portfolio v11i1: a return to easy elegance by timberlake cabinetry

A showcAse of design ideAs from timberlAke cAbinetry

volume 11, issue 1 // JAnuAry 2011 // $5

portfolio 2011 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 42

page03A Return to Easy EleganceClassically inspired architecture and design take The New American Home back to Florida’s golden era.

page11Charm & CharityContinental’s Keith and Kate Clarke…

page19Urban Infill, on the RiseThe city’s not quite taking center stage, but it is capturing more attention.

page25Behind the Cabinet DoorA builder takes you inside his thinking on partnering with Timberlake.

page33Meet Alex HanniganTask Force Chairman of The New American Home 2011.

page39A Garden of DelightA secluded haven in the heart of the city.

page02A New Showhome

A New Way of ThinkingLaura-Jo Boynton welcomes you to

The New American Home 2011.

page09Differentiation is the Way ForwardProducts and processes that can help set your company apart.

page17Wine and Wheels

Custom touches celebrate lifestyle.

page24The Deconstruction Decision

Often a good—and greener—way to go.

page27What Makes a Showcase

House a HomeWhen innovation meets lifestyle, beautiful things can happen.

page35Airtight Case

The first NAHB showcase house to capture the coveted Emerald status.

page42Portfolio® Resources

Use this as a quick reference to the cabinetry and accessories used throughout the 2011 New American Home.

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a new show homea new way of thinking

Laura-Jo Boynton welcomes you to The New American Home 2011

Each time we have an opportunity to do a show home, it’s a process of dis-covery and

innovation. This year’s New American Home was partic-ularly intriguing because all the rules were changed.

This home isn’t just a show home, it’s a real home built for real homeowners. That meant creat-

ing a beautiful space designed to meet the unique needs of a specific family. This house is also an

urban infill, created to shine in an established community, which shaped the builder’s and interi-or designer’s work in fascinating ways. And, this is the first New American Home to achieve Emerald Status for green building. Timberlake’s long-time commitment to sustainability and green products makes us especially proud to play a part in this year’s edition.

And, of course, we delight in showcasing the custom-look results Timberlake’s cabinetry can achieve in room after room of this extraordinary home. The trends, the colors, the functionality are all there.

Attendees of the International Builders’ Show will get to walk through this very special home and garner ideas to take home to their own businesses. At Timberlake, we want to keep that door open for everyone, all the time. That’s why we create Port-folio – so anyone has the opportunity for a “virtual tour” any time. We hope the photos and stories will be a continuing inspiration and reference guide for building professionals and homebuyers.

It’s a true honor to be part of The New American Home team. As members and active supporters of the National Council of the Housing Industry, a committee of the National Association of Home builders, we believe in the power and value of the work they do. This show home is a shining example of it. We know it can make a difference for you, too.

Welcome to new ideas and possibilities.

Laura-Jo Boynton, Editorial Director

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Cabinetry: Rushmore® Painted Maple Hazelnut Glaze with Cherry Java Islandportfolio 2011 for product specific information, see portfolio resources on page 42

a return to easy Elegance

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Great Room

Custom-Built Table Stonework Details

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Classically inspired archi-tecture and design take The New American Home back to Florida’s golden era of the early 20th century, when living was unapologetically luxurious.

In the 1920s, Florida’s waterfront communi-ties were a magnet for high-society northerners,

drawn to the sunny south for equal doses of revelry and relaxation. The Yankee transplants built ex-travagant estates mimicking Old World architec-ture. With open courtyards, terraced gardens, and sumptuous spas, the well-to-do took advantage of the inviting Floridian climate at the height of the

“Gilded Age.”

It’s this era of laid-back luxury that architect Chris Donnelly set out to capture in The New American Home in Orlando. Donnelly owns Donnelly Archi-tecture, based in Beverly Hills, Florida.

“I kept thinking of the old estates in Palm Beach, Sarasota, Miami,” he recalls. “Then it started to make sense to me, how to balance this classically inspired design with life in 2011.”

While Donnelly admits he’s no student of architec-tural history, he did a fair amount of research on The New American Home project to ultimately produce a house one would expect to see in today’s Florida.

The outcome is a show home constructed around three thematic designs: a historically driven, clas-sical approach that naturally blends contemporary amenities with the contextual setting of Orlando’s Lake Davis, a community of some 100 households originally built in the early 1900s.

