Step Inside (and Out) a New Florida Showhouse

This year’s showcase home in 2012 International Builders Show is without a doubt a celebration of the Florida lifestyle. Designed around a central courtyard, pool and terrace, it features big glass walls that slide and fold out of the way, balconies accessible from bedrooms, and retractable screens to keep the bugs away. It all makes for this barefoot lifestyle that people in temperate climates like.

This year’s showhouse, designed and built by architect Phil Kean in Winter Park, Florida, is the tiniest “New American Home” showcased by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) within many years. However, at nearly 4,200 square feet of living area, the home is — as showhomes have a tendency to be — substantially larger than the typical American residence.

But despite its bigger size, the home includes a comfortable scale and intimate quality. The big spaces in the main degree can easily accommodate a large celebration, but aren’t overwhelming when occupied by only one or two people. The home is on an infill lot in walking distance of Rollins College, the Winter Park public library along with the Winter Park downtown region. It’s simple to image the household living in this house infrequently needing to use any of those three cars that may fit in the garage.

In a walk-to-everything place and with the incorporation of many energy saving and sustainable products and technology, it is no wonder that the home has many certifications including the USGBC LEED-H Platinum.

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Phil Kean Designs

Like all good Florida houses, outdoor spaces are a part of the living area. Front door, on the left side of this photo, doesn’t result in an interior room but rather into the open atmosphere “lanai” (that the Floridian term for a screened space) with family space on one side along with a pool and terrace on the other.

Phil Kean Designs

The home’s architectural inspiration stems from mid-century modernism in general and also the Sarasota School in particular. This is no more obvious than on the very front, street-side of the home. Architect Kean refers to the home as “a reinterprtation of this Classical White Box.”

A lot of this home was built with insulated concrete forms (ICFs). This sort of structure, which has concrete positioned between boards of Styrofoam or similar insulating material, yields a more energy-efficient home. The bulk of the concrete also keeps most of the surrounding sound from the interior.

Phil Kean Designs

Among the major living areas on the main level is that the gallery situated on the western edge of their property. This room doesn’t have windows to the west to avoid heat from the day and evening sun, as well as to provide privacy from the adjacent alley.

A large set of glass doors reverse this wall can be pushed out of the way to connect this space to the patio and pool.

Phil Kean Designs

A large family room is to the left upon entering the home. This chamber has a kitchen area at one end, stair into the upper layer in the opposite end, built-in storage, fireplace and entertainment centre at one side and glass doors to the terrace and pool in the other side.

Phil Kean Designs

Glass doors open the living room into the pool area. Retractable and aerodynamic displays can be lowered from the ceiling to keep out insects.

Phil Kean Designs

The stair reverse that the kitchen is a sculptural element in the area, appearing as stacked blocks zig-zagging their way down and up.

Large windows across the front provide ample natural light into the stairway and family room.

Phil Kean Designs

A large drop-down screen comes down from the ceiling if it’s movie time. This screen is visible in the pool and terrace area so it’ll be outside movie night when the weather is correct and the doors are available. A wonderful spot to get this Superbowl party.

Phil Kean Designs

The working and visible portion of the kitchen is maintained minimal and spare. A block-like island with sink and a cooktop with sculptural hood nearby is everything you see.

Phil Kean Designs

Everything else is hidden behind cabinetry and down a hallway resulting in the side lawn and garage.

Phil Kean Designs

In the side yard, a pet shower stands in the ready to clean off our best friends.

Phil Kean Designs

The dining area fills the corner in which the gallery and kitchen spaces come together. Walls of glass doors slide away to start up the interior to the outside.

Natural stone floor starts outside the front door and proceeds throughout the primary level. Laid in strips, the flooring has some of the overall look of a wood flooring while being more durable.

Phil Kean Designs

A table with integral water feature sits in one corner of the terrace and patio area. Water flows through the 2 pieces of glass that form the tabletop.

Phil Kean Designs

An outdoor kitchen lies on the opposite corner of the terrace and patio area. With this kitchen, the kitchen, a small kitchen in the pub and also a small kitchen space in the upstairs master suite, the prospective owners of this show house will never be too far from food and beverage!

Phil Kean Designs

Also located on the primary level: a bedroom, an office, a full bath and 2 powder rooms …

Phil Kean Designs

… a research using its own tub …

Phil Kean Designs

… which is available to the terrace and patio area.

Phil Kean Designs

To reach the upper level, you may take either stairs or this elevator — a wonderful feature for people who want to remain in the home well into older age.

Phil Kean Designs

Upstairs, a loft space and balcony adjacent to the master bedroom is the best place to see a novel or watch tv if you want some quiet alone time.

Phil Kean Designs

The exercise area has access to the master bedroom balcony and its own bath. Floor-to-ceiling windows causes it to be a bright and light area to work up some sweat.

Phil Kean Designs

Also adjacent to the loft area is the 12’x17′ master bedroom.

Phil Kean Designs

This bedroom resides quite large, as a result of its balcony. Just create yourself a cup of java in the adjoining kitchen space and sit to the balcony to appreciate this glorious, “good morning, Florida” weather.

Phil Kean Designs

The master bath has two closets at each end, a small kitchen, full-size tub, walk-in cupboard, bathroom area and a double vanity. Also accessible from the master bath is a big laundry area complete with a fold-down entry centre.

Phil Kean Designs

The shower features a bench, linear drain, hand-held wands in addition to a rain head and side wall sprays. A pretty nice showering experience for certain!

Phil Kean Designs

Though connected to the grid, the home does incorporate several solar energy items, such as these collectors.

Phil Kean Designs

An emergency power generator is ready for those times during hurricane season when the electric grid may be down.

Phil Kean Designs

The main level plan shows the property’s courtyard design, together with the pool, patio and lanai in the centre — all outside spaces. (North is to the right of this plan.) On the left is the family members and kitchen areas, and in the top is the gallery.

Phil Kean Designs

The upper level consists of the loft, workout area and master bedroom plus bathroom. The big rectangle near the peak of the plan is that the gallery ceiling.

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