Portfolio V12I1: White Box Meets Modernism by Timberlake Cabinetry

A showcase of design ideas from timberlake cabinetry

volume 12, issue 1 // February 2012 // $5

Table of Contents

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Opposites Attract: The New Unity

Timberlake welcomes you to The New American Home 2012.

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Simply Irresistible

Contemporary look complements contemporary lifestyle.

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White Box Meets Modernism

The ins and outs of the architecture.

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How to Phil a Home with Ideas Phil the architect and Phil the contractor.

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Outdoor Beauty, Inner Joy

Living takes on new dimensions when indoors and outdoors blend.

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Artful Living

Like all masterpieces, this one started with seeing the world through new eyes.

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Green from the word Go

Eco-smart design is a matter of knowing the essentials.

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Urban Infill Fills a Growing Need Cities cater to lifestyles desired by more and more people.

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Installing Satisfaction

The practices that make for on-time and complete perfection.

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In the Director’s Chair: Tucker Bernard

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A Home for Entertaining A margarita and a dip in the pool.

Lights, Hammer… Action!

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An Historic Town Winter Park, Florida

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Portfolio® Resources

Use this as a quick reference to the cabinetry and accessories used throughout the 2012 New American Home.

portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

A well-preserved walk down memory lane.

opposites attract:

the new unity Timberlake welcomes you to The New American Home 2012

Have you ever noticed how bringing together two very different things helps you better appreciate the beauty of each one? A bright white star against a black night sky? The snap of a bass with a jazz piano?

For only a few days in February, attendees at the International Builders’ Show have a chance to walk through this incredible home. With Portfolio magazine, the open house never closes! We’ve filled these pages with photos, stories, ideas and inspiration you can visit any time.

We take great pride in being part of The New American Home team. We’re members and active supporters of the Leading Suppliers Council, a committee of the National Association of Home Builders. This home is just one of the many important things they do to support the homebuilding community.

Now, I invite you to enjoy the intriguing diversity of ideas—and how they all come together.

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hat sense of contrast—and the surprising unity it creates—is the remarkable power of The New American Home 2012. Consider just a few.

Architecture that looks back to the 50s with a style that’s unabashedly contemporary. A bigger living space within a smaller footprint. An indoor haven and an outdoor paradise. Black and white, glass and chrome, high technology and the highest level of green building, brings it all together with a new sense of possibility. The creative mind of the architect and builder, Phil Kean, will inspire many ideas of your own.

Laura-Jo Boynton, Editorial Director

You’ll also discover room after room of custom-look cabinetry used in simple, yet extraordinary ways – sleek cabinets transformed into hidden doors, contemporary vanities, floating designs, and more.

scan this tag to learn more about past new american homes. get the free mobile tag reader app at: http://gettag.mobi

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Simply Irresistible

simply Ir

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portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

Irresistible

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Loft

Wherever color was used—as with a classic modern orange chair upstairs—it was “intended to be used as sculpture, even though it’s furniture.” Turner says the key is “less is more, but every piece matters, and it must all work together.”

Master Bedroom portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

Powder Room

a contemporary look complements contemporary lifestyle

rary design, Kean explains, it’s often about restraint and control. He stresses the importance of “the editing moment,” when what you leave out can be as important as what you put in. And proportions, in Kean’s opinion, are what make for a successful contemporary.

The goal of every New American Home project is to showcase innovative construction techniques, design trends, materials and products. While the 2012 New American Home achieves these goals, and does so splendidly, this year’s New American Home also showcases something that past homes have not: a world-class art collection in its art gallery. According to Phil Kean, co-owner of Phil Kean Designs, and architect and builder of the home, part of the challenge “was in designing a house that has a gallery with museum-quality artwork, and still have it be warm, real and livable.” By all accounts, Kean and his team more than delivered on all of these counts, which Kean says was achieved from a design standpoint “through colors, details and textures.”

The cabinetry chosen for the house features unadorned styling and was used for its contemporary aesthetic. Throughout the main sections of the home, Timberlake’s Lausanne door features a dark maple Espresso finish. Timberlake’s New Haven Maple Linen was used in the studio and master bath. The cabinetry throughout incorporated some unique applications. “We pushed the envelope with the cabinetry,” says Kean. This translated to floating vanities, floating side tables, a solid wall of cabinets placed in a grid pattern, and no moldings, which added a degree of difficulty to the installation. Timberlake Designer for the home, Tracey Burrell-Combs, says about the moldings: “I knew I had to keep it clean lined and avoid excess ornamentation.” Kean says about the process: “We had to create six-inch bands that kind of picture frame the cabinets because there is no molding. All of these things were challenges, but Timberlake figured them out. They made it work.”

Kean describes the style of the home as “white box meets modernism.” With one look at the house, there’s no mistaking its style: it’s contemporary through and through. First, there’s the modern look of the stone façade. The stone is then carried into the house, adorning a 16-foot high wall in the art gallery, and it’s also used on one wall of the courtyard. Interior designer on the 2012 New American Home, Rob Turner of PKD Studio, LLC, chimes in about the stone: “It’s very much a white modern box, but there’s also this wonderful texture of stone that travels from the outside to the inside. It doesn’t feel like you’re walking into a museum. It doesn’t feel stark.”

as livable as it is lovely While the house is obviously show quality, and very contemporary, it’s also warm, not cold, and it doesn’t stifle modern lifestyles. On the contrary, Brad Grosberg, co-owner of Phil Kean Designs, says, “We attempted to create what people are looking for today, and what people are going to be looking for down the road, which is a little bit smaller, a little higher detail, with lots of the creature comforts that make you enjoy your time at the house.”

The color scheme was carefully chosen: a simple light and dark concept, which supports the contemporary feel. Kean notes that this “black and white” approach enabled him to use products contributed from the New American Home manufacturer partners in a cohesive way. Turner describes the color palette as simple, with some nuance. “It’s composed of warm white, warm grey, charcoals and black. That’s all,” says Turner. “When you add the art to the space, that’s where the color is.” Turner notes that wherever color was selectively used—as with a classic modern orange chair upstairs—it was “intended to be used as sculpture, even though it’s furniture.” Turner says the key is “less is more, but every piece matters, and it must all work together.”

The first-impression “wow factor” of the home belies its practicality, evidence that throughout the entire process, there was always an eye to how people want to live, and what they’re looking for to serve their lifestyles. Kean sees a trend toward people being willing to give up square footage for details. He often hears the statement from prospective buyers that they “Don’t want a room they can’t use.” Or, “These details are my non-negotiables.” With younger buyers in particular, they would rather have a smaller home, but not give up amenities. This trend is also common with the older generation who may be downsizing, but wants to maintain a certain lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed.

There are virtually no moldings throughout the house, which underscores the home’s clean lines.

“When you do a house with almost no moldings” says Kean, “the craftsmanship comes more into play.” Actually, his approach to the entire house is this extremely close attention to detail. He adds, “In a house like this, the lighting, the color, the texture, the reflections—all of that matters—even the sounds and the smells.” Especially with contempo0 6

Office

In addition to the actual art gallery, there’s an art studio with exterior access, which creates the perfect dedicated space to foster serious artistic endeavors or casual hobbyist activities. The studio can also be converted to a bedroom, adding flexibility as needed.

At 4,181 square feet, the 2012 New American Home may be on the smaller side compared to recent New American Homes, but it packs a punch when it comes to features that today’s consumers are looking for. “Just because a house is beautiful,” says Kean, “people do live here.” And not just people…the home also makes man’s best friend feel welcome with a doggie door, a run, and an area to wash a dog. The semi-mud room, where the canine accoutrements reside, also offers a washer and dryer, built-ins and a bench for day-to-day convenience.

When it comes to technology, which is now a high priority for homebuyers, according to Kean, the house is “incredibly technology equipped,” with a whole-house technology system so sophisticated that it caused him to dub it “The Brilliant Home.”

“It’s amazing,” says Kean. “The house is set up on an iPad/iPhone system, so you could be anywhere in the world and check on your house.” Kean rattles off a long list of cutting edge technology features, including cameras for security; phantom motorized screens with solar sensors that will go up or down automatically as the light changes throughout the day; automated interior shades; dimming modules; a whole-house Pandora music system; solar photovoltaic to generate energy; and energy usage tracking. The living area has a drop-down media screen, with motorized phantom “blackout” screens on the windows that can be lowered to create the perfect viewing environment any time of day.