The architecture and design details capitalize on – and are respectful of – Florida’s temperamental cli-mate: breezes from the lake and palm court cool the living area. Shaded porches surround the home’s exterior. The roof angle reflects the sun. Insulation battles the southern heat. And landscaping and roofing drainage accommodates the rains.

The original design for The New American Home 2011 was developed by a historian and architectural

artist. Donnelly’s challenge was to shape that initial artistic rendering into a showcase home that’s both elegantly welcoming and comfortably cutting-edge.

The result sparkles.

in the details

While the style of this year’s showcase home has been referred to as American Empire, with majestic, columnar Greek Revival elements, Keith and Kate Clarke prefer to describe it as Neoclassic. (“I didn’t know America had an empire,” laughs Kate, who grew up in the U.K.) The Clarkes own Continental Homes. Keith managed the build, and Kate added her interior design expertise.

“The style really blends English, French, and Greek design elements inside and out,” says Kate. For comparison, she points to several of the ornate his-toric buildings in Washington, D.C.

Architect Donnelly clearly has his architectural and design favorites at The New American Home: “The extensive stonework makes the house work. I love the columns, the tablature, the parapet, the detail-ing on the windows and doors. The niches, cornices, columns, and openings all were carefully designed to be both historically accurate and to complement the formal arrangement of the rooms. As for the interior, I think most people will find the finishes absolutely incredible. The house almost radiates.”

Donnelly explains that one overriding goal was to allow the indoors to blend with the outdoors. The great room, gallery, and in-law suite offer spectacu-lar views of the lake and downtown Orlando, while the great room, kitchen, family room, and in-law suite also flow into the palm court, the pool area, and the outdoor entertainment area..

In the main kitchen, Kate Clarke’s interior design includes a unique wood ceiling with a circular focal point in the center of the room, two distinct cabine-try finishes, an innovative island with an attached table, and finishes on the wall that take on the soft look of suede.

“The interior takes the lead from the exterior,” she explains. “It’s very strong, very bold, with a clear sense of geometry, using circles and squares. It’s quite a sexy house, really. It has pizzazz, yet it still has warmth – with a little bit of South Beach thrown in there. It’s very comfortable and usable.”


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Other hidden gems, as architect Donnelly refers to them, include a sculptural staircase that’s tucked out of sight near an entryway, a tiny powder room off the circular dining area, a luxurious in-ground spa, and, yes, a secret garden – “pockets of privacy and relaxation, oases from the modern world,” he says with a smile.

good lessons

Of course, the home’s extraordinary upgrades add to its price tag, an idea that sometimes gets lost when so many generous partners volunteer labor and products. The Clarkes invited a local realtor to walk through the house and tag its market value. The tally? Conservatively, more than $3 million. (Donated materials account for approximately $1.6 million of that, according to Keith Clarke.)

But all those bells and whistles don’t necessarily translate to overt extravagance.

“This is a good-sized house, and it could be impos-ing,” explains Donnelly. “Instead, it has a relaxed

luxury about it. It fits this area of Florida. You can come home from a banquet in a tuxedo and feel equally as comfortable as if you came home from jogging in the neighborhood.”

After many months of working through the ar-chitectural details, Donnelly says he’s taking away an important revelation from his experience with The New American Home: “On a personal note, I like the fact that the house has a simple layout us-ing basic elements that are extremely well-crafted and carefully placed. You see this in the kitchen in particular, but it carries throughout the house. It’s a straightforward form that’s carefully detailed. It’s been a good lesson for me – and for architects and builders in general, I think. You don’t have to go over the top with form. You can design something beautiful that’s basic and detailed.”

Then, in a rush of self-consciousness, Donnelly quickly redirects the conversation: “Okay, enough about that. If someone wants to know what the house is all about, I say, ‘Let’s go see it!’ I like to let the work speak for itself.”

