Tag Archive: Design

  1. 3D Renderings in Architecture: How We Craft Luxury Home Visualizations

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    3D Renderings in Architecture: How We Craft Luxury Home Visualizations

    Creating 3D renderings in architectural projects, like the one below, allow our clients to take a realistic step into the luxury home of their dreams.

    It is an essential part of the Phil Kean Design Group’s architectural design process.

    In our previous blog, we provided our readers with insight into how these renderings offer our clients a stunning, tailor-made 3D view of their luxury home design before breaking ground.

    Now we are taking a closer look at this behind-the-scenes process, explaining how we take the home design we created for our client, and use cutting-edge technology and our in-house rendering expertise to create a detailed 3D rendering of both the outside and inside of the home.

    The First 3D Rendering Steps

    Once our architect and client are happy with the schematic design they’ve developed consisting of elevations and floor plans, the architect provides the project’s CAD file to our in-house rendering expert. With this information, our renderer creates an initial 3D model of the exterior of the home with our high-tech software.

    The architect can use this model to further discuss the details of the home.  They can open this model, rotate it and show the client their design from every angle, every perspective to ensure they’re not just satisfied with the concept, but feel exhilarated to see their residence come to fruition.

    Crafting the 3D Rendering

    Once the client signs off on the conceptual design, our design team gives our renderer everything they need to begin accurately developing the home 3D rendering—site photos, Google Earth data, exterior materials, etc.  They add intricate details to the concept model, such as textures, colors, exterior lighting, hardscape, and even topographic landscape.

    Finally, our interior design team develops the interiors of the 3D rendered model, creating luxury spaces with flooring materials, paint colors, ceiling details, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, countertops and more. They lay out furniture placement and other décor throughout the home’s interiors and outdoor living areas.  Every detail is modeled to represent the house exactly as it will be built.

    When the design has been fully detailed, our render imports the model into our cutting-edge rendering program, Lumion, which is software that specializes in adding realism to the images and allows our architects to give our clients comprehensive views of their luxury home.

    This unique program gives us the freedom to create an authentic experience for our clients—we can adjust sunlight to mimic the position of the sun at any given time of day, add realistic lighting that emits from sconces and pendants, and even create night views that provide our clients an in-depth look at the dramatic landscape lighting that’s possible.

    Our Final Steps for Creating Luxury Home 3D Renderings

    As our design team begins to finalize the details of our client’s home, our rendering expert spends time finely tuning each environment in the 3D rendering by adding realistic effects to make the experience look and feel even more lifelike.

    For example, the renderer adds in reflective surfaces or translucent materials to create a sense of depth and texture. Water movement is added to water features and pools. Lighting and shadows are adjusted to reflect the time of day and weather used in the rendering (the rendering can include snow, fall foliage, sunsets, etc.).

    When all the nuances have been incorporated, the render creates a 3D “fly around”.

    Using this fly around technique, they create a video that will circle the house so our clients can see every angle of the design through a realistic experience that makes them feel like they’re truly standing in front of their home.

    Then it gets even better!

    The renderer can use Lumion to create a “fly thru” of the floor plan as well.  The fly thru video gives our clients the experience of walking through their luxury home, as if they’re stepping into their home for the first time.

    With this process, we’re able to grant our clients a realistic experience that allows them to get an authentic first look at what their luxury dream home will soon be.

    If you enjoyed diving into our 3D rendering process, we encourage you to browse through our portfolio of modern architecture, state-of-the-art living spaces, timeless kitchens, and our other unique design details. Further, explore our archive of blog articles that focus on luxury design and modern luxury residences.

     

  2. 4 Luxury Home Design Trends You Will See In 2020

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    The new year is just around the corner and close behind it are 2020’s newest home design trends that will take luxury homes by storm. Here are four of our favorite up-and-coming home design trends that you will see in 2020:

    1. Prioritizing Personalization
    2. State-of-the-Art Home Fitness Centers
    3. Thoughtful Outdoor Spaces
    4. Unbelievable Kitchens

    Prioritizing Personalization

     

    dream living room 2020

    Photo Source: Uneek Image

    One of the hardest parts about designing a modern residence is standing out from the crowd of typical luxury home designs.