To accommodate today’s telecommuter trend, the house features a home office equipped for two. Lowline cabinets in the office form a credenza behind the desk, while parallel shelving above creates more space to display artwork.

A workout room with three exterior glass walls sports a fabulous view, and supports the movement toward healthier lifestyles—complete with an exterior yoga deck. Being that the master is on the second floor, Kean included an elevator in the house, which is clad in stone, and offers the ultimate accessibility.

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portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

CEDIA, which stands for Custom Electronic Design Installation Association, was called in to coordinate efforts for the home technology design. Peter Shipp, Principal of CEDIA member Architectural Electronics, Inc., was closely involved in the process. “In keeping with the modern design and clean lines of the home,” says Shipp, “we had to make sure that the technology is not visible, that it’s all hidden.” For example, the loft contains a complete surround sound system with a hidden display panel that pops up, which was designed to fit the space.

Kean is blown away by the system, and modestly says with a chuckle, “Now the house is brilliant, and we’re just smart.”

Kean may have christened the house “brilliant” based on technology, but there are a multitude of ways that its brilliance shines through—from its aesthetic design, to its practical lifestyle features, to its mix of beauty and warmth—it outdoes itself, contemporarily speaking.

Outdoor Dog Shower

Kitchen/Media Room

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Guest Bath

Kitchen portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

Front Elevation

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meets modernism

white box

The ins and outs of the architecture

When you ask Phil Kean what inspired the design of the 2012 New American Home, he first talks about looking backward, and finding inspiration from the architecture of the 1950s and ‘60s.

helps to create it. Kean thinks that “people will be surprised that it’s a stock cabinet.” The cabinetry through most of the house is finished with a dark espresso color. “This rich, almost black, tone gets pulled into this White Box, and it warms up the whole house. It’s a really good blend.”

The exception was that Kean used white finishes on the bathroom cabinetry to ensure that the look will not quickly become dated. The floating cabinets in the master bath are surrounded by classic white marble, with under-cabinet lighting that further gives the vanity even more of a feeling of “floating.”

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he home is a reinterpretation of the Classic White Box, which architects such as Richard Meier and Le Corbusier were doing at that time. Kean says the house is also reminiscent of Sarasota School of Architecture’s philosophy in the ‘60s. “This was before there was a lot of air conditioning in Florida,” says Kean, “so indoor/outdoor was important.” Kean found that to be intriguing, so that’s where he started: with modern thoughts of broad overhangs, and terraces, and rooms that blend the indoors and outdoors.

Another primary architectural feature of the home is the modern look of its stone exterior. Phil Kean and Brad Grosberg had a vision of what they wanted for the stone, but it did not exist. So, they worked with Environmental Stoneworks to manufacture a completely new stone for this house. The process included studying photos of a variety of stone used in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The result was white stone with some color variation, installed with white grout in a linear pattern.

The interior floating, scissor-type stairs are another interesting architectural element, which came out of a design solution alternative when the original invisible stair concept planned was too steep for the budget. “We wanted a very minimal stair,” says Kean, “and we wanted to be able to see through the stair, to the outside, the exterior landscape.” The material on the stairs is the same as on the floors—a natural limestone that looks almost like wood when it’s installed—so the stair looks like an extension of the flooring material as it moves up to the second floor.

Although the past informs the present, Kean was looking forward to taking advantage of current technologies and design trends. To fully explore the melding of inside and out, the glass was one of the key influences in the design of the house. The structure is literally designed around the glass to accommodate floor-to-ceiling glass panels and doors.

Project Manager of the New American Home, Alex Hannigan, says the windows cater to consumers’ desire for this feature. “There’s a great expansive view,” says Hannigan, “and that’s important in the more modern architectural aspect of this home’s design.”

Kean stresses that the style of the home has a timelessness, and he feels strongly that it will hold its timelessness. “People have commented that this house could be anywhere—it has an international style that would appeal to people from around the world. It has a sexiness to it.” Kean laughs. “It makes you want to have a martini and listen to Frank Sinatra. Or have a margarita and sit by the water. It takes you somewhere other than where you are.”

The cabinetry used in the home was chosen because of its simplicity. Phil comments that the cabinetry is “kind of like the ‘50s and ‘60s, when a carpenter would come to the house and actually construct the cabinetry right there.” That’s the look that was achieved using Timberlake cabinetry, which, while not custom, has the look of custom because of the unusual applications in this house. For instance, one solid wall of cabinets, set in a grid pattern, not only emphasizes the architecture, it actually

And yet, this incredible house seems perfectly at home right where it stands.

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an Insider View

Phil Phil Kean (Right) architect and contractor

Brad Grosberg (Left) co-principal of phil kean designs

portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

how to Phil a home with ideas Equal parts creative juggernaut and poised perfectionist, Phil Kean has created The New American Home as a true reflection of his personality

The home delivers the wow factor of a first impression, followed by detail after detail of astonishing style, innovation and functionality.

born for the project You might say that Kean was born for this career.

His father was a builder. “He used to take me to the jobsite as a kid. At age seven, I would unroll the blueprints, find the walls and think in 3-D.” By age eleven, he’d decided to become an architect.

Adding the contractor moniker was borne of frustration. “When started, I was doing design for other people. I got frustrated with contractors ‘valuebuilding’ the best parts out of my house designs.”

A builder friend suggested Phil should do his own construction. Problem solved. “I got my contractor’s license and worked with a builder for several years.

We’d design and build them together.” Eventually, Phil went out on his own, and today Phil Kean Designs’ architecture, design and interiors team works nationally and internationally.

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he goal was to take it to the next level,” says Brad Grosberg, fellow principal in Phil Kean Designs. “Everybody that’s seen the house so far says that Phil accomplished it.”

Kean’s talent is uniquely suited for this year’s home, designed as a perfect little gem in a Winter Park, Florida, infill neighborhood near Lake Osceola. At 4,181 square feet, it’s the smallest New American Home in many years. And Kean makes every inch count. The clean, contemporary design is open and airy, expanding the space by blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors—a signature trait. Yet, the white box design is invitingly warmed with color, faceted with personality, and polished with the unexpected.

ideas are for everyone What are the defining characteristics of this year’s showcase? Ideas that are accessible to all designers and builders lead the list.

How does Kean bring such broad vision to the project? He is both the architect and contractor for the home—a first for The New American Home project, but not for Phil. The president of Winter Park, Florida’s Phil Kean Designs is both a licensed architect and a certified residential contractor, and he takes on that dual role for most of his clients.

“People are mesmerized by inside-outside lifestyle.

The floor to ceiling windows, the glass, is a major design element,” he says. “They could be anywhere in the world. It has a whole feeling of being someplace else.” Two visitors’ reactions illuminate the point. “A guy from Germany came through and said this house could be there. Another said it could be in South Africa. It has an international style with appeal to people all around the world.”

“I consider myself unique because I get to design and build,” says Kean. “I do a 3-D model in CAD,” he says, but then he colors outside the lines in an organic process. “Afterwards, I hand-sketch the home to think through the visual spaces and details.”

And the list of don’t-miss features continues. “The hidden doors incorporated in the pantry,” he says of the virtually invisible spaces tucked into the walls.

“People will love the stairs, too,” he adds about the floating scissor stairs, artfully lighted. “And we did a beautiful bar back for the entertaining area, just phenomenal—subtle and beautiful.”

When Phil the architect’s work is complete, Phil the contractor is just getting started. “If you think you have all answers when you’ve finished the blueprints, you’re missing out on opportunities to do something better.

As you walk through a home, you tweak things, see a way it could be better,” he says. That passionate pursuit of perfection doesn’t apply just to The New American Home. “I do this with all my houses. I don’t charge my clients for change orders. If you’ll be comfortable with changes, I promise I’ll make the house better.”

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Floating Stairway

How to Phil a Home with Ideas

What are other favorite elements? “The art gallery is world class. They’ll be thrilled about the flooring.

People will love the openness of the kitchen, and the cabinetry is gorgeous,” he continues. “We took Timberlake’s stock cabinets and turned it into a custom look.” A grid pattern created by cabinets, combined with doors used like paneling, creates long, rich wood walls connecting living spaces. “It’s amazing!” he raves.

