Comments Off on Navigating the National Green Building Standard program with Phil Kean Design Group
In an era where environmental consciousness and sustainable living have become paramount, the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) program is guiding a paradigm shift in the construction industry towards greener and more eco-friendly practices!
The NGBS provides a comprehensive framework for builders and architects to create homes that not only exude luxury but also prioritize sustainability.
Let’s dive into its certification process, explore why it matters, and unravel the elements that make a luxury home truly ‘green’ with insights from the team at Phil Kean Design Group.
Homes that pass NGBS certification are rated on a scale from Bronze (lowest) to Emerald (highest).
The NGBS certification process typically involves an in-depth analysis of various factors including energy efficiency, water conservation, indoor air quality, and sustainable building materials and practices. Homes seeking certification undergo meticulous inspections and performance testing to ensure they meet the stringent standards set by the program.
Phil Kean Design Group actively engages in this process, integrating sustainable technologies and materials seamlessly into their designs to create homes that meet the program’s highest levels of certification.
The National Green Building Standard certification levels include Bronze, Silver, Gold and Emerald.
Why it matters
The National Green Building Program isn’t just a checkbox for environmentally conscious homeowners; it represents a commitment to a greener future. As concerns about climate change and resource depletion continue to escalate, the importance of sustainable building practices cannot be overstated. Phil Kean Design Group recognizes that by participating in and adhering to the program, they are contributing to a global effort to reduce the carbon footprint of luxury homes.
Beyond the global impact, there are tangible benefits for homeowners as well. Green-certified homes often boast lower utility costs due to enhanced energy efficiency and water conservation measures. Additionally, these homes offer superior indoor air quality, creating a healthier living environment for residents. Phil Kean Design Group ensures that their clients not only experience the pinnacle of luxury in their homes but also enjoy the long-term benefits of reduced operating costs and a healthier lifestyle.
Phil Kean Design Group’s commitment to sustainability
A visionary in the luxury home industry, Phil Kean Design Group has been incorporating ‘green’ products and best construction methods into their luxury custom homes for over 20 years. PKDG understands that creating a truly ‘green’ home is not merely about incorporating a few eco-friendly elements; it’s a holistic approach to design and construction that prioritizes sustainability.
Winter Park, FL – A Phil Kean Design Group NGBS Certified home.
Based on their reputation and years of experience building ‘green’, PKDG was selected by the National Association of Homebuilders to showcase their homes as models of luxury ‘green’ homes at the International Builders Show in 2012, 2017 and 2021.
This PKDG show home was the Highest Scored ‘Green’ Certified Home in the State of Florida in 2012. (Photo by James F. Wilson, courtesy BUILDER magazine.)
What makes a luxury home ‘green’?
Intelligent Design and Orientation: Phil Kean Design Group strategically plans each luxury home considering its orientation, building design, and materials choices to maximize views and natural light while limiting heat gain. The firm is well-known for designing modern luxury homes with large overhangs and expansive low-e argon windows, allowing for all day indirect natural light, and reducing the need for interior artificial lighting.
Energy-Efficient Systems: From cutting-edge HVAC systems, to solar panels discreetly integrated into the home design, to Tesla Power Walls, Phil Kean Design Group employs state-of-the-art energy-efficient technologies to reduce energy needs from public utilities and to minimize the environmental impact of their luxury homes.
Orlando, FL – Solar panels on the roof of a Phil Kean Design Group NGBS Certified home.
Water Conservation: In a world where water scarcity is a growing concern, luxury homes designed by Phil Kean Design Group incorporate advanced water conservation technologies, such as smart irrigation systems and water-efficient appliances and fixtures.
Better Indoor Air Quality: Phil Kean Design Group takes a “healthy home” approach including minimizing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and controlling moisture and humidity. These practices produce a better indoor air quality (IAQ), making the indoors physically healthier and more comfortable.
