Live large in smaller spaces with help from Bento Homes

Small-footprint living doesn’t have to mean giving up the things that make your house a home. Need proof you don’t have to sacrifice comfort or quality to live in a smaller home? Walk into the Bento Homes & Interiors showroom at SALT at Our Kaka‘ako. You’ll be blown away by what the company has packed into its 400-square-foot sample home nestled in the space formerly known as Kaka‘ako Agora.

Founded in Honolulu in 2016 to provide the Hawai‘i market with beautiful, comfortable, luxurious dwellings under 800 square feet, Bento Homes offers six pre-designed homes that all qualify as Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), commonly known as ‘ohana units here in Hawai‘i. Recognized by law as an affordable alternative in Hawai‘i’s challenging housing market, ADUs are a tremendous investment opportunity and and an innovative way to add new housing to existing neighborhoods.

Bento Homes is unique in that it offers all design-build services under one roof and focuses specifically on residential homes up to 1,200 square feet. With Bento Homes, you’re also getting a wider-than-average range of configurations and add-ons, including high-end finishes, smart-home technology integration and energy-efficiency options. The Bento Homes team offers a complete turnkey service, including custom home design, a variety of materials and finishes, permitting, construction and coordination of all sub-contractors. The design-build process typically takes 10 to 12 months from start to finish, though permitting delays may extend that timeframe.

And these aren’t “tiny homes” we’re talking about. The largest Bento Home includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a full kitchen and a complete indoor-outdoor living experience. As of this year, the company is also offering an expanded product line as Bento Homes & Interiors and designing and building custom homes of up to 1,200 square feet in addition to its pre-designed models.

Modular luxury kitchens, bathroom vanities, media walls, closet systems and home offices are the foundation of Bento Homes’ sister company, Bento Build. All interiors are installed on Bento Build’s patented lattice system, enabling speedy installation, portability if needed and the ability to easily change cabinets if your needs change down the line. Bento Interiors also offers a line of European-designed-and-built transformable furniture: think coffee tables that convert into dining tables, high-quality wall beds and pop-out offices.

Furnishing a small space can be tricky, but with Bento Homes & Interiors bringing quality and luxurious interiors to the island, furnishing your condo, apartment, residential home or even large-scale development just got a little easier—and not just on the eyes.