In 2023 Orlando-area architect-builder Phil Kean bought a mid-century modern ranch house in a tony Winter Park neighborhood he believed had great potential but was otherwise unremarkable.
He lived in the 3,341-square-foot house at 1120 Palmer Avenue for about a year, not knowing what he’d do with it — fix or raze it. Then he got a call in January 2025 asking him to do one last home remodel for the NAHB International Builders’ Show — his seventh overall — before it returns to Las Vegas for many years to come.
Now after about seven months of work, both inside and out starting in March, the fruits of his labor — along with that of many others — are on display as The New American Remodel for 2026.
“Before the remodel, it was kind of a house that you just drive by and you wouldn’t really notice or pay attention to it,” Kean, of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park, told GrowthSpotter. “I think now it’s a very livable house, very cozy. It has a personality that appeals to most people.”
His last exhibition home remodel was for the 2021 IBS show and it later sold for $3.75 million and involved extensive structural changes that nearly doubled its living space. Kean bought his latest showhouse in November 2023 for $1.65 million and plans to put it on the market for $3.95 million, not including furnishings and decor, which are also for sale.
Architect and designer Phil Kean talks about the home in the living room of The New American Remodel show after the remodel on Palmer Avenue in Winter Park, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. The home will be toured as a part of the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show, Feb. 17-19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
Originally built in 1951, he said the three-bedroom, 3½ bath house had sufficient square footage but it underwent multiple renovations in different styles over the decades, resulting in a fragmented character and “mishmash” of styles. “It was a well-loved home, but it had a collective style from the 50s, from the 80s, from the 2000s.”
His vision was to unify and modernize the disparate elements into one cohesive design that feels both current and timeless.
Although the home sits on a large lot — almost half an acre — surrounded by larger and pricier homes, this time he went with a “soft remodel.” That meant no additions and minimal architectural modifications — upgrades mostly — to retain much of the original layout and specifications.
He opened up the floorplan by removing walls to make the kitchen and other living spaces more a part of the rest of the house. As a result, someone in the kitchen can now see through the dining and family rooms to the TV room on the other side of the house.
“The biggest criticism was that it was dark. There were some rooms that didn’t get natural light,” Kean said. “And so by opening this up, the light sort of moves through the space much better.”
He describes the new aesthetic as a “tropical Miami” flair with a touch of historical charm. “The idea was to have it feel like a house that might have been built in the 40s or 50s in Miami, sort of in Coconut Grove or Coral Gables.”
That flair is immediately evident on the exterior, which now features white stucco walls with shutters out front and a matching garage door, all painted in a color he described as grayish blue. Kean added four parapets — three in front and one in back. He said that architecture is part of a rare and historic collection of vintage Miami Beach/Coral Gables buildings.
He replaced outside lighting fixtures and a section of the original brick front porch with a crisscrossing pattern of concrete and artificial grass (the same pattern was used to redo a section of backyard patio). Corbels and soffits were added around the house, along with new gutters.
Changes inside include new “engineered wood” flooring from the Crossville Glenmore Collection that’s laminated and more stable than solid wood; new doors and hardware; and the “latest and greatest” luxury Monogram kitchen appliances from GE, including an induction range (with kettle faucet) and a 5-in-1 wall oven with 240-volt Advantium Technology; along with two GE Profile Smart UltraFast electric washer-dryer combos in the laundry room.
The primary suite of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue in Winter Park after the remodel by Phil Kean Design Group. Phil Kean shows off The New American Remodel show home on Palmer Avenue in Winter Park, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. The home will be toured as a part of the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show, Feb. 17-19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The space between the kitchen and garage was opened up for better utilization: the pantry (which was closer to the garage than kitchen) was transformed with Kohler’s customized dog wash station, and he added a mud room and drop zone. The existing kitchen was large, but he removed a wall to open it up and added a pantry — hidden behind cabinetry — with a wine wall from VintageView. A GE Monogram 30-inch dual integrated column refrigerator and freezer blends in perfectly with cabinets by Cuisine Idéale.
At the center of the house was an outdoor porch off the living room, which at some point over the years was enclosed and turned into a family room, he said, and the floor was raised but the ceiling wasn’t.
“We cut the ceiling out and raised it and added the beams,” he said. “It was an expensive change, but I think it really changed the whole nature of this space.”
In the kitchen, family room and master bedroom, the ceilings were adorned with horizontal and vertical faux wood beams from Barron Designs that match flooring installed throughout the house.
The primary bathroom was upgraded with Kohler fixtures, including a free-standing soaking tub and smart toilet (complete with control panel). The vanities were custom-designed by PKDG Interiors and built by Cuisine Idéale with countertops provided by Caesarstone. A plaster finish was added to the walls, and accent tile by Crossville Studios was used on the walls behind the tub and vanities.