In-Law Suite Kitchen Cabinetry: Yellowstone® Maple Coffee Glaze

Sculptural Staircase Guest Room Balcony

In-Law Suite Kitchen0 8


In-Law Suite Laundry

Base Pantry Pull OutDeep Drawer Storage

Display Storage

Deep Dovetail Sliding Shelves

As the market is showing ever-so-slight signs of recovery, Timberlake Cabinetry is seeing

a gradual swing back from the extreme standard-ization and cost-cutting initiatives that took away much of the differentiation between builders the last several years. Todd Jarvis, Channel Marketing Manager of Timberlake, observes, “Builders are looking for signature items that homebuyers won’t find at all of their competitors. They are starting to offer a bit more choice.” The key, Jarvis adds, is that to be most profitable, it needs to be “controlled” choice, which can help differentiate builders, while containing costs.

To set themselves apart, builders are looking for ways to add features that have high impact, and that are valued by homebuyers, but that don’t add signif-icant cost. According to Jarvis, “At Timberlake, we view everything through the lens of ‘how will this help the builder be successful?'” To this end, Tim-berlake continues to add “semi-custom” cabinetry features to a builder-focused product line. Just as builders strive to differentiate themselves, so does Timberlake: they offer something that none of the other builder-focused cabinetry manufacturers can.

“We can help set a builder apart with semi-custom features without disturbing their supply chain be-cause all of our products are available from the same plant on the same lead time,” says Jarvis.

Examples of semi-custom features that Timberlake offers include All-Plywood Construction, Fur-niture Ends, Increased and Reduced Depths, Pre-mium Finishes and Glazes, Solid Wood Doors and Storage Solutions. According to Jarvis, “Just offer-ing one or two of these features can differentiate a builder’s kitchens from the competitive builder down the street who is showing unimaginative, standard kitchens.”

A cornerstone of Timberlake’s proposition is their “4S Model,” which looks holistically at the home sell-ing process so that Timberlake “can come alongside the builder to help in each critical area,” says Jarvis.

tenants of timberlake’s 4s model:

SELL. Helping the builder sell more homes. This includes design, training and merchandising to cre-ate a superior homebuyer experience in the model (especially effective at setting models apart from other models visited).

SELECT. Helping the builder drive profitable up-grades in the most important room in the house—the kitchen. Timberlake does this through its proven Good-Better-Best product line, local rep-resentatives who train and provide assistance, and innovative tools for the design center or wherever product selections are made.

SCHEDULE. Keeping promises so construction stays on track and the builder avoids any costly de-lays. It takes a whole company to execute this day in and day out. Lean manufacturing, advanced elec-tronic quality control methods, world-class logistics and an experienced field service organization are among the enormous investments Timberlake has made to help the builder keep his promises to the homebuyer.

SATISFY. Assisting the builder in making the homebuyers so pleased with the experience that they help sell the builder’s next home through posi-tive “word of mouth.” Timberlake’s field personnel strive to catch any potential warranty items before the homebuyer does a walk with the builder. Vis-ibility at all levels of the organization to a set of de-manding metrics ensures attention to what matters most. An innovative dashboard program allows the builder and Timberlake to monitor progress and discuss improvement opportunities.

Timberlake tries to help take the commoditization aspect out of the process for builders trying to dif-ferentiate themselves to homebuyers. “In the ab-sence of differentiation, you are by definition a com-modity that is purchased solely on price,” says Jarvis.

“This is a trap all of us in the building industry need to avoid, or better yet, escape.”

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Products and processes that can help set your company apart

differentiation is the way forward


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Kate and Keith Clarke, owners of continental homes and interiors.

Through years of homebuild-ing, Continental’s Keith and Kate Clarke have learned that a genteel approach (and a sense of humor) often paves the way to produc-tivity. The New American Home 2011 project proved them right.

When the inevitable time came for large trucks to clog the roadways near The New Ameri-

can Home in Orlando’s beautiful Lake Davis com-munity, the builder knew exactly what to do. The husband-and-wife team of Keith and Kate Clarke sent a gracious note to nearby homeowners alert-ing them to the planned construction and asking for patience through the project.

“We wanted to limit the impact on the neighbors,” explains Kate. “We believe if you’re courteous and thoughtful – and you don’t block the road when the moms are taking the kids to school – the homeown-ers near a project will be courteous in return.”

The approach worked. “The people here have been very, very kind,” Kate reports.

The Clarkes’ tactic comes as no surprise. It’s an automatic reflex from a couple born and raised in the United Kingdom, known for its reverence for politeness and protocol. While the Clarkes have lived in the U.S. for 14 years, Keith is a fourth-generation builder who honed his skills in a four-year stonemasonry apprenticeship in York, England, before launching his own company to build custom homes and renovate historic structures in upscale English hamlets.