Sustainable Materials: Luxury design doesn’t have to come at the expense of the environment. Phil Kean Design Group meticulously selects sustainable, low-maintenance materials that not only elevate the aesthetic appeal of their homes but also contribute to the overall eco-friendliness of the construction.
Smart Home Integration: Luxury meets efficiency with smart home technologies that not only add convenience but also optimize energy usage. Phil Kean Design Group seamlessly integrates these technologies into their designs, allowing homeowners to monitor and control their homes’ energy consumption with ease.
Conclusion
The National Green Building Standard program is not just a set of guidelines; it’s a catalyst for change in the luxury home construction industry.
Phil Kean Design Group exemplifies how luxury and sustainability can coexist with their unwavering commitment to design excellence and best construction practices, and by embracing the National Green Building Standard certification process. Their experience proves that a commitment to ‘green’ building is not a compromise, but an elevation of luxury living.
Comments Off on Designing Waterfront Properties with Custom Home Architect Phil Kean (Podcast)
Waterfront properties offer some of the most unique and visually-appealing design opportunities in the world of architectural design. From modern, to transitional, to traditional home designs, key elements in designing waterfront custom homes include the ability to capture the views, understanding the technical aspects of waterfront construction for both oceanfront and lakefront properties, and much more as discussed in this podcast with architect and President of Phil Kean Design Group, Phil Kean.
Phil Kean Design Group (PKDG) has designed coastal custom homes in Jacksonville, Ormond Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Cocoa Beach, Florida’s Treasure Coast, Miami, and St. Petersburg, Florida, as well as Maine and New Jersey. Located in Central Florida, PKDG specializes in lakefront custom home design/build as well.
With multiple waterfront residences designed and constructed by our team, we are honored to have been trusted by so many Floridians to bring their dream homes to life!
Phil’s take on designing waterfront properties within his design/build firm is demystified as he discusses a special modern home project in St. Petersburg, Florida. He outlines PKDG’s approach to planning a residence that is luxury, sustainable, and all the while very livable. You can listen to the interview via the YouTube link or read the transcript below, and don’t miss the renderings of the project discussed in the podcast attached after the transcript! We hope you enjoy the conversation about the the St. Petersburg modern home as much as we enjoyed designing it for the Florida coastline!
Intro:
Today we’re interviewing Phil Kean. Phil Kean Design Group is a nationally awarded design and build architecture firm named “Best of Orlando”, #1 Home Builder by Orlando Magazine, voted “Best Home Builder” – Best of Winter Park three years in a row by Winter Park, Florida Chamber of Commerce, “Best of Houzz” Design Award by Houzz.com, and winning the Platinum and Gold Awards from the National Association of Home Builders’ “Best in American Living Awards”. Today we’re going to be discussing with Phil his unique approach to designing waterfront properties with an exclusive behind the scenes look into a new St. Petersburg, Florida residence.
Jon:
Phil Kean is with us today and we’ll be exploring the fascinating and magnificent world of waterfront residences and looking at the unique design and build process that Phil uses in his signature waterfront residences. So Phil, welcome. Thanks for being with us today.
Phil:
Thank you.
Jon:
This will be a fun conversation. I think as we discuss waterfront design, especially in the Florida area, I think it really begs so many questions. There’s so many things to consider when designing the waterfront property. The first thing I think that we all think of is the views, but obviously there’s so much more to it than the views, which obviously are a tremendous part of this. I know that you’re currently working on a project right now in the St. Petersburg area in Florida. Would you be able to dig into that a little bit and and share a bit about the property and a bit about the residence itself and a bit about the design?
Phil:
Yeah, a client came to us and they had purchased the home on the bay over in St. Petersburg beachside, and it’s one block off of the ocean. I went over to look at the house, it was determined that the best use of the property would be to start from scratch based on their desires and wishes. The house itself, since it’s at the end and it’s a fairly large slot, it’s sort of a rounded site, so the house sort of took on that curved shape to take advantage of the views. Part of it was there were views from the roof to the Gulf, so early on in the decision we decided to do a roof terrace that could take advantage of the sunsets over the Gulf and that was part of the design criteria. Another thing in the design criteria was that because it was in a flood zone, we had to raise the first floor, I believe it was somewhere around nine to 10 feet above the ground, the existing elevation. So the house is all raised and we utilize that space for entertainment and parking and garages and things like that, and storage.