Phil gives this example: “I’d chosen flooring and done all the design work, then I found out it wasn’t in stock. I had to lower the ceilings, re-cut doors and redo all my anal retentive details.” Yet trouble transformed to delight. “It turned out incredibly more beautiful than my original design!”

Phil’s sense of possibility also helped the house evolve throughout the building process. A stone wall wrapping an elevator tower caught his imagination. “When they put it up, it was so phenomenal we had to use it someplace else.” Quickly, new plans called for a 16-foot stone wall in the art gallery and two more outside walls. “Sometimes more is more!”

so good, so green The National Green Building Standard Emerald Status is another point of pride. Phil is a Certified Green Professional and member of the Florida Green Building Coalition and U.S. Green Building Council.

It’s a commitment the company has had since its beginning, and Kean sees it as a market benefit. “One of the non-negotiable things I’m finding with homebuyers is a desire for green. You don’t have to talk them into it; they come wanting it,” he assures.

The secret to unleashing this sense of creative freedom—especially under the tyranny of a grueling schedule, looming due dates and inevitable crises?

It’s not a bricks-and-mortar answer. “It’s about relationships,” Phil insists. “Fortunately, I have some of the best trades people in the whole world. Many of them are people I’ve worked with for years, and they’ve always been heroes to me.” Echoes Grosberg, “It was just an extraordinary experience.”

Every design element about the home carries a personal feel as well. That’s because Phil owned the property where The New American Home now sits.

He had plans to build a showcase home for his own company and perhaps live in it himself for a time.

Then the call came from National Association of Home Builders. They needed a new contractor for the 2012 home. “I had contacted the NAHB about my interest last year, but everything was already in place. When the original plans fell through, they remembered me,” a delighted Kean confides. He soon added the role of architect to his responsibilities, and planning began.

And the culmination of all that creative vision, changing, evolving, rethinking, reworking, discovery and tweaking is unmistakable in every detail: Perfection.

serendipity becomes spectacular The team had their work cut out for them, and time wasn’t on their side. “We didn’t close on the lot until January, and started construction in February,” Kean muses. Grosberg echoes the sentiment: “There was a call from somebody that said that there’s no way they’re going to complete this house.

You’ve got to figure this one out.”

The company’s response was instantaneous, says Grosberg, “We came back and literally went into 12 hour days, 7 days a week, with 50, 60, 70 people working here a day.” And what do you do when faced with challenges like this? “Close your eyes, take a deep breath and jump!” laughs Kean. That focus, flexibility and sense of humor helped keep the project humming in the hectic months when the inevitable crises occurred—many of which gave way to beautiful serendipity.

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Kitchen

life withou

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Outer Beauty, Inner Joy

ut Boundaries

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Outer Beauty Inner Joy Outdoor Lanai

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Outdoor Living Space with Pool

Outer beauty, Inner joy.

Living takes on new dimensions when indoors and outdoors blend

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s you approach the enticing entrance of The New American Home, clad in crisp white, crystalline glass and textural stone, you’re already anticipating the door will open on an impressive scene. But you’d never guess the vista that greets you.

The ground floor wraps around the focal point swimming pool, with two patios, a summer kitchen and bar, and the broad lanai creating sunny living space. The second story offers three balconies, including one off the master bedroom and one that serves as a yoga deck off the exercise room.

A tranquil swimming pool. A soothing water feature. Sunny patios and a breezy haven. That’s when you realize you’ve stepped through the front door onto the lanai. You then see the living room, dining room and an art gallery, wide open to the scene, with just a shimmer of glass in between. That’s when you understand what indoor-outdoor living can be… and that’s when you fall in love.

What makes the home so special is that the allure goes far, far beyond a floor plan that includes indoor and outdoor footage. It’s the connection between them, the sense of oneness in the space that sets it apart.

beauty as clear as glass Key to the illusion is glass—lots and lots of it. The home features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, some of which are actually massive sliding doors that open wide to the outdoors. “When you bring the glass to the ground, it gives you the indoor-outdoor connection,” says Kean. “It gives the illusion of one area, yet still breaks the boundaries.”

every space is for living With a nod to the Sarasota School of Architecture, architect and builder Phil Kean says the design revisits that 50’s and 60’s era’s fascination with Florida’s climate and flora. “The house is smaller than prior years, but the outside space is much more important. While it may be 50% smaller, the outside space is 50% bigger.”

“When you have a house like this, the lighting, the color, the texture, the reflections—all of that matters,” notes Kean. He relied on interior design by Rob Turner to magnify the illusion.

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Exercise Room

Yoga Porch portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

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come in to the outside “We chose materials that move from the outside in,” Turner says. “On the vertical surfaces, we brought stone from outside to inside.” Flooring materials also crossed the threshold. Color and furniture selection were also a factor, with the color blue creating a bridge between the inside and outside and luxurious indoor/outdoor fabrics blending from the lanai into the family area. “And there were all the small details,” Turner concludes. “For the greenery on the table, we used plants that were outside, visually bringing the outside in.”

Now, back at your starting point, you pause at the front door and look back at the pool, the sun-drenched interior, the shaded patios, the inviting conversation groups, the striking views in every direction. And you contemplate for a moment which is more beguiling— inside or outside. Then you realize once again: where you’re standing is both. And you realize in this home, you never have to decide. You always have both.

Outdoor Fountain Table

Master Bedroom

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Artful Living

artful

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portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

l Living

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Art Studio

Like all masterpieces, this one started with seeing the world through new eyes.

“We should think of art not as ‘dessert’, but salt.” That’s the insight, garnered from a TV documentary, which inspired Phil Kean, architect and builder, to include a world class art gallery in The New American Home.

In reality, this magnificent space has many faces.

Yes, a collection of museum-quality artwork by Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns graces a 16foot wall for open house events during the International Builders’ Show, but that’s just the beginning.

Now add a bar and grand piano. Infuse welcoming conversation groups of contemporary furnishings gathered on a chic shag carpet. Frame a view of the lush patio and pool with soaring glass windows.

Clearly, this is a gallery for the fine art of living, for casual entertaining, for quiet luxurious relaxation, for a peaceful afternoon, a musical interlude or a glittering party.

a masterwork of balance

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Rob Turner, interior designer, was charged with filling the canvas of Kean’s architecture. He understood the viewpoint immediately. “I’ve worked around great art collections before, and one of the design elements is people in the space.” He also had an intuitive feel for Kean’s approach. “Phil and

hen Phil says, “This house thinks of art as salt,” he means that it’s the crucial spice for every day, not just a special occasion treat. He clarifies, “As more and more people downsize, they want more beautiful things around them. Instead of a formal living room, why not a gallery?”

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portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

I have done many projects together. We have a great design relationship – and friendship.”

The look is a signature Turner interior: a clean, simple, modern approach that accentuates the design.

But this is no cold, aloof museum. There’s a pleasing warmth to the stone wall where the paintings hang.

Recessed lighting is intimate and inviting.

What is the key to the chameleon nature of the space?

Balance, advises Turner. “If I designed with too much, if it was too heavy handed, the people and artwork get lost. What I needed to do was get a furniture layout that was strong enough to stand up to the architecture, but not take away from the art.”

“It’s a fun room,” asserts Kean. “There’s a piano, so it’s a music room with great acoustics. It has a little bar for a couple of wine coolers or to serve drinks. It’s built for entertaining, with a Palm Springs feeling.”

room for creativity The “salt” of art is found in more than just the gallery.

It flavors the entire house. As you descend the open floating staircase, you come upon a wall of granitelined niches where a collection of artisan-blown glass sparkles. Lighted shelves grace the office. Sculpture fills the garden. An elegant grid of framed prints follows you through the dining room. And, the open design and immense glass walls of the home make every room a gallery for another.

Dining Room

Is it any wonder Phil was inspired to add an art studio to the blueprint? A sometime painter, he couldn’t help but paint himself into the picture. “I thought if I had a great spot for my art, I might start again.” The room is, in fact, a temple to the muse. Natural light warms the space. The view opens to the garden, pools and patios, with the glass-walled gallery as a final backdrop.

It’s detached from the main house, so there’s solitude without isolation.

Like the gallery, the studio is a creative playground for today’s ever-shifting lifestyles. Because the space includes a bath, it could be retouched into a guest suite or a striking office for someone who works from home.