The New American Home 2011 reflects the Clarkes’ bent toward Old World craftsmanship and their comfortable, hands-on style, both in construction and design. Kate Clarke adds the finishing touches to the homes Keith builds. She provides the inte-rior design expertise, lending an easy European el-egance to their projects.

The couple’s combination of quality work and, eh hem, composure serves Continental well. The com-pany’s very first entry into the 2000 Central Florida Parade of Homes earned the top prize in the cat-egory of custom homes over $1 million – and was named the recipient of the competition’s Grand Award. Continental has won accolades ever since.

simplicity prevails

With the New American Home 2011, the innova-tion continues.

When asked which concepts in this ultra-efficient, state-of-the-art showcase home will most impress builders and consumers, Kate is quick to answer:

“The simplicity of it. It’s great quality, but it also has a new style. In this economy, glitz and glam-our aren’t really in demand. We’re introducing an elegant, simplistic style. It’s not Tuscan or Mediter-ranean. It’s different, especially for Orlando.”

“In the past, we’ve bowed to market pressure and built some extremely ornate homes,” Keith adds,

“but this is very simplistic. I wouldn’t call it contem-porary. It’s transitional, very livable.”

According to Keith, the key to managing this multi-tiered project with numerous vendors is open com-munications and a top-notch scheduling program. During the build, he reviewed the schedule at least weekly and then tenaciously followed up.

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“But the vendors have been an absolute dream, just fantastic to work with,” he says. “They’re very gener-ous with their time and products. And some of the larger vendors have even built relationships with each other as they’ve worked together on the home. It’s been beneficial all around.”

One of the primary challenges of building The New American Home, according to Keith, was timing, working toward a compressed nine-month turnaround. Another was size. Originally planned as a 5,500-square-foot home, the structure grew to 11,000 square feet during the planning process.

But the easy-going Clarkes took the issues in stride, crediting the vendors and the NAHB with helping to work through snafus – and maintaining the ob-jective that the general blueprint of the larger-than-

life residence is transferable to any house.

“The construction techniques and building technolo-gies absolutely can be incorporated into any project by any builder, even in a home of, say, 3,000 square feet, starting with the floor plans,” assures Keith.

following the sun

So what prompted the Clarkes to take on the com-plex task of building The New American Home? In part, professional courtesy. According to Keith, Alex Hannigan, president of the Orlando-based Hannigan Homes and chairman of The New American Home 2011 Task Force, had worked with Continental on other building projects in the area and approached the Clarkes about joining the NAHB effort.

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Cantilevered Bridge

it wasn’t a hard sell.

“I immediately said ‘Absolutely,’” Keith explains. “We’d worked with Alex, and we’re always looking for this kind of exposure.”

Such an opportunity wouldn’t have materialized in the U.K., according to the Clarkes. The restrictive homebuilding industry in England – where lots are small and often hard to find – was one reason the fam-ily opted to move to the states.

“Here in the U.S., if you can dream it, you can build it,” says Kate. “The New American Home never would have happened in England.”

The Clarkes also yearned for Florida’s sunshine. Years ago, they had purchased a small vacation home in Florida to escape England’s harsh winters. They found it more difficult to leave each time they visited. The clincher: during their last year in England, they rolled down the top on their convertible only once.

Of course, the Clarkes’ partners on the showcase home are delighted they brought their skills to the

Garden Fountain

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U.S. “They bring a sense of creativity to their projects,” explains Task Force Chairman Hannigan. “They see a finished product before it’s finished. Kate brings style, grace, and class, and Keith brings extraordinary at-tention to detail and an understanding of the business. He’s a finisher. I admire that.”

Architect Chris Donnelly of Donnelly Architecture, the architect of record for The New American Home, worked closely with the Clarkes throughout the con-struction process and seconds that opinion: “They build beautiful homes. They demand quality.”

perspective

When the Clarkes aren’t immersed in a building proj-ect, they devote their energy to children’s charities. In fact, they’ve already booked The New American Home during its promotional phase for a fundraising event to support Give Kids the World, an Orlando-based nonprofit that invites youth with life-threat-ening illnesses to enjoy Central Florida’s recreational fare.