    However, with so many cues devolving from fresh to standard in the luxury space, once unique elements have become commonplace and some have lost their luster.

    In 2020, we’ll see them get back being designed as one-of-a-kind, truly bespoke residences.

    Personalization is key – your home design should satisfy your needs, desires and the functions you will need in your home. Your version of luxury, function and décor should vary from others’ – we all have our own style, tastes, and lifestyle goals in and from our homes.

    However, one thing is certain–including the most current amenities and technology will increase your home’s comfort and enhance its livability.

    Working with a world class designer ensures your home’s amenities, layout, furniture, and flow will reflect your personal style and work in harmony with your daily routine, entertainment and lifestyle needs.

    State-of-the-Art Home Fitness Centers

     

    fabulous-home-gyms

    Photo Source: Roger Davies

    Health and wellness are always in style–Americans are exercising more than ever. In 2020, that won’t change at all.

    However, in 2020, home gyms will increasingly and conveniently be moving inside your home! There are many reasons for this trend, and taking advantage of this opportunity to build your dream home gym is just a stone’s throw away. Incorporating fitness facilities into your luxury design can take many forms, further pushing the personalized aspect of custom residences. The options you choose will ultimately depends on your fitness preferences and what you enjoy.

    A home fitness center with the latest machines and innovations elevates your home design by integrating custom sound features and by giving you a tremendous view into nature or the ocean from a full wall of windows. If you enjoy breathing fresh air while you workout, giving our gym indoor/outdoor versatility can make it even more functional and unique.

    From mini yoga and pilates studios to swim spas and plunge pools–these are many of the fantastic additions to health-conscious residence. Including an onsite spa complete with showers, a sauna, a massage room, a hot tub, and any other type of recovery equipment can complete your luxury fitness experience and keep you achieving your daily health goals.

    Thoughtful Outdoor Spaces

     

    outdoor spaces for home 2020

    Photo Source: Uneek Image

    High-end homes differentiate themselves in many. Those with thoughtfully-designed outdoor spaces stand out amongst the crowd.

    Thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces function as an extension of your home as an additional living area, which allows you and your guests to enjoy the outdoors in comfort.

    The top home amenities to your outdoor space in 2020 will include spacious lanais, built-in retractable screens, misters, fully-loaded outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, TV’s specialty lighting, and custom furniture.

    Of course, customized pools with spas and tanning shelves make our luxury home design wish list too.

    Lavish pools with features such as waterfalls and infinity edges will speckle the most dazzling homes you’ll see heading into 2020. The leisurely life is moving outdoors and those residences that have this al fresco flair will rank high in luxury home design.

    Unbelievable Kitchens

     

    kitchen island design ideas 2020

    Photo Source: Uneek Image

    phil kean kitchens 2020

    photo © Stephen Allen, All Rights Reserved.

    Gourmet kitchens will never go out of style, but the design and functionality of them do change.

    Luxury kitchens in 2020 could contain warming drawers, wine cabinets, smart cooking appliances and hidden walk-in pantries. They can be designed to provide all the tools necessary to prepare and present gourmet meals as well as serve as part of the home’s living and entertainment areas.

    As guests tend to gravitate toward the kitchen, creating spaces for collaboration or conversation over meal preparation will be a trend continuing in the coming year.

    This means we’ll see more counter space than ever, open layouts that facilitate flow and unobstructed sightlines, and expertly-placed lighting.

    There’s no doubt that you want to have your finger on the pulse of the latest home design trends when designing your custom home. Phil Kean Design Group prioritizes setting the latest home trends and collaborating with you to create a dream home that will satisfy your distinctive requirements and unique lifestyle! If you’re building or renovating a luxury home and would like to speak with Phil Kean Design Group, please fill in the form below and we will be in touch.

     

    Sources:

    “Americans Are Exercising More, but the Obesity Rate Is Growing.” Atlas, Quartz, 15 Mar. 2018, www.theatlas.com/charts/SJlAdbOFG.

    Eugenio, Sheila. “4 Reasons Fitness Is Moving From the Gym to the Home.” Entrepreneur, 23 Mar. 2017, www.entrepreneur.com/article/290579.

