Houzz Tour: Step Inside (and Out) a New Florida Showhouse
2012 'New American Home' at International Builders Show celebrates latest materials and ideas for luxurious, indoor-outdoor living
Bud Dietrich, AIA
February 9, 2012
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. I am licensed to practice architecture in Illinois, Florida, New Jersey & Wisconsin. Since 1996 I have worked from my home office and provide full architectural services exclusively to the single family residential market. My passion is to transform my clients' houses into their homes. I strive to have the "new" home accommodate my clients' lives without fighting them at every junction. I look to add curb appeal to encourage a beautiful streetscape. And I design any addition to look and feel like it has always been there.
Our projects have won numerous design awards as well as having been featured on television (CBS News Sunday Morning, HGTV, CLTV, etc.), in magazines (Better Homes...
Houzz Contributor. My name is Bud Dietrich and I am an architect located in the Tampa... More
This year's showcase house at 2012 International Builders Show is without a doubt a celebration of the Florida lifestyle. Designed around a central courtyard, pool and patio, it features large 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 that barefoot lifestyle that people in temperate climates enjoy.
This year's showhouse, designed and built by architect Phil Kean in Winter Park, Florida, is the smallest "New American Home" showcased by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in several years. Still, at almost 4,200 square feet of living space, the house is — as showhomes tend to be — considerably larger than the average American residence.
But even with its larger size, the home has a comfortable scale and intimate quality. The large spaces in the main level can easily accommodate a large party, but aren't overwhelming when occupied by just one or two people. The house is on an infill lot within walking distance of Rollins College, the Winter Park public library and the Winter Park downtown area. It's easy to image the family living in this house rarely having to use any one of the three cars that can fit into the garage.
In a walk-to-everything location and with the incorporation of several energy saving and sustainable products and technologies, it's no wonder the home has several certifications including the USGBC LEED-H Platinum.
More about the International Builders Show | More regional modern home design
This year's showhouse, designed and built by architect Phil Kean in Winter Park, Florida, is the smallest "New American Home" showcased by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) in several years. Still, at almost 4,200 square feet of living space, the house is — as showhomes tend to be — considerably larger than the average American residence.
But even with its larger size, the home has a comfortable scale and intimate quality. The large spaces in the main level can easily accommodate a large party, but aren't overwhelming when occupied by just one or two people. The house is on an infill lot within walking distance of Rollins College, the Winter Park public library and the Winter Park downtown area. It's easy to image the family living in this house rarely having to use any one of the three cars that can fit into the garage.
In a walk-to-everything location and with the incorporation of several energy saving and sustainable products and technologies, it's no wonder the home has several certifications including the USGBC LEED-H Platinum.
More about the International Builders Show | More regional modern home design
Like all good Florida homes, outside spaces are part of the living area. The front door, on the left side of this photo, doesn't lead to an interior room but rather to the open air "lanai" (the Floridian term for a screened room) with family room on one side and a pool and patio on the other.
The home's architectural inspiration comes from mid-century modernism in general and the Sarasota School in particular. This is no more evident than on the front, street-side of the home. Architect Kean refers to the home as "a reinterprtation of the Classical White Box."
Much of the home was built using insulated concrete forms (ICFs). This type of construction, which has concrete placed between boards of Styrofoam or similar insulation, yields a more energy-efficient home. The mass of the concrete also keeps most of the surrounding sound out of the interior.
Much of the home was built using insulated concrete forms (ICFs). This type of construction, which has concrete placed between boards of Styrofoam or similar insulation, yields a more energy-efficient home. The mass of the concrete also keeps most of the surrounding sound out of the interior.
One of the major living areas on the main level is the gallery located on the western edge of the property. This room has no windows to the west to prevent heat from the afternoon and evening sun, as well as to provide privacy from the adjacent alley.
A large set of glass doors opposite this wall can be pushed out of the way to connect this room to the patio and pool.
A large set of glass doors opposite this wall can be pushed out of the way to connect this room to the patio and pool.
A large family room is to the left upon entering the house. This room has a kitchen area at one end, stair to the upper level at the opposite end, built-in storage, fireplace and entertainment center at one side and glass doors to the patio and pool at the other side.
Glass doors open the family room to the pool area. Retractable and motorized screens can be lowered from the ceiling to keep insects out.
The stair opposite the kitchen is a sculptural element in the space, appearing as stacked blocks zig-zagging their way up and down.
Large windows along the front provide generous natural light to the stairway and family room.
Large windows along the front provide generous natural light to the stairway and family room.
A large drop-down screen comes down from the ceiling when it's movie time. This screen is visible from the pool and patio area so it'll be outdoor movie night when the weather is right and the doors are open. A great place to have that Superbowl party.
The working and visible part of the kitchen is kept spare and minimal. A block-like island with sink and a cooktop with sculptural hood nearby is all you see.
Everything else is hidden behind cabinetry and down a hall leading to the side yard and garage.
In the side yard, a pet shower stands at the ready to clean off our best friends.
The dining room fills the corner where the kitchen and gallery spaces come together. Walls of large glass doors slide away to open the interior up to the exterior.
Natural stone flooring starts outside the front door and continues throughout the main level. Laid in strips, the floor has some of the appearance of a wood floor while being more durable.
Natural stone flooring starts outside the front door and continues throughout the main level. Laid in strips, the floor has some of the appearance of a wood floor while being more durable.
A table with integral water feature sits at one corner of the patio and pool area. Water flows through the two pieces of glass that form the tabletop.
An outdoor kitchen lies on the opposite corner of the patio and pool area. With this outdoor kitchen, the main kitchen, a small kitchen in the gallery and a small kitchen area in the upstairs master suite, the future owners of this show house will never be too far from food and drink!
Also located on the main level: a bedroom, an office, a full bath and two powder rooms ...
... a study with its own bath ...
... which is open to the patio and pool area.
To get to the upper level, you can take either stairs or this elevator — a nice feature for those who want to stay in the home well into old age.
Upstairs, a loft space and balcony adjacent to the master bedroom is the perfect spot to read a book or watch television when you want some quiet alone time.
The workout room has access to the master bedroom balcony and its own bath. Floor-to-ceiling windows makes it a light and bright space to work up some sweat.
Also adjacent to the loft area is the 12'x17' master bedroom.
This bedroom lives quite large, thanks to its balcony. Just make yourself a cup of coffee in the adjacent kitchen area and sit out on the balcony to enjoy that glorious, "good morning, Florida" weather.
The master bath has two closets at each end, a small kitchen, full-size tub, walk-in shower, toilet area and a double vanity. Also accessible from the master bath is a large laundry room complete with a fold-down ironing center.
The shower features a bench, linear drain, hand-held wands as well as a rain head and side wall sprays. A pretty nice showering experience for sure!
Though still connected to the grid, the home does incorporate several solar energy items, such as these collectors.
An emergency power generator is ready for those times during hurricane season when the electrical grid may be down.
The main level plan shows the home's courtyard layout, with the pool, patio and lanai at the center — all outdoor spaces. (North is to the right of the plan.) To the left is the family and kitchen areas, and at the top is the gallery.
The upper level consists of the loft, workout room and master bedroom and bathroom. The large rectangle at the top of the plan is the gallery ceiling.
More on the International Builders Show
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | New York Metro | Oregon | Seattle | No. California | San Francisco
More on the International Builders Show
More regional modern architecture:
Chicago | Boston | Austin | NYC | New York Metro | Oregon | Seattle | No. California | San Francisco
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love the tile floors in grey