So the lower level is, well you have to have this “breakaway”…there’s technical things that the house had to have, and that’s just part of the technical part. The rest is really all about, How do we take advantage of this amazing view? How do we take advantage of this indoor/outdoor lifestyle? How do we take advantage of the breezes and the sunsets and the sunrises and the boat traffic and all of that stuff? So that was all part of the design. Also, we wanted to make it feel like it was a boat. So when you were inside the house, you had that sort of feeling of being on a yacht. So it’s pretty cool.
Jon:
See, that’s really interesting…your bringing up the flood zone. I think the water elevation is kind of an interesting angle that wouldn’t immediately come to mind, but it’s part and parcel of being waterfront, if you are in that zone, I mean that does make sense. So the thing that I’m impressed by as I hear you say that, is that you’ve actually found a way to leverage that and actually into an asset where you’ve got storage, you’ve got garages, you know, really utilizing that space rather than just, I guess saying, well this is how it’s gonna be, and maybe having a basement down there, right? So really allowing that to shine and be a feature.
Phil:
Absolutely. You know, the downstairs has access to an elevator and stairs, but you have a limited amount of square footage that can be air conditioned. In that space it’s 300 square feet, which is not a lot, but it’s enough to accommodate an elevator and stairs and give it a little sex appeal. It’s a fun design, really fun.
Jon:
Can I ask a little bit about the roof terrace? But before we get into that, how many floors are in this home?
Phil:
The lower level is really sort of the breakaway level. Then there’s the main living level on the next floor. So when you come up, you have your great room concept, and the clients wanted a workout area, we have a lot of outside space on that level, and we have an office, and a guest bedroom on that level. The clients have some pets, so every level has pet access. They also have a wine collection, so that’s on that level. Then on the next level, which would be essentially the second floor of a normal house, there are three bedrooms, a loft space that overlooks a two-story living room, and the primary suite where the bathroom has an outside shower and terrace, and the bedroom has floor to ceiling glass that protrudes out into the water. So it feels like you’re on a yacht. Each of the three bedrooms on that level also have balconies, and there’s also a laundry facility on that level. And then you go up one more level to the roof. So the roof is on the top floor.
Jon:
So on the roof terrace, is it a hundred percent open or are there parts that are covered by some, you know, shelter design around that?
Phil:
No, there’s no shelter up there, it’s really a terrace, an open terrace. You know, it’s really for entertaining and watching sunsets. The house itself went through a series of transformations. Originally we did have some covered areas up there, but there was a height restriction. So we decided to do taller ceilings on the main living, and to not exceed our maximum height so that was part of the decision. And in the final design it was really just a beautiful terrace up there and a place for them to enjoy getting a 360 view of the bay and the ocean or the Gulf. That was pretty cool. And because we kind of maxed out the height, there’s nobody that can build anything higher than that, so they’ll always have that view protected.
Jon:
Right. I can visualize that. Yeah, I can see that. I think one of the things that you’re very well known for is the indoor/outdoor flow and the ability to really fuse the two, right? To have the ability to bring that cohesive feel. Was that a challenge with this particular home?
Phil:
That was sort of part of the challenge, because people are used to going out into their yard, or out into a green space directly from their living space. And in this particular case, we used plant material to bring you up to that second level. Right now there’s a plan for a living wall so that the green grows from the first floor up and pulls you up into the second and third floors in the stairwell. Then all of that sort of second level, all those doors open so you can go out onto a terrace that’s fairly large. Then there are stairs that take you from that terrace back down to a lower level pool. We have water features on the second level that cascade down to the first level to sort of tie the different layers together. In the front of the house there’s a fountain that is near the front entry, which is on the second level. A series of staircases takes you up there and then it cascades down to the first floor or the ground level. It’s just interesting how you can use water or subtle elements and plants to create that sort of indoor/outdoor connection. Even if you can’t touch the ground, you have these elements of the ground coming to you. So that was really how we approached that.