“Let’s say you have a newborn,” adds Kean. “It could be for the nanny.” Still, he concludes, “I like the idea of someone creating art there…an artist in residence.”

Chances are, Phil will get his wish—in a way. If there’s an art to beautiful living (and there is, of course), then the style and imagination, design and ingenuity of this home will always have an artist in residence.

Gallery Niché

Eco-smart design is a matter of knowing the essentials

There’s a simple secret to earning Emerald status, the highest level of the National Green Building Standard: “Bring your certifier in at the beginning.”

vide a striking view of the outdoors and fill the home with natural light, but they could also be a challenge in cooling efficiency. The solution? Cutting edge technology. Motorized retractable screens shade the windows, each with a light sensor that responds to the sun, raising or lowering them to control heat.

technology, air quality and nature elements

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hat’s the advice of Phil Kean, architect and builder. Veteran of the green building movement, Kean has learned the value of relying on experts. “We’ve been building green essentially since we started — we just didn’t know it had a name then.”

That’s just the beginning of the latest technology for green living featured in the home. There’s also a solar panel HVAC system, a solar water heater and an electric car charging station. Adding to efficiency, the environmental and energy management are programmed, set and controlled from an iPad in the home. At the office or on vacation? You can handle it all remotely from an iPhone.

Now, with the nationwide NAHB program codifying the designation with a precise measurement of scores of elements, Phil has learned to rely on experts to optimize his homes. “We have an in-house person, and then we hire a certifier to help us hire subcontractors and do all the testing.”

Timberlake cabinetry, the first to be Green Approved by the NAHB Research Center, also contributes toward the coveted Emerald status. Made from 95 percent verified sustainable American hardwoods, Timberlake kitchen and bath cabinets add three green points for positive impact on indoor air quality. Other products used in the home to benefit indoor air quality are low VOC paints and caulks.

“The earlier the better,” he insists. A certified professional is thinking green from the ground up.

Without that insight, opportunities are missed and there’s no way to go back and change them. “If you wait until the middle you’ll miss points — the way you face the house, the architecture.”

And, some of the most striking green ideas came naturally—in landscaping. “Water was important says Kean. “We used all Florida native plants. In fact, the home is going to be endorsed by the Florida Native Plant Society.” Adds landscape architect Scott Redmon of Redmon Design, “The importance of native plants is that they fit into the Central Florida climate. Ultimately we need no irrigation, no pesticides, no fertilizers.”

measuring up to emerald status The stringent certification process to achieve the Emerald rating is administered by the NAHB Research Center and based on the ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Points are awarded for excellence is six key areas: energy efficiency, water conservation, resource conservation, indoor environment quality, site design and homeowner education.

Consumer acceptance of—and even insistence on— green building grows every year, confirms Kean. It saves on energy bills, reduces waste, protects natural resources, and ultimately enables a better lifestyle.

The New American Home is a model of how simple, smart and trouble-free certification can be – when you start from the ground up. In this case, it means insulated concrete forms (ICF) framing the house, as well as poured concrete forms. ICF provides super-efficient R-27 insulation to reduce heating and cooling costs.

“It’s the right thing to do,” reminds Kean. But does he believe it’s a necessity to go to the extra effort of the NAHB certification? His response is an emphatic yes. “It puts a pedigree to it. Long after we builders are gone, that pedigree is still there. When you go to sell your house in ten years, it will be important to the buyers. You’ll not regret doing it.”

Another major architectural feature to be considered was the window walls. The 10-foot glass panels pro2 5

Ever green Solar Panels

For Merlin Contracting, a premier Las Vegas custom homebuilder, thinking green has been a constant for 20 years. So it was only natural that Steve Jones, founder, decided to pursue the National Association of Homebuilders’ Certified Green Professional designation.

The trigger? In part, Jones shares, “it’s simply part of the company’s philosophy: treating every detail of a home with the utmost attention.” Growing up in a socially conscious era also influenced Steve and his brother Bart, fellow principal in Merlin. “Bart and I were brought up in the 60s. We started building this way before they called it ‘green’.”

The Jones brothers attended a three-day course in green building methods that don’t drive up construction costs.

“I absolutely 100% recommend the courses,” assures Jones. “You learn better building science, understand how green building benefits the client to save energy and money, and it’s good for our world, too.”

Know-how in energy-wise buildings has been crucial at one of Merlin’s recent builds in Nevada’s Mount Charleston. “It’s a cabin at 8,000 feet. It’s completely off the grid.” Perched in the woods of the Spring Mountain Range, the home is virtually self-sufficient. “On cloudy days, they need a diesel back-up generator. On other days, the solar panels and batteries are all they need.”

customer satisfaction NAHB certification has paid back in customer satisfaction, Jones asserts. “Clients see the effects almost immediately in energy savings, and how it reduces the cost of running a household.” He hastens to add that green isn’t just for luxury homes. “There’s value at every level. It’s all there, all available—and even small upgrades will make a difference.”

Jones also sees certification and green building as a sales tool. “If the guy next door isn’t building green and can’t show differentiation, it’s an opportunity for you. Once you explain the benefits to homeowners, they jump at it.”

“Green building pays off in more ways than one,” Jones asserts. “And the certification takes a business to the next level.”

Steve Jones’ Merlin Contracting was the builder for the 2004 New American Home in Las Vegas. The 2013 home in Las Vegas is slated to be built by Blue Heron, a Las Vegas luxury homebuilder and developer owned by Tyler Jones, partner and son of Steve. Blue Heron was also the builder of the 2009 New American Home.

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Smart Home Technology

Cities cater to lifestyles desired by more and more people There is a shift happening in regard to where people want to live that has led to a resurgence in urban development.

However, based on EPA study findings, in many regions, a large share of new residential construction was still taking place on previously undeveloped land on the urban fringe.

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o fill this need, urban infill is on the rise, which focuses on development that occurs within the existing footprint of a city, as opposed to taking place on the fringe of the urban footprint (suburbanization).

To examine the validity of this suspected trend, the EPA did a study in 2009 examining building permits in the largest metropolitan regions. The original report, issued in Feb. 2009, examined building trends in the 50 largest metropolitan areas from 1990 to 2007. In 2010, EPA expanded the data set to include 2008 data as well. The main goal of the analysis was to clarify if there had, indeed, been a shift toward redevelopment in cities, and to determine which regions have seen the most significant shift.

city v. suburb: defining the times Despite the findings of the EPA study that seem to support the resurgence of urban development, some skeptics say that the shift is not as sizeable as we may think.

The trends in both reports (the initial report, plus the updated report to include 2008 data) indicate that the distribution of residential construction in many regions has significantly changed during the time period measured. In more than half of the largest metropolitan areas, urban neighborhoods had dramatically increased their share of new residential building permits.

When looking at straight population numbers from the 2010 U.S. Census, some experts contend that the prophesied return to cities has been overstated. The Census numbers, to some observers, seem to suggest the opposite trend based on the fact that municipalities accounted for less metro area growth in the 2000s than they had in the 1990s. Meanwhile, suburbs showed more growth than the previous decade.

Some key findings from the EPA reports*:

The silver lining of the Census data for urban advocates is the data strictly on city cores. Even in areas that experienced general declines in city population, such as St. Louis, downtowns showed some impressive residential growth. Stated in a New Geography article based on another analysis of intra-regional migration patterns, was that the movement from suburbs to the downtown core slightly increased during the 2000s, while a shift from the core outward stayed flat or declined over the same time period.

» The urban neighborhood had more than doubled its share in 15 regions » The increase had been most dramatic over the last 5 years measured (2004-2008) » Data from 2008 showed the trend continuing in the wake of the real estate market downturn More than half of the markets in the EPA study saw a dramatic shift away from exurban Greenfield development, and an increase in urban core redevelopment. In 15 of the 50 markets measured, the central city more than doubled its share of housing permits during the original 18-year period of the study.

In regard to some of the data, there are questions as to how “city” and “suburb” are defined, which seems to be where some of the disparity in information lies.

