The New American Home 2018 Features 21st Century Design and Technology in Tuscan Style

The New American Home 2018 Highlights Open Spaces and Outdoor Living Lifestyle

Built on a steep pitch on a 65,340-square-foot property in the upscale community of Bella Collina in Central Florida, The New American Home (TNAH) 2018 is a stunning multi-level, five-bedroom modern Tuscan style residence. The most anticipated attraction of the annual International Builders’ Show (IBS), the home has a total area of 10,000 square feet with spectacular views of the rolling landscape and Lake Apopka.  

Similar to The New American Home 2017, the two-story 2018 edition sprawls over a huge expanse of property that allowed the design team to build a residence with porches, courtyards, and verandas that open to an amazing backyard with a pool, spa, and fire pit.

While it takes its cue from the predominantly Tuscan-inspired Bella Collina residential community, the multi-million dollar 2018 interpretation of The New American Home is quite different from its neighbors – with its state-of-the-art building technology and products. Designed and built by Legacy Custom Built Homes and Hyatt Design, the 35^th version of The New American Home is intended to be “clean and refreshing, but not so far-out modern that people can’t envision themselves there.” According to John Kolb, EVP of Construction at Legacy, the architects “wanted a house with the technology of tomorrow that people could feel comfortable in today.” The firm’s concept was to create a great house but a better home that appealed to a broad demographic. 

And, like the 34 other homes in the TNAH series, the 2018 home “showcases industry best practices, innovative design concepts, state-of-the-art products and the latest construction techniques” that can be adapted in any style or size in any region of the country or the world.  

“Old World” Meets 21^st Century Modern

Before executing its concept of a modern Tuscan design to take advantage of the impressive hillside and lake views, the construction team faced the challenge of a 30-foot drop in elevation from street level to the back of the property. The solution? The crew hauled truckloads of fill to level the property enough to lay the foundation and turn the steep pitch into multiple levels of entertaining and living areas.

True to the concept of a Tuscan home, The New American Home 2018 has tile roofs, deep overhangs, stone and stucco exteriors, tall windows, large courtyards, and outdoor living spaces that focus on picturesque views and provide ample sunshine and air flow. The home combines all these elements with sophisticated, contemporary features and energy-efficient, eco-friendly technologies.

While the emphasis is on the outdoor lifestyle, there are living spaces that give family members privacy and their own special havens. Within the 6,533 square feet of living space are a gorgeous master suite outfitted with a morning kitchen, a master bath, and its own covered porch. There’s loft for the kids equipped with private bathrooms and a guest suite complete with all the amenities. 

The best part is that the interior floor plan can be expanded or reduced to adapt it to a family’s needs, lifestyle and comfort level.    

Inside The New American Home 2018 is a warm, earthy palette of the Tuscan style. In the Great Room, the room opens into the dining/kitchen area and the stairs to the second floor. Instead of arches, there are more straight lines. All of these innovative design elements can be modified and adapted in any place.  

1.  An Open Floor Concept

The sleekly modern home takes the open floor concept to a new level – what Hyatt Design principal Greg Hyatt calls a “daisy chain of open spaces” - where the Great Room opens into the kitchen and the dining area to a chain of open spaces that highlight outdoor living.

At the center of the first floor are the Great Room and kitchen/dining area, which open to two covered porches. Around these spaces revolve the game room, a guest suite, mudroom, laundry room, home office, and the main-floor master suite. The interior rooms open into porches and the courtyard, thereby creating a smooth flow between the indoors and outdoors.  

The home below achieves a similar effect.

2.  The View’s the Thing!

In every room of the 2018 home, there are breathtaking views of the lake and the scenic landscapes, thanks largely to tall sliding glass doors that are mounted on a very thin, 3/16-inch track. In addition to these doors are wide glass windows that also provide unobstructed views of the natural surroundings.

From the main living area, family and friends can look out to the pool area and enjoy Lake Apopka in the background.  

3.  Modern Interior Design

While its exterior has Tuscan design characteristics, the interior of The New American Home 2018 is decidedly contemporary. From the color palette to the furnishings, fixtures, fittings, and appliances, the home is built to ensure the comfort and needs of a modern family.

Each room is outfitted with top-of-the line furniture, accents, and amenities. For example, the huge kitchen has wall ovens, a kitchen island with a cooktop, a coffee station, and lots of storage space. The kids’ loft has a kitchenette, powder room, sitting area, second laundry, and balcony.   

4.  Energy-Efficient and Eco-Friendly

Like its predecessors, The New American Home 2018 is a showcase for sustainability and energy-efficiency. Starting with a tight building envelope and a unique energy-saving technology from Mitsubishi, the home will have a projected Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index of 46, which means it will be about 54% more energy efficient than a standard home built to the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code. (The lower the HERS score, the better.)

The home’s green building elements include natural gas tankless water heaters, recirculating pumps on motion sensors, low-flow bathroom faucets and toilets, and LED fixtures. The lighting is connected to an automation system that also controls indoor temperatures. With all these energy-saving devices, the 2018 New American Home is projected to be “Net Zero,” using no more energy than it creates. 

As architects, builders and designers head to Orlando for the International Builders' Show, the excitement is all about The New American Home 2018– and its official unveiling. Imagine the surprises and hot design trends awaiting everyone!

Footnote: The lead image in this article is the exterior view of The New American Home 2018 at dusk. For more details, click here.