Jon:
I think that’s a really interesting point because that is one of the challenges that you’ll see on many homes, is that there seems to be a disconnect, right?, between the different stories or the different levels, or even from indoor/outdoor. I think the ability to not only blend indoor/outdoor, but also to use that to also tie the entire design together, that’s a beautiful project to kind of visualize. In terms of the timeline around that, when do you think we would be able to get some optics on that to get some eyes on the product?
Phil:
We are in engineering currently on this project. There’s an existing house on the property, so as soon as it goes into permitting, we’ll probably do the demo on it. So that’s where our heads are on it currently.
Jon:
The first thing that you brought up was the curved shape of the home to really get the most out of the view and to really maximize that. So when you’re designing a home that has that curvature to it, are there a set of obstacles from a design standpoint that you have to overcome? I would assume so, from a layman’s perspective it seems incredibly complex.
Phil:
We’ve sort of only curved the middle structure of the house, which is where the great room is. So it followed from the ground floor all the way to the roof, but each side of the house is more rectilinear, so it’s more traditionally structured. So this sort of mid-piece that curves that takes on that, if you kind of imagine sort of a cone or something like that where the widest part of the cone is out to the water, and that’s the great room. So when you climb up the stairs or open the door, you sort of get that big grand view. And because it’s sort of angled and wedged, it draws you out and it sort of forces a perspective to make you feel like you’re closer to the water than you are. I’ve used that approach before with doing angled walls, but the curve was a natural for the property…it kind of reflected the layout of the land, so to speak.
Jon:
I’ve got a question around the materials if I can ask, because I would assume that when you’re that close to the ocean that the materials might need to be different. I don’t know, I’m kind of guessing here because of the fact that maybe there’s more humidity or maybe it’s exposed to the elements a bit more than maybe a home that’s in the middle of the Arizona desert. Maybe there’s a bit more of a difference around that. Is that on track, in a way?
Phil:
Yeah. I mean if you design a house in the middle of a desert, you’re gonna have different issues than if you design a house on the coast of Florida. I mean, we have to deal with hurricanes, we have to deal with wind loads, we have to deal with uplift, we have to deal with the corrosiveness of the salt. You know, if you’re on the coast, you’re gonna design different than if you’re on a lake…just different criteria. If you’re on the ocean you may have to deal with turtles nesting, so you have to use a particular type of glass that sort of prevents the turtles from running towards the light. There’s certainly a lot of dune protection that you have to deal with on the ocean. So every sort of waterfront design is a little different based on 1) the location, and 2) the client’s budget and what they want to accomplish. No two are alike. I mean, other than having done a couple oceanfront townhomes, but they’re still different you know…unique to that location.
Jon:
You touched on wind a bit there as well. When you’re thinking about design, how does the wind play into that? I guess the direction and strength?
Phil:
In Florida, depending on the category of hurricane, you can have some winds that would just rip a building apart. So we tend to use a lot of concrete, both in the structure and even on some roofs, so it becomes encapsulated with concrete so it’s more durable to strong winds. We also use hurricane glass for our windows, which can prevent projectiles from going through the glass. There are very durable products out there that are designed for coastal locations and winds unique to those kind of loads. But hurricanes are all along the coast. Some of the states outside of Florida, which has probably the most restrictive hurricane codes in the country, have started to adopt some of these design criteria for their coastal communities as well. I think that designing in New Jersey has a lot of similarities of designing in Florida these days, whereas 20 plus years ago that wasn’t so. I think Sandy kind of changed that for the northeast.
