A Maui interior design firm aims to help support Lahaina homeowners who are rebuilding after the 2023 wildfires.
Lahaina-based Melissa Dyckman Interiors has announced the launch of Lahaina Rebuild Design Guidance, a one-on-one advisory service that helps clients "make smarter decisions during planning and construction, before costly changes, delays and long-term design regrets happen," an announcement Tuesday noted.
The service was created as an alternative to full-service interior design and offers "focused professional support during key phases of rebuilding, beginning with architectural plan review and continuing through layout refinement, cabinetry, lighting, bathrooms, materials and finish selections," the announcement stated.
"I created this after seeing firsthand how overwhelming rebuilding in Lahaina has been for my community and how quickly homeowners are asked to make major decisions," Dyckman told Aloha State Daily in an emailed response to questions. "Many of those decisions become expensive or difficult to change later. I wanted to offer something that gives my community guidance early, before those decisions turn into costly mistakes or long-term regret. Rebuilding is not just construction, it’s creating a home again and that deserves care and intention."
On Aug. 8, 2023, wildfires driven by winds from a passing storm ravaged parts of the Valley Isle. While fires burned through several other areas of Maui, Lahaina saw the worst as an inferno destroyed much of the historic town and killed more than 100 people.
According to the Lahaina Long-term Recovery Plan, 2,207 structures were damaged or destroyed in the Lahaina fire, of which 1,898, or 86%, were residential. The residential structures that were damaged or destroyed made up about 45% of Lahaina's residential housing.
As of Aug. 5, a total of 577 homes have been completed, including 264 single-family units and 313 multi-family units, according to data on the county's recovery dashboard.
There are 667 homes with issued permits, including 583 single-family units and 84 multi-family units, which means permits have been issued allowing construction to begin. Another 597 homes — 176 single-family units and 421 multi-family units — have permits processing, which means applications for permits have been submitted.
A total of 400 homes, including single-family and multi-family units, are under construction.
According to Tuesday's announcement, the interior design firm's new service begins with an initial rebuild design review, which starts at $300 and includes an advance review of architectural plans, a one-on-one consultation with Dyckman and a written follow-up summary with recommendations and next steps.
Additional design guidance sessions are available at an additional cost and focus on specific areas like kitchen planning, bathroom layouts, lighting and electrical, interior finishes and paint selections, the announcement noted.
Dykman says that additional focused two-hour sessions begin at $250, depending on square footage.
"The advisory service is intended for Lahaina residents rebuilding after the fire who are in the planning, architectural review, design development or finish selection phases," the announcement says. "It complements the work of architects, contractors and builders by helping bridge communication and support better project outcomes."
Clients will receive session recap notes, decision checklists by phase, guidance on what should be selected first and recommended questions to bring back to their architect or builder.
"The biggest impact happens at the beginning, when you’re reviewing plans. Small adjustments at that stage can completely change how a home functions and prevent much larger costs later," Dyckman said when asked what people who are rebuilding should keep in mind during the process. "Things like plumbing placement, lighting locations, cabinetry dimensions and furniture flow are much easier to fix on paper than during construction. Rebuilding in Lahaina also comes with very specific challenges. You have to think about salt air, humidity, sun exposure, sourcing timelines and how homes function in Maui’s climate and lifestyle. There’s also an emotional layer because people are not just building a house again, they’re rebuilding home and routine after loss."
Dyckman told ASD in February that she and her family were "heavily impacted" during the 2023 wildfires.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
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