The secondary bathrooms and powder bath also were upgraded with Kohler vanities, fixtures and smart toilets, and the walls were refreshed with accent tiles by Crossville and Sherwin-Williams paint.
Sustainability features added to the house included replacing existing windows from various decades with higher-quality, more-energy-efficient Jeld-Wen vinyl ones; new LED lighting fixtures; new plumbing fixtures from Kohler that are all low flow; injected and sprayed foam insulation was added where there was none; new HVAC system; the gas fireplace in the living room was replaced with an electric holographic one; and gas water heating was replaced with on-demand electric heating.
“We brought it up to a higher energy standard than what it had before,” he said. “I don’t believe it’s net zero. If we had put solar on it, it probably could’ve gotten to net zero.”
In the backyard, the patio was redone using the original bricks (they were lifted up and saved), and Kean said he made a last-minute decision to add something he thought people would expect — a pool. The “cocktail pool” has a water feature (three streams that light up at night).
The front yard of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean or Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The front yard of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The living room of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The updated living room of the Palmer Avenue home in Winter Park on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. The house renovated by Phil Kean Designs of Winter Park will be toured as a part of the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show from Feb. 17-19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The family room and dining room of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The family room of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The dining room and bar of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Designs in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The TV room in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The TV room in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Designs in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The kitchen of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The kitchen of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The updated kitchen of the Palmer Avenue home in Winter Park on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Among the many improvements were the faux wood beams from Barron Designs added to the ceiling. The house renovated by Phil Kean Designs of Winter Park will be toured as a part of the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show from Feb. 17-19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The primary bathroom in the at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
A view of the primary bathroom in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The primary bathroom in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
The primary bedroom suite in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Designs in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The primary suite of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue in Winter Park after the remodel by Phil Kean Design Group. Phil Kean shows off The New American Remodel show home on Palmer Avenue in Winter Park, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. The home will be toured as a part of the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show, Feb. 17-19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
One of the bedrooms in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
That same bedroom in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
One of the bathrooms in the house at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
That same bathroom in the house at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
Another bedroom in the house at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
That same bedroom in the house at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
One of the bathrooms in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
That same bathroom at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The laundry room in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The laundry room in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
Another bathroom in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The same bathroom in the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The backyard of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
Another view of the backyard of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Designs in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
The backyard at 1120 Palmer Avenue after the remodel shows the pool lighting by Phil Kean of Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
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The front yard of the home at 1120 Palmer Avenue before the remodel by Phil Kean or Phil Kean Design Group in Winter Park. The work was for The New American Remodel that’s part of the International Builders’ Show taking place in Orlando from Feb. 17-19 at the Orange County Convention Center. (Photo courtesy of Phil Kean Designs)
“Big pools, I think, unless you have little kids, are probably something that don’t get used like they used to,” he said. And even with the pool and patio, there’s still a large section of grass in the yard.
Kean said taking into account everything that was put into the house, the cost of a similar remodel for the average person would fall between $1 million and $1.5 million for labor and materials.
“This house sort of represents a ton of houses in Winter Park and Maitland and the surrounding areas,” he said. “There’s a lot of houses built in this genre that actually have decent bones.
Kean said taking into account everything that was put into the house, the cost of a similar remodel for the average person would fall between $1 million and $1.5 million for labor and materials.
“This house sort of represents a ton of houses in Winter Park and Maitland and the surrounding areas,” he said. “There’s a lot of houses built in this genre that actually have decent bones.
Among the many changes to the backyard of the Palmer Avenue home was the addition of a pool, which could also be called a spool or spa pool. The renovation by Phil Kean Designs was for The New American Remodel show home which is seen here Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. The home will be toured as a part of the 2026 NAHB International Builders’ Show from Feb. 17-19. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
“Most people are tearing down these houses and building a five- or six-thousand-square-foot house. Not everybody wants to spend the money to build a new house.”
Although there were many changes, Kean said some original features were kept, among them the existing front door, tiled roof, circular driveway and wrought iron gates at the front of the property (which were painted the same color as the shutters and garage door), along with interior archways and closets.
In addition to Phil Kean Design Group as builder/remodeler and Kean as architect, Independent Forensics Group of Orlando was the structural engineer, Maitland-based Redmon Design Company was the landscape architect and Parrish-based Two Trails Inc. was the energy and green building consultant. Local vendors who contributed to the project include AXIOM Fine Art, Tidelli Outdoor Furniture and Carpet Source.
Brian Bell can be reached at bbell@orlandosentinel.com. Have a tip about Central Florida development? Email Newsroom@GrowthSpotter.com. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.