Christopher Leinberger, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and professor of practice in urban and regional planning at the University of Michigan, responded to this quandary in an article published in

* Source: Residential Construction Trends in America’s Metropolitan Regions 2009, EPA

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The New Republic, writing that “limiting the debate to ‘city’ and ‘suburb’ misses the point.” The real discussion, he argues, should be about the type of built environment people prefer. And more indicators point to people preferring walkable, transit-oriented places.

boomers and gen yers are in the driver’s seat Many planning experts expect the reverse migration to cities to continue as baby boomers and echo boomers (also known as Gen Yers or Millennials)—the largest demographic groups in the market—drive housing preferences. Many boomers are empty nesters and are of retirement age, which means many are downsizing.

According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, many boomers want to live in a walkable urban downtown, or in a suburban town center or small town. Gen Yers, who are leaving the nest, and who are beginning to enter the first-time homebuyer market, also favor urban downtowns and suburban town centers for lifestyle reasons, according to the survey.

the largest cities lead the way A recent article in The Economist makes a point that based on 2010 Census data, in some large cities “the turnaround in central city population dynamics over the past decade is quite dramatic.” The article states that in 2000, the city of Washington was losing population; but in the ten years to 2010, the city ended up with a net increase in population of over 30,000 people.

New York City’s population is at its highest level ever.

Philadelphia’s population recently shifted from shrinking to growing. The Economist reprimands the naysayers of reverse migration who are basing their conclusions on population figures for not also taking supply and demand into account. The article cites that housing prices in parts of many central cities have grown, even in many areas where population numbers are level or falling. The article contends that if no one wanted to live in central cities, prices for homes there would not rise.

Leinberger, in a November 2011 New York Times article, presents data that he analyzed from the Zillow real estate database, which shows that in the late 1990s, high-end outer suburbs contained most of the expensive housing in the U.S., as measured by price per square foot. Today, based on Leinberger’s analysis, the most expensive housing is in the high-density, pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods of the center city and inner suburbs. Some of the most expensive neighborhoods in their metropolitan areas are Capitol Hill in Seattle, Virginia Highland in Atlanta, German Village in Columbus, Ohio, and Logan Circle in Washington. In Leinberger’s expert opinion, there has been a profound structural shift—a reversal of what took place in the 1950s, when drivable suburbs boomed and flourished as center cities emptied and withered. The reverse, albeit a gradual shift in that direction, now seems to be occurring.

Luma on Park

a fine example of urban infill Opportunity at every turn

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hen building on an urban infill lot, there are a multitude of variables that must be taken into account because these “leftover spaces” can pose design challenges. In the 2012 New American Home, Phil Kean was up for the challenge—or as he prefers to look at it—the opportunities. First opportunity: the five-story apartment building—albeit a beautiful apartment building— that sits directly behind the lot where The New American Home was to be built. Yet the street features single-family, historic homes. Phil found himself asking the question: How do you capture the quaintness of the neighborhood, and create some sense of privacy?

His solution was to design the house, and situate it in such a way, that both objectives were achieved.

Kean says that today, urban infill design is often about massing and scale. “In this case, we had to deal with all of these intrinsic rules to preserve the feel of the ‘50s neighborhood. That is really the intent of the codes. To maintain certain integrities.”

Kean says it’s a matter of figuring out what you have to work with, and adapting as needed, such as perhaps building articulated walls instead of straight walls. Speaking with his architect hat on, and with his positive attitude intact, Kean says with a chuckle, “It’s the rules that keep people like me employed.”

In Kean’s estimation, there is more buyer demand for urban infill locations than in the past. “People want to live near where they work, their children’s schools,” says Kean. “They don’t want to be on the road half the day.”

“The style in itself was all about indoors/outdoors, and fitting the house to the lot,” says Kean. With the high-rise in the back, he couldn’t do a courtyard in that direction, so instead the house wraps around a side courtyard, creating a C-shape. The back of the house is taller with no windows, so privacy is protected. “The house itself creates the screening,” says Kean.

The biggest difficulty that Kean has encountered when building on urban infill sites is access. “You’re disrupting the neighbors’ lives,” says Kean. “You have to be diplomatic.” Early in the process Kean introduces himself to neighbors, and shows them plans for the house. He cautions builders who engage in urban infill to be prepared to accept that they’re never going to be able to please everyone, but that common courtesies go a long way. “Be nice to the neighbors. Talk to them when they walk by.

Keep them informed.” When you think about it, it’s a simple strategy, really, and one that supports the neighborhood lifestyle that urban living fulfills.

Kean notes that the architecture was influenced to a large degree by the city’s strict zoning codes, such as the required “wedding cake” plan, where first and second floors cannot align. But, in line with his solution-oriented mindset, he notes that many of the design elements for the home came out of solutions to meet the codes.

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Installing Satisfaction Hidden Pantry Door

Master Bath Coffee Bar

Master Bath

Bar

portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

installing satisfaction

The practices that make for on-time and complete perfection For Mark Poole, Timberlake’s District Operations Manager for Central Florida, the pressures of managing the cabinetry installation for The New American Home are very, very familiar.

After all, the 2012 edition was his sixth.

initiative, communications, and problem solving Once at the house, the team can work quickly. To manage the compressed schedule, Poole uses six installers instead of the usual two, working in teams. “I’m there to ensure everything is installed per plan as quickly and efficiently as possible.” But he counts on the team’s initiative. “If one team finishes up, they slide over and assist the others. They must work well together, and be able to accommodate changes on-site.”

Poole credits the Timberlake qualifying method for identifying top installers. “We have comprehensive training that covers processes and standards all installers must complete before they ever put a cabinet on a wall.” Every installation is then inspected and graded. “We work with the team to ensure the expected consistency and professionalism.”

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hat makes TNAH unique is the tight time crunch,” Poole admits. “There’s the show date that’s unmovable and lots of tradespeople at work.”

Though the timeframe was limited, the project scope was beautifully expansive. Timberlake cabinetry brings functionality and a custom look to more than ten rooms, including the kitchen, baths, office, media room, laundry, and art gallery. Many installations were unique, such as the floating nightstands in the master bedroom and floating cabinets lit from beneath.

service, the ultimate value add Poole insists Timberlake's corporate culture is key: “We understand builders are trying to reach a goal… finish a house and get a satisfied customer into it.”

Phil Kean, builder for The New American Home, concurs. “This is my first time working with Timberlake. They’re superstars. I’d use them again— and I don’t say that about everybody.”

The secret to success? The right processes, people and culture, according to Poole.

First, the job is measured three times. A preliminary measure goes to the design team. “Then we go back just prior to drywall to see if anything changed,” notes Poole. “A final measure is taken when the house is drywalled, so our design team has all the details.” Only then is the cabinetry ordered.

The preparation process extends to the installers, too. “I communicate with the install team prior to the jobsite visit to give them the working drawings and review the entire install.”

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shown from left to right: mark poole, ckd, troy turner, tim lawyer, bob ward, john argall

in the director’s chair:

Tucker Bernard Lights, Hammer… Action!

Tucker Bernard’s role as Director for The New American Home may not be exactly like a movie director, but there are some similarities.

The New American Home is in its 29th year, the last 13 of which Bernard has been Director. According to Bernard, The New American Home project is really a demonstration home for builders, which showcases best practices, materials, designs and construction techniques.

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s Director of The New American Home project, his job is to bring all of the different entities together—which, in this case, is the builder, architect and interior designer. And while there are no stuntmen involved in the creation and production of The New American Home, it’s actually quite a stunt to build this one-of-a-kind house within the required timeframe for completion. “All parties involved start out with their own agendas, and it’s my job to get, and keep, everyone on the same page,” says Bernard. In the case of the 2012 New American Home, Bernard admits it was a little easier since Phil Kean, 2 5 of Phil Kean Designs, was the architect and the builder. Bernard says with a chuckle. “He only had to argue with himself.”

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Bernard is quick to stress that all builders can learn from these showcase homes. “Anyone can take bits and pieces out of this home and use it in their businesses, regardless of budget.” He also notes people are often surprised to learn that very little custom is used in any of the New American Homes. Unique or leading edge applications are used, so it often looks like custom, but it’s actually very achievable to emulate what is seen in the homes.

The 2012 project is an outstanding example of exactly what this home should represent. Inspiration.

It’s a wrap.