    “Luxury Home Outdoor Amenities: Elegant Homes by Real Living Real Estate: Real Living Real Estate.” Elegant Homes International, www.realliving.com/eleganthomes/pages/luxury-home-outdoor-amenities-398691.

    Vale, Ali. “Five Innovative Home Amenities Trending with Home Buyers.” REAL Trends, 24 July 2019, www.realtrends.com/blog/five-home-amenities-that-are-trending-with-buyers/.

  3. 4 Home Designs Sweeping Florida Luxury Neighborhoods in 2020

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    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

     

    sustainable home design trends 2020

    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!

  4. Interior Design Projects Affect Your Life in These 5 Fascinating Ways

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    Interior Design Projects Affect Your Life in These 5 Fascinating Ways

    Your interior design project allows your personality to truly shine through your home at a significant level. It is, after all, where you spend the majority of your time. You might be hosting a social get-together or enjoying a relaxing evening with your loved ones, and you know well that the environment surrounding you plays a major role in your experience. It could be said that your interior design affects you just as much as you affect it.

    As such, understanding how the aspects of your interior design project can influence you is vital to you, your guests, and the overall ambiance of your home.

    1. The Power of Paint

    The color of a room can directly affect your moods and feelings, making walls, ceilings and paint one of the most interesting–and important–interior design project choices. For example, studies have shown that blue tones are linked to feelings of calmness and serenity. Brighter, warmer colors, on the other hand, lend themselves to enthusiasm and energy.

    The correct shades and color palette can make each room in your home come to life. Calming hues like blue can be great for bedrooms. Colors like orange work well for areas where you will be entertaining. Choosing the right colors could prove to be just as beneficial to your life as it is to your home’s design.

    2. An Uptick in Value

    While the overall styling and structure of your home are integral in establishing its value, interior design can build upon and increase that value dramatically. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, high-quality fixtures, or even functional modifications–think about how much an upscale kitchen changes someone’s perception of a house–every adjustment you make is an investment in the future of your home!

    As with any interior design investment, tasteful, high-end choices are bound to lead to positive returns. When selecting anything from flooring to appliances and beyond, remember that your home value will be positively affected by these changes.

    3. Inspiring Entertainment

    Whether you’re someone who enjoys large parties or someone who favors smaller, more intimate gatherings, the space you use for hosting needs to fit your preferred style of entertaining.

    Making sure you choose the right seating arrangements, the correct lighting, the perfect shade of paint, and a myriad of other factors can not only facilitate your social gatherings, but also inspire friends and family. In the end, it all comes down to great interior design!

    4. Naturally Healthy

    While colors certainly have mood-altering properties, the presence of plants can actually purify air, increase focus, and even help you relax and unwind. In other words, no matter what color scheme you choose for your home’s interior design, make sure you throw a little green–and maybe some florals into the mix!

    5. Positive Décor

    Furniture, floor coverings, and even wall art often depict a challenging dilemma–do you lean toward functionality or obsess over style? The answer typically resides somewhere in the middle. By striking this balance, you can best embrace your aesthetic preferences while still creating a welcoming, livable space.

    In fact, everything from the texture of upholstery to the seating arrangement can influence how you feel in a space. Be sure to focus on flow and day-to-day functionality, even if that means finding a balance between a luxurious design and comfort-oriented selections.

    If you would like to speak with Phil Kean Designs Group about your upcoming interior design project, please fill out the form below and we’ll  be in touch shortly.

  5. “Top Custom Home Builder of 2019” Awarded by Orlando Business Journal

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    Phil Kean Design Group Awarded “Top Custom Home Builder in Florida”

    Many impressive homes rise from the lush green landscape of Central Florida. Gracing lakesides, enhancing the scenic vistas of oceanfront, standing in distinct accord against the impossibly blue skies of the Sunshine State, modern architecture is a common sight in the surrounding area of Orlando. While you can find example after example of such beautiful structures, those from one particular custom homebuilder stand out from the rest.

