shop peek: reuse hawaii warehouse

while home this winter, the mister and i finally had a chance to pop into the reuse hawaii warehouse to marvel at all the wonderful discoveries saved from deconstruction projects around the island. (tax day tie-in: material donations are deductible if your nest happens to be in need of a renovation.)

our dear friend selina co-founded reuse with her sweetie quinn a few years ago (their lovely cottage overlooking the honolulu city lights is a gorgeous lesson in decorating with roadside castoffs and warehouse finds), and the combined sweat equity of their crew has created one of the most eco-friendly resources on oahu for designers and diy-ers.

since reuse opened its doors, the coconut wire has shared stories of furniture designers crafting pieces out of reclaimed wood, eco-friendly event planners upcycling discoveries into rustic centerpieces intended to become post-bash planter boxes, and a friend's hubby who cobbled together their hillside chicken coop after a reuse shopping trip. and, more than a few indie shopkeepers have scouted reuse for supplies to transform into a charming perch for their merch.

with an ever changing inventory, chances are a delightful surprise is waiting in one of the many warehouse aisles which woo with salvaged flooring and doors, vintage delights from industrial light fixtures to old timey glass door knobs, boxes of ceramic tiles, bins of hardware, an outdoor lumber yard, and the occasional curious find.

join me for a tour after the jump!

happy hardware holdalls

charming french doors & vintage cupboards

project possibility?

while lounging by the warehouse entrance, my camera snapped a little boat which seemed just right for recreating this dreamy pillow filled boat hearted on my pinterest (mahalo betty for pinning!).

new arrivals can be peeked online (oh, how i coveted the gorgeous farmhouse sink rescued from shangri la last year) but do remember that the first shopper to show up at the warehouse scoops up the goods.

• where: 200 keawe street, kaka'ako
• shop hours: mon to fri, 8a to 6p & sat, 9a to 4p

p.s. reuse is always on the lookout for good peeps so click over to the job board to inquire about joining the team.

acacia swimwear: belle nomad collection

tribal

more often than not, a find that delights on screen tends to underwhelm when you meet in person. not so acacia swimwear which i finally had a chance to preview during an impromptu shop scout while home over the winter. i am happy to report that the gorgeous fabrics feel fancy and luxurious in real life while the pretty linings which charmed me from afar proved even more striking during our in-store introduction.

all those little details add up to a lot of love for the two-year-old label with devoted fans around the globe and a moment in this year's sports illustrated swimsuit issue. naomi and lyndie, the designers behind the homegrown line, debuted their belle nomad collection just before the holidays mixing vibrant patterns (zig zags! ikat!) with breathtaking bohemian details for their becoming bikini beauties.

my wishlist fell in love with so many pieces before realizing that the 2012 lineup is welcoming effortless coverups crafted of silk and tencel . . . simple but oh so pretty and quite well-timed considering my preference for more sustainable textiles.

more to adore after the jump!

cantik * choctaw

capri

hanalei * goa

are you swooning too?

happy news if, like me, you shied away from the very flirty bottoms and resigned yourself to adoring acacia from the sidelines. requests for a more demure bottom have been heeded so peek the newest silhouettes (hossegor & vienna) if you have been coveting a tad more coverage.

alas, no official online shop at the moment but island & mainland stockists abound while vida serene offers online ordering for the entire belle nomad collection.

island crush: mix master

haleiwa designer cassandra rull, whose clothing you may have spotted in roam hawaii's style caravan selling locally made pretties by the roadside, woos lovelies on the lookout for carefree threads ready to savor sunny island days.

the collection of breezy asymmetrical tanks, refreshed when the designer's fabric stash welcomes new yardage, features an artful mix of patterns and color and is, i hope you will agree, a refreshing antidote to a plain tee.

and, happy news, scoop one up for your spring adventures and score free shipping in the official etsy shop through tomorrow! (secret code: alohaapril; expires: fri, apr 6th.)

$48 online.

shop toast: bunny kokeshi

something sweet for easter baskets in search of handmade cuteness . . . shop toast's new bunny kokeshi! the delightful facade, crafted of aspen wood, opens up to hide away a few favorite spring treats then tucks inside a matching fabric bag for instant gift giving.

find online or at shop toast's kaimuki studio.

p.s. the wedding café at ward warehouse now hosts a mini shop toast stocked year-round with favors and delights.