Tag Archive: Construction

1. Modern Home Design & Construction of The 2021 New American Home – Phase 1

   November 24, 2020 12:07 pm Comments Off on Modern Home Design & Construction of The 2021 New American Home – Phase 1

   The New American Home 2021 modern home design process offers a different perspective than Phil Kean Design Group’s previous New American Homes designed and built in 2012 and 2017. In the below video, Phil Kean shares his ideas for the modern architectural design of the home, and walks through the features and amenities of each floor.

   While still modern, this home has a treehouse feel with the main living areas on the third floor looking down over the treetops. As part of an urban luxury development of seven high-end custom homes and townhomes ranging from 3,000 sq. ft. to over 8,000 sq. ft., this home offers luxury living with all the finest finishes, and a walk-to-location in the heart of Winter Park, Florida.

   As we move into the future, we’ve found that walkability and location is ideal. However, in urban locations, walkable properties are hard to come by.

   As with all Phil Kean homes, our mission is to provide award-winning design and construction with our architecturally distinctive spaces while integrating the finest quality of products and services.

   Our Modern Home 2021 Entry: Floor-by-floor Design

   With three levels, The New American Home offers a unique living experience on each floor.

   With an art gallery entrance, the ground floor includes a three-car garage, guest bedroom with en suite bath and office. A dog room dedicated to man’s best friend is also featured on the ground level, along with added doggie doors located on every floor.

   The second floor is dedicated to the owner’s suite with a large master bedroom and spa-like master bath that connects to a boutique walk-in closet. It also includes a TV lounge with walk-out balcony, laundry room, and an exercise room with sauna and en suite bath.

   The third floor offers awe-inspiring 14’ ceilings throughout making it the perfect place to entertain, whether it be in the great room and music room or the state-of-the-art kitchen that connects to a large outside terrace and summer kitchen overlooking the treetops.

   Check back here next week as Katie Kovac, our incredible Construction Coordinator, walks through this modern home’s design materials and partner vendors we chose for this stunning project in Winter Park, FL.

2. Why Luxury Homeowners Choose Design Build Firms

   January 25, 2020 11:32 am Comments Off on Why Luxury Homeowners Choose Design Build Firms

   Design-build—the home project delivery method in which your architect is the designer and contractor for your project— is certainly not a new concept and has been reported as being in use for over four millennia. It has been the prime way architectural projects have historically come to life throughout history.

   What is ‘design-build’?

   What design-build means to you and your project is that the​ ​gap is removed​ ​between your luxury home design and construction in the real world.  This is achieved by allowing the architect to act as both the visionary and the ​implementer​ of your project.  As our ideas of luxury residential design continue to evolve, for many luxury homeowners, design-build is once again becoming the only logical choice.

   In contrast, the traditional building method — ​the design-bid-build method​ — oftentimes, homeowners and architects are unsatisfied with the end result because the design has been misinterpreted or incorrectly implemented by the contractor and subcontractors, which ultimately means the loss of the home’s original architectural design.

   

   Photo Credit: Uneek Image

   But that’s not the only reason. In fact, there are several benefits behind working with a design-build firm and several reasons that guide owners toward this decision—we’ve laid out a few of the most important below.

   How design-build projects orient home projects for success

   1. Design-build provides continuity

   Firstly, when working on a multi-company home project, there’s a higher risk of design features getting lost in translation between companies.

   What the designer and yourself as the homeowner have worked on and decided is best might not be what the builder prefers (or understands) from a design standpoint — and ultimately, the end result can be compromised. Cohesion and continuity can be problematic when working with a traditional delivery method.

   Watching a design-build firm in action is the definition of a streamlined process.  From the initial design sketches to the final walkthrough of the completed residence, the design integrity is meticulously monitored and managed.

   2. Designer Involvement Is Priority

   As mentioned, though it’s certainly not the case with ​every​ building or construction company, builders tend to stray from design plans without consulting the designer.

   This can happen on large features or material choices or on smaller details, however, with a design-build firm, the designers you chose to create your home plans are ​guiding​ the process and ​leading​ the in-house builders through that vision in a hands-on, involved way. This helps to maintain the design integrity all the way through to the finish line.

   

   Photo Credit: Tommy Daspit

   3. Design-Build Takes Total Responsibility

   Additionally, there are great advantages as a homeowner to having a singular company manage every piece of your luxury home project.

   With a traditional design-bid-build project, responsibility is split across design and construction companies and all aspects of the project are divided amongst the groups, leaving room for potential blame shifting or misallocation of responsibilities and resources.  Having a single point of accountability in your luxury home project means more clarity for you and peace of mind coming from knowing that every detail will be attended to.

   4. Design-Build Expedites Projects

   Lastly, in recent research released by the ​Construction Industry Institute (CII), it was reported that design-build​ projects continue to ​deliver on a faster scale, ​while providing ​greater​ ​reliability​ in​ ​cost​ when compared to traditional building methods.

   In fact, it was noted that design-build projects see about 3.9 percent less schedule growth and are delivered ​much faster​ on average than design-bid-build projects. When you separate the design and build process by opting out of choosing a design-build firm, you run the risk of your project taking nearly twice as long to complete, costing more, and dealing with reliability and design congruence.

   

   Photo Credit: Uneek Image

   At Phil Kean Design Group, it is our mission to provide our clients with the complete solution for award-winning design ​and​ construction in their luxury residential projects. If you would like to speak with a Phil Kean Design Group representative about how our firm can bring your luxury home design to fruition, please fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch.