Bar

Title / Desciption goes here Loft

Front Elevation

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A Home for Entertaining

a home for

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portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41

r Entertaining

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a margarita and a dip in the pool

eat, drink and be merry

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The must-have features in the kitchen are the cornerstone for unforgettable entertaining. “The kitchen is designed to be a clean space that always looks organized,” begins Kean “There are beautiful, ample cabinets, and there’s a large nearby storage corridor.” He adds, “There are two stoves, two microwaves and two warming drawers,” And for bigger events? “The kitchen is just off the garage, so it’s perfect for caterers.”

ound good? Or how about a martini while you listen to Frank Sinatra? Those are the spirited words Phil Kean, architect and builder of The New American Home, uses to describe the atmosphere he’s created. “This house has a sexiness,” he says.

“It’s designed for someone that enjoys entertaining.”

The sunlit pool at the center of the C-shaped home is the sparkle for any gathering, indoors or out.

Whether viewed from the spacious lanai and patios or through the glass walls of the living space, it creates a decidedly festive vibe.

The art gallery features a bar that includes refrigerator drawers, a wine chiller and generous storage cabinetry. There’s also a summer kitchen on one of the poolside patios, designed for sociability.

Notes Turner, “Sometimes these features are facing a wall. Here, it faces the people you’re serving.

And it’s a bar, so you can have a drink and a conversation while someone’s cooking.”

go with the flow The flow of the house is also an important part of the hospitality. Each area feels fully defined, yet open to the next without the interruption of hallways and walls. “There’s a beautiful flow, no bottlenecks,” confirms Rob Turner, interior designer. “It’s all in the space planning. Each area has its own character, but it’s drawing you from one into the next.”

“In The New American Home, we’ve created an oasis in an urban setting,” smiles Kean. That calls for celebration. Martini, anyone?

The design also offers a space for every type of entertaining, notes Kean. “There are spaces for groups of ten, or people in small groups, or one person on a cell phone. People can move according to what they’re doing.”

Great Room Bar

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Family Room/Art Gallery

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Lake Osceola

an Historic town winter park, florida A well-preserved walk down memory lane In fast-paced, fun-packed Central Florida, Winter Park has managed to maintain its historic roots and authentic aura. he town was founded as a resort community in the late 19th century, and is recognized as the first centrally planned community in Florida.

National Geographic Traveler described Winter Park as follows: “This gracious town manages to retain its reputation as an oasis within the helter-skelter growth of Central Florida. Brick streets (which provide natural drainage into the aquifer) are still found throughout Winter Park’s small downtown district with some interesting historic buildings and small businesses. It also has a nice historic residential area.

There is a clear sense that this is very much a place where people live, work, go to school—not just a showpiece for tourists.”

According to the Winter Park Historical Society, the city traces its founding to a Chicago businessman, Loring Chase, who visited Florida in 1881, and saw potential in the area for development.

Chase and a childhood friend purchased 600 acres of land around the shores of several lakes in the area for $13,000, on which they planned the town of Winter Park. They hired a surveyor to lay out a tidy grid of residential streets with curves encircling sites designated for hotels, schools, churches, and a large central park in the downtown district. As part of this development, they required all buildings to meet stylistic and architectural standards.

In 2011, Winter Park’s downtown district was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The national register is the official list of the nation’s historic places that are worthy of preservation. The Downtown Winter Park Historic District runs along Park Avenue from Canton to Comstock Avenues, and was deemed significant in the areas of early settlement, architecture, community planning, commerce and transportation. The historic period of significance runs from 1882 through 1965, with notable architects of downtown buildings including James Gamble Rogers II, Roy A. Benjamin and Nils M. Schweizer.

The railroad played a large role in fueling the growth of the town in the late 1800’s when rail service was added to the location, and a station was built in 1890 in the downtown area. The current train station is still located downtown, and adds to the historic ambiance, while Amtrak services modern day railway routes through Winter Park.

The architecture of the 2012 New American Home fits right in with the eclectic nature of the town.

While the house is just blocks from downtown Winter Park, the setting feels secluded, with a view of Lake Osceola at the end of the street. Central Park is still a centerpiece of the town, and Park Avenue features an array of upscale shopping and dining, all of which are within walking distance of the house. According to Phil Kean, a hotel is being built very close by to the house as well; what this does, according to Kean, is allow the homeowner to accommodate a lot of guests despite the more moderate square footage of this particular New American Home. Aspects like this are what a city setting offers versus a more suburban, or rural, environment. You could say that you get the best of both worlds here: luxurious privacy at the house, plus convenient access to fine eateries and shopping, practically in your backyard. Now, that’s our definition of an oasis.

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While development over the years has resulted in the loss of many historic buildings to the demands of growth, Winter Park still retains a number of buildings from its early years. And it still retains its feel of a quaint, old-world town, so much so that it was selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of the top historic destinations in the world. In 2009, National Geographic Traveler ranked Winter Park #38 in their list of the world’s top historic destinations for their fifth annual “Places Rated” survey. The survey ranks the world’s top historic sites and how well they have weathered time and the pressures of mass tourism.

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subscriptions

Portfolio速 Resources

For your complimentary subscription to Portfolio速 magazine please email your request to: editor@timberlake.com

credits architect and builder Phil Kean Phil Kean Designs, Inc. Winter Park, Florida interior design Rob Turner PKD Studio, LLC. Winter Park, Florida landscape architecture Redmon Design Company Maitland, Florida cabinet design Tracey Burrell-Combs, akbd Timberlake Cabinetry Winchester, Virginia photography Jeff A. Davis Jeff Davis Photography Dallas, Texas photo styling Henry B. Frey flourish, Inc. Cleveland, Ohio

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sponsoring association National Council of the Housing Industry, a committee of the NAHB Washington, D.C.

Simply Irresistible

pages 3 ~ 4

 Irresistible

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 1    ,      1

main room

bottom right

bottom left

upper right

Powder Room

Kitchen

Dining Room

cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso

cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso

cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

To stay with the flow of the home, the powder bath has a floating vanity with decorator doors and under-cabinet lighting.

In the kitchen, the appliances have decorative panels to match the cabinetry for a clean and modern look. With the unique layout of the home, the cabinets flow from one space into another.

Turning the corner from the kitchen, the dining room features base cabinets for added storage.

Outer Beauty, Inner Joy

pages 31 ~ 32

pages 7 ~ 8

Kitchen/Media Room cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

     

rary design, Kean explains, it’s often about restraint and control. He stresses the importance of “the editing moment,” when what you leave out can be as important as what you put in. And proportions, in Kean’s opinion, are what make for a successful contemporary.

The goal of every New American Home project is to showcase innovative construction techniques, design trends, materials and products. While the 2012 New American Home achieves these goals, and does so splendidly, this year’s New American Home also showcases something that past homes have not: a world-class art collection in its art gallery. According to Phil Kean, co-owner of Phil Kean Designs, and architect and builder of the home, part of the challenge “was in designing a house that has a gallery with museum-quality artwork, and still have it be warm, real and livable.” By all accounts, Kean and his team more than delivered on all of these counts, which Kean says was achieved from a design standpoint “through colors, details and textures.”

The cabinetry chosen for the house features unadorned styling and was used for its contemporary aesthetic. Throughout the main sections of the home, Timberlake’s Lausanne door features a dark maple Espresso finish. Timberlake’s New Haven Linen was used in the studio and master bath. The cabinetry throughout incorporated some unique applications.

“We pushed the envelope with the cabinetry,” says Kean. This translated to floating vanities, floating side tables, a solid wall of cabinets placed in a grid pattern, and no moldings, which added a degree of difficulty to the installation. Timberlake Designer for the home, Tracey Burrell-Combs, says about the moldings: “I knew I had to keep it clean lined and avoid excess ornamentation.” Kean says about the process: “We had to create six-inch bands that kind of picture frame the cabinets because there is no molding. All of these things were challenges, but Timberlake figured them out. They made it work.”

Kean describes the style of the home as “white box meets modernism.” With one look at the house, there’s no mistaking its style: it’s contemporary through and through. First, there’s the modern look of the stone façade. The stone is then carried into the house, adorning a 16-foot high wall in the art gallery, and it’s also used on one wall of the courtyard. Interior designer on the 2012 New American Home, Rob Turner of PKD Studio, LLC, chimes in about the stone: “It’s very much a white modern box, but there’s also this wonderful texture of stone that travels from the outside to the inside. It doesn’t feel like you’re walking into a museum. It doesn’t feel stark.”