The Clarkes also have long supported The Children’s Miracle Network, a charitable organization that raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. In fact, in 2005 Keith volunteered to build what was called “The Miracle House” to be auctioned off as a fundraiser. Kate added her Old World style to the project by directing the interior design, visiting local hospitals to ask young patients for their decorat-ing ideas.

No doubt, the charitable aspects of their lives make the challenges of building high-end custom homes less daunting. The Clarkes also gain a perspective that stresses the value of strong professional and personal relationships.

Prodded to imagine hosting the first private party at this year’s spectacular New American Home, Keith and Kate already know whose names are on the guest list. Without hesitation, they both respond: “Every-body who worked here.”

Says Keith, “Without a doubt, we’d invite the vendors, who performed under somewhat harsh scheduling conditions and still worked together superbly. They definitely would be our guests.”

“And I’d cook for them,” Kate adds with a smile. “We’d have Beef Wellington and Crème Brulee.”

Ah, the charm. And the charity.

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“Wine is bottled poetry,” says one writer. You could say the same about the custom fea-

tures Continental Homes and Interiors designed for the wine-loving homeowners of The New American Home 2011. Lead interior designer Kate Clarke incorporated both the functional needs and the glamour of collecting in her plan.

Her first consideration was entertaining. The kitchen features ample wine racking and glassware storage. The feature-filled butler pantry is ready for dinner parties that include tastings. A Themador refrigerator provides plenty of space for chilling the whites and the cabinetry keeps additional glassware close at hand. Even the area for entertaining in the the home's garden includes everything to pop a cork. However, Clarke’s favorite feature lets wine’s po-etry pour into another living area. “The floor plan shows a library, so I incorporated wine storage over the bookcases,” she reveals. It’s a striking display for the homeowners’ collection and infuses their pas-sion into everyday life instead of hiding it away in a dusty wine cellar.

Moving from grape vintages to vintage classic au-tomobiles, another of the home’s custom features is a 6-car garage. It’s designed for babying the oc-cupants. “We’ve created a workshop area and dif-ferent surfaces for working,” says builder Keith Clarke. Continental also brought in a flooring com-pany that uses green materials, which will add to the home's Emerald status from NAHB’s National Green Building Standard.

Perhaps the most ingenious aspect of the garage is not in the building at all – it’s hidden in the skillful-ly landscaped front yard. The challenge? The weight and scale of the large garage had an impact on the flood plain requirements for the property. It neces-sitated the addition of a 29-inch deep catch basin in the front yard. Instead of a problem, landscape ar-chitect Scott Redmon saw a stunning opportunity. He designed and built a cantilevered bridge over the basin and filled it with lush greenery. “We used large native grasses that disguise the fact that the area is contoured,” says Redmon. “It’s architectur-ally very pleasing,” says builder Keith Clarke. “It’s a feat of nature,” adds interior designer Kate Clarke.

Wine and wheelsCustom touches celebrate lifestyle

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Urban infill, on the rise

Urban infill, on the rise

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The city’s not quite taking center stage, but it is capturing more attention.

Throughout the U.S., and especially in certain cities, one of the favored strategies of urban

planning is “infill” development, which is develop-ment that takes place in the existing urban foot-print. Evidence of a trend in “reverse migration” is supported by statistics from the U.S. Census Bu-reau that measures population growth in the na-tion’s urban areas.

Data from 2007 Census Bureau estimates (the lat-est available on this topic) relate to urban areas, or urban footprints, as defined in 2000 and are pro-duced by the American Community Survey pro-gram (through the Census). The data shows that densification trends are occurring in the U.S.: Since 2000, 33 of the nation’s 37 urban areas with a popu-lation exceeding one million experienced popula-tion infill to their 2000 urban footprints. The chart below shows the top 10 markets for urban growth. The average population infill increase was 5.6% in these cities.

infill urban footprints: 2000 to 2007 population change

In line with the population trend is demand for more housing in urban infill areas. In many U.S. metropolitan areas, an increasing percentage of new home construction is happening in downtown neighborhoods, while at the same time suburban development is decreasing. What some term as a “smart-growth” trend is documented in a re-port entitled “Residential Construction Trends in America’s Metropolitan Regions,” put out by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report sought to determine whether there was a quantifiable trend that favored urban infill develop-ment over suburban development. To do so, EPA researchers studied residential building permits is-sued over a 17-year period (1990-2007). The study found that “in more than half of the largest met-ropolitan areas, urban core communities have dra-matically increased their share of new residential building permits.”

