Remodeled Show Home Goes From Mid-Century to Modern Masterpiece

Transforming a modest, two-bedroom home into a flagship exhibit of The NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) was a tall order. However, the build team of The New American Remodel 2022 says the final product is sure to impress because it boasts many of the latest features while remaining true to its original character.

“My vision for the 2022 remodel was to really capture the essence of this mid-century modern home, without taking away from its original beauty and charm,” said Phil Kean, president of Phil Kean Design Group and the project’s lead architect.

Built in 1963, the modern bungalow-style property presented Kean and lead builder Eric Gray, owner of Designer Trade Services, with a variety of features around which they could showcase the latest building innovations. Some of the original elements that were kept and enhanced include a large great room, the stone fireplace, the sharp roofline and the front porch overlooking Lake Sue.

Many of the original walls, as well as the front bedroom and bathroom, were also repurposed and reconfigured during the remodel. However, because the home was relatively small, expansion was necessary to accommodate the designs and amenities of modern living.

“Being in a COVID environment now, as everyone is spending more time at home, we’ve had to think a little differently about design,” said Gray. “When you want to have an office space, a gym and outdoor living space, you need creative ways to optimize the square footage you have and, if possible, add more square footage.”

“I’m very excited to showcase how we’ve managed to modernize this entire property, while still keeping the basic structure of the original house intact.” —Phil Kean, President, Phil Kean Design Group

Luckily, the property’s backyard was conducive to expanding the home’s footprint. Although it remains a single-story property, the remodeled home has more than doubled in size to 6,993 square feet of total living space. It now features five bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms, a showroom three-car garage, an exercise room and a detached guest house.

The renovation features dynamic exterior spaces, including an expansive open deck with a pool and other water features, as well as a lanai and summer kitchen.

Despite the size increase, the renovated home boasts net-zero energy status, in large part because of its high-efficiency solar package capable of providing 100% of the home’s electricity needs.

The remodeled home is set to achieve the National Green Building Standard’s Emerald certification, as well as certifications from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star and Indoor airPLUS programs, and the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home program.

“This has been such a fun experience from start to finish because [the original home] had so many fantastic features we could work with and incorporate into the new design, creating that seamless transition,” Kean said. “In the home building industry, architecture gets rein- vented again and again. So even though this house was remodeled for today’s lifestyles, its design and adaptability are geared for those of future generations as well.”

All registered attendees of IBS and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show can tour the remodel during show hours via complimentary shuttle buses departing from the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC). Timed tickets are distributed each day on a first-come, first-served basis at The New American Remodel booth in the West Concourse of the OCCC.