8’ masterpiece is the focal point of our living area. My second favorite thing is my bathroom and dressing room, complete with a feather chandelier and custom feather trimmed bench in my boudoir. Along the way, I enjoyed some special surprises including a red sink in the powder bath that illuminates upon entry and a television in my makeup mirror. If you are looking for some great suggestions in a variety of price points, Dian is your lady.

We worked with Dian on two projects (bathrooms and kitchen/living area), and were extremely pleased with both of them. In both cases, we arrived at a design that satisfied everything we wanted to accomplish and exceeded our expectations in terms of beauty and functionality. Dian is not only an excellent listener, she's a wonderful educator--she always took time to explain her recommendations and to make sure we were fully bought in before we committed to them. Her long history in the area means she has a broad knowledge of different sources to draw on, and long term working relationships with many of the people here, so she was able to find us some amazing materials and craftspeople that we would never have known about. I would happily and enthusiastically recommend her.

In the Illustrious Kahala neighborhood, on the island of Oahu, is our custom dream home. Created by the dream team at HMA & Interior Design. Dian Cleve (Principle Lead Designer) was able to take our vision and love for the Balinese / Hawaiian architectural design and create our island dream home. Dian’s finale vision was an award winning timeless custom home. Winning the BIA of Hawaii Renaissance in 2014. Five years after we moved in. A Timeless! design. Dian worked very close with us for a few weeks just to make sure she understood our personal lifestyle needs. She put together a project time line outline and had us answer several questions making us comfortable with the process and the challenges that might occur. After reviewing a few of her previous projects we knew that HMA & Interior Design was who we wanted to work with. When building a home such as this it is good to have a well-rounded lead designer with a great reputation. Someone well associated with local subs and finish people is imperative to a successful custom home. Dian was able to reach out to these people directly and coordinate with the onsite construction team keeping our project moving forward, on time, and on budget. Dian never dropped the ball, was always available, and the attention to detail was impeccable. -Dian understands and can visualize the end product. From beautiful custom cabinetry to the hand-carved inset Balinese ceilings, and beautiful furnishings, the finished project was a spectacular show home of our dreams. Thank you, Dian! Devra and Charles Wathen

We highly recommend Hawaii Modern Architecture and Interior Design, The executives we’ve worked with are exemplary professionals with the perfect balance of decades of experience combined with modern experience. ★★★★★

Aloha! Dian has bee great to work with these many years. She comes in and does research prior to bringing in the client. I've witnessed her interaction with these clients who are able to make quick solid decisions because they trust her recommendations. Her thoroughness, allows the projects to go smoothly as possible. Grateful to have her professionalism in this business, which makes it enjoyable to work with her. Mahalo, Dian!

There is nothing finer than building with a great team! We have had the pleasure of working together with Dian on a number of fabulous projects. Each of these builds have been complex and unique, she has been the key to the success of the project on every occasion. Dian listens and hears what our clients are asking for, she communicates well with our craftsmen so together we develop the best methods to construct & create. She is responsive and always alert regarding the importance of timely decision making and material purchasing, which helps us stay on schedule and budget. Dian is skilled with colors, textures and furnishings. She is an excellent designer who I can highly recommend.