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3. 4 Home Designs Sweeping Florida Luxury Neighborhoods in 2020

   September 30, 2019 5:26 am Comments Off on 4 Home Designs Sweeping Florida Luxury Neighborhoods in 2020

   From an architectural standpoint, luxury home design trends in Florida are especially unique and interesting compared to in the rest of the nation. You’ll see designs and architecture expressing unique and beautiful styles and tastes set in a backdrop of architectural influences, one-of-a-kind landscaping and décor inspired by the modern artists of our day.

   And when you consider the most posh and awe-inspiring homes in Florida today, you might be fascinated to see what we’ve revealed here as the four invisible trends that you might not notice, unless you’re looking out for them.

   1. Sustainable Home Design

    

   

   As awareness of the delicate nature of our planet becomes more prevalent, so do the home design trends and building techniques that continue to preserve it.

   One of the core reasons you don’t see much green design outside luxury neighborhoods is the fact that locally-sourced building materials are often more expensive and harder to come by than their less-sustainably sourced counterparts.

   Other eco-conscious building resources, such as green energy and sustainable materials, are also gaining popularity in the world of luxury, but do come at a price. This is gaining serious traction in eco-sensitive suburbs, especially near the coasts of Florida.

   2. Smart Home Design

   In the most exclusive areas of Florida, the infusion of technology in the designing and building of luxury homes is not as peculiar as one might think. From biometric door knobs, reading your thumbprint to unlock your door – to intelligent climate control and lighting, a significant number of the mundane day-to-day tasks are being controlled and enhanced through the use of integrated home technologies that make daily life easier, your home more modern, and your lifestyle more streamlined and automated than ever.

   Smartphones seem to be in our hands for most of the day. Smart televisions make unwinding after a long day easier than ever. Surround sound and music apps can fill your entire house with your favorite song at the touch of a button. Home devices, such as Amazon’s Alexa, take all of the above and control them with just the sound of your voice.

   3. Open Views

   Whether you’re building on the coast or want to watch the sunset over ancient oak trees, letting a little more of the outside in is trending in 2020. This means more (and larger) windows, natural spaces for enjoying nature in comfort, and even scenic views from the bathroom.

   Natural light is not only beautiful, but it’s also good for you. Designing a luxury home in an intuitive manner that takes build location, the direction of sunlight, and layout all into consideration is key to maximizing this desirable openness. From waking ith the morning rays to relaxing in the warm glow of evening, Florida is the perfect place to enjoy the outside, insight – year-round.

   4. Homes Designed with Privacy

   While this may seem like a counterintuitive point to coexist alongside open views and scenic bathrooms, you’ll notice that more home designs in luxury neighborhoods are being built with privacy in mind. Whether or not strategic landscaping plays a part in choosing a more isolated location, privacy is key to a home feeling comfortable, peaceful and truly luxurious.

   In Florida, this sometimes means that creativity is necessary. Utilizing the natural features of the land, constructing subtle and subdued fencing from locally-sourced materials, and embracing the privacy that fantastic landscaping can give you all  of the options that we see trending in Florida’s most luxurious neighborhoods in 2020.

   If you’d like to speak with the Phil Kean Design Group regarding your luxury home design, please fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch!

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4. The Love Shack: A Custom Modern Home in the Mountains

   August 28, 2016 3:52 pm Comments Off on The Love Shack: A Custom Modern Home in the Mountains

   Nestled in the treetops, the “Love Shack” — which is anything but shack-like in appearance—brings modern residential architecture lines to the wild beauty of nature in North Carolina. A unique example of sustainable architecture and contemporary design, this custom modern home blends Phil Kean Design Group’s award-winning aesthetic with the homeowner’s vision for a peaceful, natural retreat.

   Minimizing Environmental Impact by Going Vertical

   Located on a high-ridge site surrounded by sycamore, basswood, oak and yellow poplar trees, one of the biggest challenges presented during the modern home’s construction was minimizing environmental impact while making the most of the sloping site. Consulting renowned arborists in order to protect and preserve the surrounding woodland, the home was built on a limited footprint of just 600 square feet, adding livable space in the form of three stories plus a loft. This vertical approach reduces the structure’s impact on the surrounding forest, while still providing the homeowners with the luxury house and open living space they had envisioned for their mountaintop retreat.

   Connecting with Nature both Indoors and Out

   Breathtaking landscape views encapsulate the home from every angle, with 30 miles of the Blue Ridge, Smokey Mountains, Lake Fontana and lush, green forestry visible through floor-to-ceiling windows and glass doors. Stepping into the home is a complete sensory experience, with striking surroundings at every turn, a large balcony porch to enjoy the fresh mountain air on, and recycled wood used throughout the cabin to further blend the outdoors and the indoors into one naturally beautiful creation.

   Energy Efficiency Meets Style with Zola Windows and Doors

   In keeping with the home’s ultra energy efficient vision, Zola Thermo Clad windows and doors were used throughout the Love Shack. These energy-conserving additions helped the home meet strict green design codes while remaining a striking and functional part of its overall modern design. Sliding glass doors and tilt-turn windows, also by Zola European Windows, were incorporated into the home, making up integral parts of the Love Shack’s unmatched eco-chic aesthetic.

   Learn more about the Love Shack and read an interview with the homeowner, Ken LaRoe, and architect, Phil Kean, on the Zola European Windows website.

5. PKDG Makes Progress on the 2017 New American Home

   April 28, 2016 10:14 am Comments Off on PKDG Makes Progress on the 2017 New American Home

   Chosen to take on the challenge of designing and building the 2017 New American Home, Phil Kean Design Group continues to break the molds of modern architecture and produce never-before-seen home design. Located at the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club, the contemporary home features a truly one-of-a-kind custom floor plan, complete with two courtyards—one featuring a putting green and the other a resort-like pool—and a swanky roof terrace overlooking the lake. As of April 2016, construction on this lofty project has advanced tremendously. Watch the video below to get a closer look at the design and build process and learn more about the unique features the home will include.