With sweeping views of the Pacific, an abundance of flowers, and bright colors everywhere, it’s kind of surprising that Hawaii doesn’t have much of a design scene. We mean, what better way to complement the archipelago’s stunning landscape than with equally beautiful interiors?
That’s where Dan Mazzarini comes in.
As the owner of Manhattan-based design firm BHDM Design , Mazzarini knows a thing or two about bringing a fresh, fun energy to any space. With a wide range of clients under his belt—think Flywheel, Joseph Abboud, and Grand Central Station’s northern food hall—it makes sense he was asked to design Waikiki’s new Shoreline Hotel . Though the hotel has only been open for a month, it’s quickly putting Hawaii on the design map.
When you inside the hotel lobby, or scroll through its Instagram page , you’ll be instantly transported to Shoreline’s bright, tropical world—and rightfully so. Mazzarini wanted to create a “neon meets nature” atmosphere, which pays homage to Waikiki’s lush, tropical surroundings.
“The beauty of Hawaii was to be celebrated, but to do so for a millennial-minded audience meant we wanted to kick it up a notch,” Mazzarini tells Apartment Therapy. “Like the best of Instagram filters, we took inspiration from local flora and wildlife and put it all through a neon filter. [It’s] pretty fun, and fun to design.”
Of course, he didn’t do it alone. In addition to working with his team at BHDM Design, Mazzarini got a little help from his friends. Some highlights: Upholstery and furniture from BluDot and Missana , custom carpets and drapery by Standard Textile , and topographic maps in each bedroom by Moss and Lam .
“We’re able to meet many new brands when establishing the look,” Mazzarini adds. “We are often looking for something unique that we’ve not designed before.”
It took Mazzarini about 10 months to complete the project, but the hard work certainly paid off. The 56,000-square-foot space boasts 135 rooms, a lobby, reception room, rooftop pool deck, and several corridors, all of which are designed by Mazzarini.
“We designed the lobby space to be bright and cool during the day,” he explains, “Lots of white and the kinetic movement of our white jungle wall leaves blowing in the open-air tropical breeze”
From ombré entry walls, to DJ Neff ‘s custom murals by the pool, to neon “Aloha” signs, the Shoreline has no shortage of Instagrammable moments. And honestly, that’s part of the goal.
“It’s part of the hunt for ‘that shot’ that so many of our guests enjoy,” Mazzarini says. “I personally love Instagram for inspiration and its user-generated content aspect. It’s been fun to watch our guests—and future guests—fall in love with the look of the Shoreline.”
Whether you booked a room or are just stopping for a photo-op, the Shoreline is somewhere you’ll want to stay all day long—and you should. Come sunset, the hotel turns on neon lights that place visitors in the middle of an eternal sunset. The inspiration came from the colors Mazzarini saw during his first few trips to the island, and has become the hotel’s calling card.
“You can see the lobby glowing like a luminous glass box from down the street,” he adds.