    Phil Kean Design Group could be considered the epitome of modern architecture design but in reality, it is so much more. Its creations are more than blueprints for buildings. Instead, it embraces the challenge of finding unity between landscapes, the needs and desires of clients, and the individual artistry with which each home is imbued. Time after time, Phil Kean Design Group achieves the coveted balance needed to elevate an incomparable modern structure to the status of a one-of-a-kind, completely custom, luxurious dwelling. It is no wonder, then, that once again the prestigious accolade of Top Custom Home Builder has been received in 2019.

    Clean, alluring lines speak to the irresistible artistic quality that is poured into each design, while the surrounding landscape is accounted for, allowing designs to dance with and complement the scenery rather than stand starkly against it.

    The generous incorporation of glass emphasizes the harmonious bond between home and nature–a harmony that can be found in every aspect of each home, from the building materials to the calming inclusion of water features.

    Each home, while strikingly modern and tech-forward, manages to find the impossible balance and integration between architecture and nature, giving them an organic feeling that many others attempt to replicate. This openness and organic fluidity flows into each masterpiece by Phil Kean Design Group. This is another way in which the Group sets itself apart. Rather than exercise in the sharp angles and cold minimalism that has become synonymous with contemporary architecture, the designs and dwellings one sees and enters are welcoming and created to be lived din, to entertain, and to savor.

    Each client’s specific needs and desires are taken into consideration and woven seamlessly into the tapestry of the final product, giving a unique personal fingerprint to each home the group completes. From warm outdoor spaces for hosting summer dinner parties to bespoke interiors that make each room a piece of a cohesive whole, Phil Kean Design Group’s homes are as functional as they are inspiring.

    Each design is ambitious without being superfluous, intimate yet artistic, and uncompromisingly stands on it own. With such work that simultaneously pushes boundaries and retains effortless beauty, Phil Kean Design Group is not just the epitome of modern architecture–it is the relentless evolution thereof.

    We invite you to peruse the full portfolio and see with your own eyes the work, the designs – the wonder of modern architecture – that the judges at OBJ have named “The Top Custom Home Builder Of 2019”.

    If you are interested in having Phil Kean Design Group design your own slice of heaven, please fill out the form below and you will be contacted within 48 hours.

  6. PKDG Wins “Best of Show” at the Southeast AURORA Awards Gala

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    Phil Kean Design Group recently attended the 35th Annual Southeast Building Conference’s AURORA Awards Gala. PKDG had the distinction of taking home seven awards, including the coveted “Best of Show” Golden AURORA Award for their project “Sloane Modern” built in Orlando, Florida.

    Awards PKDG received include:

    • Golden AURORA Award, “Best of Show”
    • Grand AURORA Award, “Best of State” – Florida
    • Grand AURORA Award, Custom Home, One-of-a-Kind 6,000 sq. ft. – 8,000 sq. ft.
    • Grand AURORA Award, Custom Home, One-of-a-Kind under 4,000 sq. ft.
    • Grand AURORA Award, Interior Detailing, $1,000,000 – $2,000,000
    • AURORA Award, Interior Detailing over $2,000,000
    • AURORA Award, Interior Merchandising, $1,000,000 – $2,000,000

    The AURORA Awards honor excellence in design concept and execution encompassing all facets of the residential, commercial, and remodeling industries. From overall design to sustainability, the awards program offers categories for each participant in the construction industry.

    Established in 1979, AURORA Awards are presented annually to outstanding builders, planners, architects, developers, designers, interior merchandisers and other housing-related professionals from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and the Eastern Caribbean.

  7. PKDG Named Florida “Builder of the Year”

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    Phil Kean Design Group was honored to receive the “Builder of the Year” Award from The Florida Association of the American Institute of Architects in late July of this year.

    With the ceremony held in Palm Beach, Florida, the firm that receives this award is recognized for exemplifying a sincere and genuine interest in encouraging and affecting outstanding craftsmanship and workmanship on a specific project.

    PKDG humbly accepts the “Builder of the Year” Award.

    PKDG was recognized for work on The New American Home built in Winter Park, Florida.
    The AIA Florida/Caribbean Honor & Design Awards program is Florida’s most prestigious award program for this region’s architectural profession. The program recognizes both great design and outstanding individuals who contribute to the advancement of the profession.