Creating Intimate Moments in The New American Home

With nearly 8,000 square feet across three floors, an 18-car basement garage, 20-foot-high ceilings, and even a separate entryway for caterers, it might be easy to assume The New American Home 2026 is defined by its massive scale. But looking closer, it’s the small, intimate moments that set it apart.

Located in Winter Park, Fla., the custom lakefront home was built by Alair Homes-Orlando as the centerpiece of the 2026 International Builders’ Show. But even more critical, the house had to suit the needs of its homeowner, who worked alongside the builder and the rest of the project team to bring his vision of a warm, welcoming space to life.

“This [project] started with a very intimate conversation with a homeowner, and that conversation informed the creation of intimate spaces throughout the home,” says Michael Wenrich, architect and founder of Michael Wenrich Architects, the Orlando-based architecture firm that designed the project.

“I see people make the mistake of designing a home just for entertaining, for that big Thanksgiving or Christmas gathering,” he says. “But then you feel a little lost in it when you’re there by yourself or only one or two other people.”

Intimate Moments Start From the Outside

The homeowner’s vision begins from the approach to the home through the front door, achieving his goal of having the experience feel inviting and understated from the street, then gradually opening up as visitors enter the house.

To that end, a doglegged driveway guides visitors to the entry, while the lot’s natural downslope conceals the true size of the home from passersby.

“It’s not a quiet home, but it’s a little bit of a surprise in that way because of the way it sits on the street,” says Olivia Maher, interior designer at Steel Street Studios, who collaborated with Wenrich on the project.

When it comes to the exterior spaces, the main show can be found in the back of the home and its numerous fireplaces, infinity-edge pool, and multiple entertaining areas. Still, the design team found room to create quiet moments there, too, such as a detached jewel box of an office with a personal view of the lake.

Floor Planning Creates Distinction

Upon entering the home, visitors are greeted by a wide-open floor plan that seamlessly connects the living room, dining area, and kitchen. Even so, the layout still allows for smaller, more private spaces.

A library to the left of the entry foyer provides a quiet place for meetings or reading, while large glass doors enclosing the space maintain a visual connection to the openness of the common areas beyond. Additionally, a bar and seating area that connects into the kitchen provides a more intimate setting in the otherwise open-concept floor plan.

To create spaces that support everyday family life, the design thoughtfully separates bedrooms from the home’s more public areas with distinct wings. The upstairs guest wing includes a small den with cozy seating and a television, giving visitors a place to retreat from the main living room.

Meanwhile, a separate studio built above an at-grade, three-car garage is connected to the main home by a glass catwalk, making the space easy to access but still private. The above-garage studio is self-sufficient enough to act as a home with its own bedroom, kitchen, living room, laundry, and bathroom.

On the other side of the hall, the primary suite acts as its own sanctuary for the homeowners. Overlooking the lake, the primary suite features its own terrace, a fireplace, large walk-in closet, and a spa-like bathroom with a soaking tub and dual shower heads. Just off of the primary suite, the bedroom connects to a laundry room and beyond that, a small glass alcove overlooking the long driveway provides a quiet place to sit and reflect.

The same can be said for the basement. While built to serve primarily as a garage for the owner’s classic car collection, the space also accommodates a theater for family movie night, an adjacent wellness room with workout equipment, a sauna, and cold plunge, and an arcade and lounge with a full bath and kitchenette. There’s even a wine cellar tucked under the stairs.

“It’s not just one big box,” Maher says. “The rooms are compartmentalized, but yet so open to each other where you don’t feel like you’re in these tight spaces.”