Jon:
I feel like that’s one of the elements that’s very underappreciated when we’re thinking about waterfront, especially oceanfront, is you’ve got so many different variables that that need to be brought into the design and the entire structure as a whole.
Phil:
We work really close with engineers to make sure that we design the most solid structures we can to make these homes survive these storms. With climate change, and higher water levels and things like that, we designed a plan for a much more sustainable future of some of these homes. So most of them sit on pilings that can allow the home to stand even though the soil around it may have washed away. Some of the homes are sustainable in that they have solar on the roofs. Those are all things that people are talking about and what they want. Everybody still wants to be near the ocean and along the gulfs, and bays, and lakefronts, and just because you know the water is rising doesn’t mean people…, well they’re not leaving. So we have to be smart and take in to account those sort of longer term design elements.
Jon:
Yes, indeed. While we’re on this topic of green design/sustainable design, looping back into the St. Petersburg project that you’re working on right now, could you share some of the green sustainable elements that you’ve brought into to this particular design?
Phil:
Well, you know, obviously on demand issues. We did not put solar on this, but solar could be added, so we kind of plan for that. We manage our water flow, so we’ve done all the Water Wise products in their plan for this. In my mind you have to design a house to withstand and last, and that’s a very green thing, so there’s very little things that can rot or even rust on these homes. We use materials that are less corrosive so they have longevity. So just thinking about what you put on your finishes becomes a green or greener thought process. I would say, you know, good insulation, good windows, good roofs, good systems. I think we’re planning to do mini splits which are more energy efficient and you can zone really well in this house. But those are just some of the green features that were planned for this house.
Jon:
I have to say, every time I talk with you I’m always so impressed with the sort of the gamut of options that there are. I mean, even as you’re talking about product corrosiveness in reducing that, and insulation, windows, all of these points are really interesting because it really makes you realize that you know exactly what you said, that the sustainable/green design does have so many different dynamics to it. It’s not just maybe a specific energy focus or whatever the case may be, but there’s even other elements as well of making sure that the residents actually use very sustainable products, in terms of its longevity. You know, things don’t need to be replaced all the time.
Phil:
Yeah, longevity is an important part of building green. And the quality of the interior air is important. So all of that stuff becomes a critical design element. And we keep learning more and more and more, it’s really interesting, there’s always something new that’s made it better…that a home built today is better than it was 10 years ago or 20 years ago. And if you’re following the best practices, they just keep getting better and better. So today’s homes are much greener and much stronger than they were, you know, from homes built in the 80’s for sure.
Jon:
I’ve got to ask you this, and I think a good way to wrap up this conversation is about the views. I think you mentioned the sunset and the orientation if you will, the boat traffic view, and really being able to maximize that from every position in the home. If you could please indulge us and share how you approach that type of design to maximize the views.
Phil:
In the one that we were talking about in St. Petersburg, we designed the house so that every room had a view. So in doing so you sort of take a house and then, in this particular case, we divided into public spaces and private spaces, streetside, versus waterside, versus roof side, and we broke it into different categories so that the center of the house was all the public spaces and it had the best views. And then one wing was the guest suites, the offices, things like that, and they had a beautiful view of the water, but it wasn’t as prime as that center curved room in the core of the house. And then the opposite side on the main level, we had this amazing view looking out, we devoted it to the terrace spaces and they have a gym on that level. And then above that this beautiful view also has the primary suite.
So we kind of took the best view and gave it to the most public spaces, the second best view to the primary suite and the gym and the outside terrace on the main living, and then the third best views were all the secondary bedrooms, offices and things like that. But I have to say, they all have fantastic views and what we did is every room has a corner of floor to ceiling glass window that sort of feels like you’re out on a boat. So we kind of played up that, you know, Florida glass, corner glass window. So all of them have phenomenal views, but that was really how we sort of organized the house. We did a core and then came out from it.
Jon:
I tell you what, this is very enticing to hear you talk. I’m visualizing each of these elements that you’re saying, and you really know how to paint a picture, Phil. This is very, very exciting. I wanted to just ask one last question, which is, is there anything else that we didn’t cover that you would like to cover before we wrap up?