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Top 10 U.S. cities in urban growth

Urban Area 2000 Census 2007 Estimate Percantage (%) Rank

Riverside-San Bernardino, CA 1,506,816 1,800,117 19.5% 01

Atlanta, GA 3,499,840 4,118,485 17.7% 02

Austin, TX 901,920 1,051,962 16.6% 03

Las Vegas, NV 1,314,357 1,518,835 15.6% 04

Houston, TX 3,822,509 4,370,475 14.3% 05

Portland, OR-WA 1,583,138 1,779,705 12.4% 06

Phoenix, AZ 2,907,049 3,254,634 12.0% 07

Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX 4,145,659 4,549,281 9.7% 08

Orlando, FL 1,157,431 1,267,976 9.6% 09

San Antonio, TX 1,327,554 1,440,794 8.5% 10

The study also showed that in more recent years, since 2000, 26 of those cities have seen shares of urban building permits double or triple. Interest-ingly, the data suggests that “the trend is continu-ing in the wake of the real estate market downturn.” Although the number of building permits in urban core areas has slowed the last several years, the de-clines were more precipitous in outlying areas.

Some of the cities with the most dramatic increases in new construction urban building permits include New York City, Chicago, Portland and Atlanta. In the following seven metropolitan regions, “urban infill development accounts for between one quar-ter and one half of new residential construction: San Francisco; Miami; San Diego; Dallas; Chicago; Portland; Norfolk/Virginia Beach.”

Many planners expect this reverse migration trend to continue as demographics shift. The Census projects that the U.S. population will expand by 25 million people in the next decade, with the biggest growth in the Millennial segment (ages approxi-mately 19-30) and in people over 65.

Recent demand for urban residential housing is be-ing driven by aging boomers and young people. The theory is that these groups desire to live an urban lifestyle that supports their wants and values, and it is often, especially with the younger, more carbon-

conscious group, tied to environmental issues, in-cluding proximity to work, and to the availability of public transportation. This is music to environ-mentalists’ ears, who have long embraced the idea of urban redevelopment, which conserves untouched land while reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

tnah 2011: urban infill in action

The New American Home 2011, constructed on an infill building site in an older neighborhood near downtown Orlando, is right in step with the trend toward urban infill living. Situated on the south side of Lake Davis, the home features panoramic views of the Orlando skyline.

Keith and Kate Clarke of Continental Homes and Interiors, builder of TNAH 2011, have observed that there are clients who want to live near the city.

“We see people who want to live in established neigh-borhoods,” says Keith Clarke, “who like the older communities, not the newer gated communities.”

The Clarke’s, who are originally from York, Eng-land, are no strangers to urban infill development.

“In the UK, there is not a lot of unused land,” says Keith Clarke, “so infill building is common.” Kate adds, “Keith got frustrated there that villages were

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Lake Davis

tightening their boundaries, and it was harder to find land to build, plus there were size limitations and zoning restrictions.” Their move to the U.S. gave them more freedom on many levels, including more room and space to build.

In the last 14 years, since the Clarkes have been building in the U.S., this is the first home they have built in an infill location, but they’re hoping it won’t be the last. “The Lake Davis neighborhood is so beautiful,” says Kate Clarke, “and so sought after. Our experience with The New American Home may create a new avenue of business for us.”

it pays to be polite

As it turns out, the Clarkes' English manners and graciousness may have been an unexpected asset when it came to some of the issues to be aware of during the process of building TNAH in an urban infill location. “The process has gone very well,” says Keith Clarke, “but we have tried to be very aware of, and sensitive to, the neighbors. It’s simple, really: be cautious, careful and considerate.”

One piece of advice the Clarke’s would give any builder attempting to do urban infill is to remember that what you’re doing has an impact on the people’s lives at the surrounding properties, and it has an impact on the existing infrastructure. The Clarkes were careful to keep the neighbors informed as to what was going on throughout the process, circu-lating notifications as needed to make them aware of upcoming activities, and they also limited work hours to “not too early, and not too late.” “No sur-prises,” is what the Clarkes strove for.