      While the house is obviously show quality, and very contemporary, it’s also warm, not cold, and it doesn’t stifle modern lifestyles. On the contrary, Brad Grosberg, co-owner of Phil Kean Designs, says, “We attempted to create what people are looking for today, and what people are going to be looking for down the road, which is a little bit smaller, a little higher detail, with lots of the creature comforts that make you enjoy your time at the house.”

The color scheme was carefully chosen: a simple light and dark concept, which supports the contemporary feel. Kean notes that this “black and white” approach enabled him to use products contributed from the New American Home manufacturer partners in a cohesive way. Turner describes the color palette as simple, with some nuance. “It’s composed of warm white, warm grey, charcoals and black. That’s all,” says Turner. “When you add the art to the space, that’s where the color is.” Turner notes that wherever color was selectively used—as with a classic modern orange chair upstairs—it was “intended to be used as sculpture, even though it’s furniture.” Turner says the key is “less is more, but every piece matters, and it must all work together.”

The first-impression “wow factor” of the home belies its practicality, evidence that throughout the entire process, there was always an eye to how people want to live, and what they’re looking for to serve their lifestyles. Kean sees a trend toward people being willing to give up square footage for details. He often hears the statement from prospective buyers that they “Don’t want a room they can’t use.” Or, “These details are my non-negotiables.” With younger buyers in particular, they would rather have a smaller home, but not give up amenities. This trend is also common with the older generation who may be downsizing, but wants to maintain a certain lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed.

There are virtually no moldings throughout the house, which underscores the home’s clean lines.

“When you do a house with almost no moldings” says Kean, “the craftsmanship comes more into play.” Actually, his approach to the entire house is this extremely close attention to detail. He adds, “In a house like this, the lighting, the color, the texture, the reflections—all of that matters—even the sounds and the smells.” Especially with contempo-

Master Bedroom

Outdoor Dog Shower

pages 19 ~ 20

In addition to the actual art gallery, there’s an art studio with exterior access, which creates the perfect dedicated space to foster serious artistic endeavors or casual hobbyist activities. The studio can also be converted to a bedroom, adding flexibility as needed.

At 4,181 square feet, the 2012 New American Home may be on the smaller side compared to recent New American Homes, but it packs a punch when it comes to features that today’s consumers are looking for. “Just because a house is beautiful,” says Kean, “people do live here.” And not just people…the home also makes man’s best friend feel welcome with a doggie door, a run, and an area to wash a dog. The semi-mud room, where the canine accoutrements reside, also offers a washer and dryer, built-ins and a bench for day-to-day convenience.

When it comes to technology, which is now a high priority for homebuyers, according to Kean, the house is “incredibly technology equipped,” with a whole-house technology system so sophisticated that it caused him to dub it “The Brilliant Home.”

“It’s amazing,” says Kean. “The house is set up on an iPad/iPhone system, so you could be anywhere in the world and check on your house.” Kean rattles off a long list of cutting edge technology features, including cameras for security; phantom motorized screens with solar sensors that will go up or down automatically as the light changes throughout the day; automated interior shades; dimming modules; a whole-house Pandora music system; solar photovoltaic to generate energy; and energy usage tracking. The living area has a drop-down media screen, with motorized phantom “blackout” screens on the windows that can be lowered to create the perfect viewing environment any time of day.

To accommodate today’s telecommuter trend, the house features a home office equipped for two. Lowline cabinets in the office form a credenza behind the desk, while parallel shelving above creates more space to display artwork.

A workout room with three exterior glass walls sports a fabulous view, and supports the movement toward healthier lifestyles—complete with an exterior yoga deck. Being that the master is on the second floor, Kean included an elevator in the house, which is clad in stone, and offers the ultimate accessibility.

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Kitchen/Media Room

Powder Room

upper left

Loft cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel The loft features framed wall cabinets on toe as a barrier to the stairwell. Within the cabinetry is a hidden television that lifts the countertop open as it rises up. bottom left

Master Bedroom cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso

top left

Office

, ,    Once at the house, the team can work quickly. To manage the compressed schedule Poole uses six installers instead of the usual two, working in teams. “I’m there to ensure everything is installed per plan as quickly and efficiently as possible.” But he counts on the team’s initiative. “If one team finishes up, they slide over and assist the others. They must work well together, and be able to accommodate changes on-site.

Poole credits the Timberlake qualifying method for identifying top installers. “We have comprehensive training that covers processes and standards all installers must complete before they ever put a cabinet on a wall.” Every installation is then inspected and graded. “We work with the team to ensure the expected consistency and professionalism.”

hat makes TNAH unique is the tight time crunch,” Poole admits. “There’s the show date that’s unmovable and lots of tradespeople at work.”

Though the timeframe was limited, the project scope was beautifully expansive. Timberlake cabinetry brings functionality and a custom look to more than ten rooms, including the kitchen, baths, office, media room, laundry, and art gallery. Many installations were unique, such as the floating nightstands in the master bedroom and floating cabinets lit from beneath.

,     Poole insists Timberlake's corporate culture is key: “We understand builders are trying to reach a goal… finish a house and get a satisfied customer into it.”

Phil Kean, builder for The New American Home, concurs. “This is my first time working with Timberlake. They’re superstars. I’d use them again— and I don’t say that about everybody.”

The secret to success? The right processes, people and culture, according to Poole.

First, the job is measured three times. A preliminary measure goes to the design team. “Then we go back just prior to drywall to see if anything changed,” notes Poole. “A final measure is taken when the house is drywalled, so our design team has all the details.” Only then is the cabinetry ordered.

The preparation process extends to the installers, too. “I communicate with the install team prior to the jobsite visit to give them the working drawings and review the entire install.”

Outdoor Fountain Table

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Master Bath

cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso

 1    ,      1

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Yoga Porch

Master Bedroom

Kitchen/Media Room cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

Master Bedroom cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel The master suite stays true to the home’s simplistic design with floating nightstands on either side of the bed created with kneehole drawer cabinets and finished stock fillers.

White Box Meets Modernism pages 9 ~ 10

meets 

 

The Ins and Outs of the Architecture

helps to create it. Kean thinks that “people will be surprised that it’s a stock cabinet.” The cabinetry through most of the house is finished with a dark espresso color. “This rich, almost black, tone gets pulled into this White Box, and it warms up the whole house. It’s a really good blend.”

The exception was that Kean used white finishes on the bathroom cabinetry to ensure that the look will not quickly become dated. The floating cabinets in the master bath are surrounded by classic white marble, with under-cabinet lighting that further gives the vanity even more of a feeling of “floating.”

T Front Elevation

he home is a reinterpretation of the Classic White Box, which architects such as Richard Meier and Le Corbusier were doing at that time. Kean says the house is also reminiscent of Sarasota School of Architecture’s philosophy in the ‘60s. “This was before there was a lot of air conditioning in Florida,” says Kean, “so indoor/outdoor was important.” Kean found that to be intriguing, so that’s where he started: with modern thoughts of broad overhangs, and terraces, and rooms that blend the indoors and outdoors.

Another primary architectural feature of the home is the modern look of its stone exterior. Phil Kean and Brad Grosberg had a vision of what they wanted for the stone, but it did not exist. So, they worked with Environmental Stoneworks to manufacture a completely new stone for this house. The process included studying photos of a variety of stone used in the ‘50s and ‘60s. The result was white stone with some color variation, installed with white grout in a linear pattern.

The interior floating, scissor-type stairs are another interesting architectural element, which came out of a design solution alternative when the original invisible stair concept planned was too steep for the budget. “We wanted a very minimal stair,” says Kean, “and we wanted to be able to see through the stair, to the outside, the exterior landscape.” The material on the stairs is the same as on the floors—a natural limestone that looks almost like wood when it’s installed—so the stair looks like an extension of the flooring material as it moves up to the second floor.

Although the past informs the present, at the same time Kean was looking forward to take advantage of current technologies and design trends. To fully explore the melding of inside and out, the glass was one of the key influences in the design of the house.

The structure is literally designed around the glass to accommodate floor-to-ceiling glass panels and doors.

Project Manager of the New American Home, Alex Hannigan, says the windows cater to consumers’ desire for this feature. “There’s a great expansive view,” says Hannigan, “and that’s important in the more modern architectural aspect of this home’s design.”