Phil:
Not really. I mean if somebody has a waterfront, I would say start with the floor plan, start with the views, take advantage of it, play with different ways to approach it. A lot of people think, “I can only have one or two rooms that have a view and the rest can’t”. There are a lot of ways to manipulate a plan where houses can have little corner snippets of views that are all that they need. So maybe it’s a little corner window in a shower where you can look out and see this gorgeous view, but it’s maybe only two feet wide, but it’s sort of cool. Don’t limit yourself by the box you put yourself into, it can be pushed, and pulled, and curved, and twisted, and you know, take advantage of the best views you can.
Jon:
As always Phil, this conversation has been eye-opening. I just want to thank you for the time today. And to our listeners, if you found this conversation as engaging and interesting as I have and you feel the chemistry here, you feel the the interest here, and you may have a project around waterfront design that you would like to talk with Phil and his team about, of course you can navigate to philkeandesigns.com or you can call 407-599-3922 to speak with the Phil Kean Design Group about your upcoming project. Thank you so much, Phil.
Phil:
Oh, you’re welcome. Thank you.
Contact us here, or check out the amazing renderings of this St. Petersburg waterfront project below!
To view more inspiring PKDG waterfront designs, watch some or all of these custom home videos:
Comments Off on The New American Remodel 2022 Features Architectural Design by PKDG
For the third time, the honor of being the architect for the National Home Builders’ Association’s The New American Remodeled Home was awarded to Phil Kean Design Group for the 2022 showhome!
Architectural design elements of the 2022 Remodel
The home is a stunning collaboration on an Orlando mid-century modern home constructed for 21st century living. Its sleek dimensions measure out to 6,993 square feet of total indoor and outdoor space, and features 3 bedrooms, 5 full baths, and 2 half baths.
This year’s New American Remodel is a dramatic, unique redesign with some of its architectural elements inspired by some of the greatest works of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian designs.
Among its most attractive architectural design elements are large feature windows on the front elevation, vaulted ceilings, expansive glass walls, and a central room that runs the length of the house making this a truly-impressive living space.
Even before the remodel, the home’s calling card was rooted in modernism. Phil Kean Design Group’s architectural design enhancements sought to address the livability and performance of the space in a few key areas:
The redesign addressed the small, cramped bedrooms featured at opposite ends of the living room.
Home amenities were added to the design to provide an upscale touch of comfort desirable by most homeowners.
Energy efficiency was a key opportunity: its HERS score, which indexes a home’s energy rating, of 115 was a distinct opportunity to embrace sustainability in the remodel.
How we addressed the project’s architectural design challenges
As with any remodel project, The New American Remodeled Home 2022 had its unforeseen challenges.
For example, the team decided to give the cabana a pavilion roof with the same measurements as the vaulted ceiling in the great room. They also decided that the ridge beams of the two roofs should line up visually when viewing the front of the home.
Executing on these ambitious architectural design goals required extraordinary structural coordination beyond what was originally anticipated! Getting a precise look exactly right can be expensive, but the team coalesced around where they could and could not compromise and the result is no less than magnificent.
Another challenge posed by the project was in regards to the remodel’s low ceilings. The attic spaces were smaller in some places and would have required separate HVAC system installations.
The solution was rooted in an engineered system that combined ducted and ductless mini-splits within the ceiling cassette units. This new setup improved the home’s HERS score by 37 points–to -22!
With a relentless drive to perfectly execute on the architectural design ambitions of this year’s The New American Remodel, the Phil Kean Design Group team was honored to contribute to this statement home that will entice the eyes of passerbyers for generations to come.
For a full look into the design process and stunning outcome from this year’s The New American Remodel, see the full NAHB video below:
For a full, in-depth look at the project, check out the article in the January 2022 version of Professional Remodeler Magazine on pages 44-50.
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.
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!
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.