Kean stresses that the style of the home has a timelessness, and he feels strongly that it will hold its timelessness. “People have commented that this house could be anywhere—it has an international style that would appeal to people from around the world. It has a sexiness to it.” Kean laughs. “It makes you want to have a martini and listen to Frank Sinatra. Or have a margarita and sit by the water. It takes you somewhere other than where you are.”

The cabinetry used in the home was chosen because of its simplicity. Phil comments that the cabinetry is “kind of like the ‘50s and ‘60s, when a carpenter would come to the house and actually construct the cabinetry right there.” That’s the look that was achieved using Timberlake cabinetry, which, while not custom, has the look of custom because of the unusual applications in this house. For instance, one solid wall of cabinets, set in a grid pattern, not only emphasizes the architecture, it actually

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And yet, this incredible house seems perfectly at home right where it stands.

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 1    ,      1

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Guest Bath cabinets: New Haven™ Maple Linen

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Master Bath Coffee Bar cabinets: New Haven™ Maple Linen

I have done many projects together. We have a great design relationship – and friendship.”

The look is a signature Turner interior: a clean, simple, modern approach that accentuates the design.

But this is no cold, aloof museum. There’s a pleasing warmth to the stone wall where the paintings hang.

Recessed lighting is intimate and inviting.

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What is the key to the chameleon nature of the space?

Balance, advises Turner. “If I designed with too much, if it was too heavy handed, the people and artwork get lost. What I needed to do was get a furniture layout that was strong enough to stand up to the architecture, but not take away from the art.”

Master Bath

“It’s a fun room,” asserts Kean. “There’s a piano, so it’s a music room with great acoustics. It has a little bar for a couple of wine coolers or to serve drinks. It’s built for entertaining, with a Palm Springs feeling.”

   The “salt” of art is found in more than just the gallery.

It flavors the entire house. As you descend the open floating staircase, you come upon a wall of granitelined niches where a collection of artisan-blown glass sparkles. Lighted shelves grace the office. Sculpture fills the garden. An elegant grid of framed prints follows you through the dining room. And, the open design and immense glass walls of the home make every room a gallery for another.

Like all masterpieces, this one started with seeing the world through new eyes.

“We should think of art not as ‘dessert’, but salt.” That’s the insight, garnered from a TV documentary, which inspired Phil Kean, architect and builder, to include a world class art gallery in The New American Home.

In reality, this magnificent space has many faces.

Yes, a collection of museum-quality artwork by Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns graces a 16foot wall for open house events during the International Builders’ Show, but that’s just the beginning.

Now add a bar and grand piano. Infuse welcoming conversation groups of contemporary furnishings gathered on a chic shag carpet. Frame a view of the lush patio and pool with soaring glass windows.

Clearly, this is a gallery for the fine art of living, for casual entertaining, for quiet luxurious relaxation, for a peaceful afternoon, a musical interlude or a glittering party.

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Rob Turner, interior designer, was charged with filling the canvas of Kean’s architecture. He understood the viewpoint immediately. “I’ve worked around great art collections before, and one of the design elements is people in the space.” He also had an intuitive feel for Kean’s approach. “Phil and

hen Phil says, “This house thinks of art as salt,” he means that it’s the crucial spice for every day, not just a special occasion treat. He clarifies, “As more and more people downsize, they want more beautiful things around them. Instead of a formal living room, why not a gallery?”

Dining Room

Is it any wonder Phil was inspired to add an art studio to the blueprint? A sometime painter, he couldn’t help but paint himself into the picture. “I thought if I had a great spot for my art, I might start again.” The room is, in fact, a temple to the muse. Natural light warms the space. The view opens to the garden, pools and patios, with the glass-walled gallery as a final backdrop.

It’s detached from the main house, so there’s solitude without isolation.

Like the gallery, the studio is a creative playground for today’s ever-shifting lifestyles. Because the space includes a bath, it could be retouched into a guest suite or a striking office for someone who works from home.

“Let’s say you have a newborn,” adds Kean. “It could be for the nanny.” Still, he concludes, “I like the idea of someone creating art there…an artist in residence.”

Chances are, Phil will get his wish—in a way. If there’s an art to beautiful living (and there is, of course), then the style and imagination, design and ingenuity of this home will always have an artist in residence.

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Gallery Niché

 1    ,      1

Art Studio cabinets: New Haven™ Maple Linen hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel The studio was designed so that it could be easily transformed into a bedroom with tall utility cabinets for plenty of storage. Between the utility cabinets is a bench seat with a spectacular view.

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel The guest bath was designed with increased-depth wall cabinets as floating vanities.

The pantry door is hidden with decorative panels to match the cabinetry.

The morning kitchen keeps convenience close at hand.

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When you ask Phil Kean what inspired the design of the 2012 New American Home, he first talks about looking backward, and finding inspiration from the architecture of the 1950s and ‘60s.

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

pages 23 ~ 24

Art Studio

Guest Bath

cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso

Artful Living

The media room features a gridpattern wall with picture-frame molding, and provides plenty of storage, a built-in fireplace and a hidden television.

    :  , ,  ,  ,  ,  

Hidden Pantry Door

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Bar

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 1    ,      1

This home office accommodates two users thanks to matching credenzas on each side of the room.

Both consist of floating wall cabinets and horizontal shelving made from tall column fillers.

Kitchen

For Mark Poole, Timberlake’s District Operations Manager for Central Florida, the pressures of managing the cabinetry installation for The New American Home are very, very familiar.

After all, the 2012 edition was his sixth.

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Exercise Room

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel The master bedroom showcases floating cabinets with under-cabinet lighting, making the perfect space for displaying decorative items and the television.

Master Bath Coffee Bar

Now, back at your starting point, you pause at the front door and look back at the pool, the sun-drenched interior, the shaded patios, the inviting conversation groups, the striking views in every direction. And you contemplate for a moment which is more beguiling— inside or outside. Then you realize once again: where you’re standing is both. And you realize in this home, you never have to decide. You always have both.

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 1    ,      1

Hidden Pantry Door

“We chose materials that move from the outside in,” Turner says. “On the vertical surfaces, we brought stone from outside to inside.” Flooring materials also crossed the threshold. Color and furniture selection were also a factor, with the color blue creating a bridge between the inside and outside and luxurious indoor/outdoor fabrics blending from the lanai into the family area. “And there were all the small details,” Turner concludes. “For the greenery on the table, we used plants that were outside, visually bringing the outside in.”

 1    ,      1

 satisfaction

The practices that make for on-time and complete perfection

    

hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel

pages 5 ~ 6

Wherever color was used—as with a classic modern orange chair upstairs—it was “intended to be used as sculpture, even though it’s furniture.” Turner says the key is “less is more, but every piece matters, and it must all work together.”

Kean is blown away by the system, and modestly says with a chuckle, “Now the house is brilliant, and we’re just smart.”

Kean may have christened the house “brilliant” based on technology, but there are a multitude of ways that its brilliance shines through—from its aesthetic design, to its practical lifestyle features, to its mix of beauty and warmth—it outdoes itself, contemporarily speaking.

Office

This unique and open floor plan allows you to see the kitchen, dining and media room all at once.

The intention was to reflect the architectural elements of the home and to create some architectural elements with the cabinetry.

Loft

CEDIA, which stands for Custom Electronic Design Installation Association, was called in to coordinate efforts for the home technology design. Peter Shipp, Principal of CEDIA member Architectural Electronics, Inc., was closely involved in the process. “In keeping with the modern design and clean lines of the home,” says Shipp, “we had to make sure that the technology is not visible, that it’s all hidden.” For example, the loft contains a complete surround sound system with a hidden display panel that pops up, which was designed to fit the space.

Installing Satisfaction Installing Satisfaction

Simply Irresistible

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cabinets: New Haven™ Maple Linen hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel Retreat into this spa-like master bathroom with floating cabinets surrounded with white marble. bottom right

Bar cabinets: Lausanne™ Maple Espresso hardware: Tab Pull Brushed Nickel Even though the space is small and cabinets are limited, the wet bar still supplies amenities that make entertaining easy.

p.o. box 1980 winchester, va 22604 www.timberlake.com Š 2012 American Woodmark Corporation | 02/12 TBL95802 6M

portfolio 2012 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 41