Keith adds, “You have some issues, you figure them out, just like you would with a custom home on a vacant lot. It’s all in day’s work.” From the finished product, it looks like it was a lot of “hard days' work” that paid off quite nicely.

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Before building of The New American Home 2011 could begin, the Lake Davis site had to be

cleared of two existing homes. In line with achiev-ing NAHB’s Emerald Status, the homes were de-constructed versus demolished. As most builders will recognize, deconstruction is the selective dis-mantlement of buildings in order to salvage compo-nents for reuse, recycling and waste management.

The building industry contributes in a large way to solid waste in the U.S., and steps toward reducing this contribution can only be viewed as positive. The EPA estimates that 85 billion tons of solid waste is generated per year in the U.S.; additionally, EPA statistics show that waste from construction and demolition accounts for up to 40% of the na-tion’s solid waste.

The NAHB has weighed in with these facts: an es-timated 8,000 pounds of waste is created from the construction of a 2,000-square-foot home. The ma-jority of the 8,000 pounds is wood, cardboard, and drywall, almost all of which ends up in landfills.

To qualify for NAHB’s topmost Green Building standard, “Emerald Status,” a project must reach the 50% mark of total recycled materials. In the

case of TNAH 2011, builder Continental Homes and Interiors has exceeded that requirement by achieving 84% total recycled materials for the proj-ect, including deconstruction and recycling of con-struction materials during the building process.

Keith Clarke, owner of Continental Homes, states that the deconstruction process “took approximate-ly three weeks, and all materials that could be were recycled or reused.” Some of the materials went to a salvage company, such as wood flooring, pavers and window frames, while others that could not be reused were recycled. Some of the materials, includ-ing iron gates and fencing from the existing homes, were reused in TNAH 2011.

Continental hired a specialty deconstruction com-pany for the project, and as Clarke explains, this company keeps the profits from the salvaged ma-terials. “This reduces the deconstruction cost to zero,” Clarke says. “It’s a win-win. And a win for the environment.”

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the deconstruction decisionOften a good—and greener—way to go


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Master Suite – Custom Floating Bed

Custom Floating Bed (Back of headboard)

Working on a build of the size and scope of The New American Home always requires careful planning, precise scheduling and open communications.

The shortened timeline of this year’s project re-quired all the partners to reach an even higher

level of service. “We were supposed to get our build-ing permits in December,” confides Keith Clarke of Continental Homes and Interiors, “but they didn’t arrive until March. This has been a 7-day-a-week marathon.”

A strict timeline, a bit of ingenuity and a can-do atti-tude were requirements to make the finish date, and there was little room for error. Keith’s bottom line on Timberlake? “One word: fantastic.” He contin-ues, “I’d never worked with Timberlake before The New American Home, but it was like they belonged there from the start.”

As someone known for building green homes, Keith appreciates the fact that Timberlake uses sustain-able American hardwoods and is certified earth friendly. Still, he knows that green has to be gor-geous, too. “Homeowners want the look,” he con-firms.

Kate Clarke, Continental’s lead interior designer, found she could rely on Timberlake’s design sense and partnership to achieve her vision. “They were like family,” she says. “We worked closely with them on design. It was just superb.”

That’s why she turned to Timberlake’s team when she had a brainstorm for how to turn a design chal-lenge into a designer focal point. She asked them to create a cabinetry bed, the first of its kind. “I wanted to float the bed in the middle of the room,” she ex-plains “but I didn’t want to see the back of a head-board.” The finished furniture-quality piece was a single structure that included a headboard and built-in night tables, with bookcases and cabinets on the revealed back side of the headboard. “No one said ‘you can’t do that’. They made it happen.”

Keith found the installation as flawless as the de-sign. “On the install, the whole team was great. They’ve been on site, checking everything.” He also shared a story about the can-do attitude Timber-lake brought to a problem that arose with the urban infill construction site. “We were supposed to get a whole semi full of cabinets, but the semi couldn’t clear the trees on the street.” The truck was going to break the lower branches of the mature trees in the established neighborhood. The solution took some resourcefulness and a little muscle. “The truck parked as close as possible, then the Timberlake team shuttled the cabinets to the house.”

He adds, “At Continental, we have our own cabinet company and face issues on a daily basis. Working with Timberlake has us rethinking our own com-pany. These people were on the ball and ahead.”

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A builder takes you inside his thinking on partnering with Timberlake

behind the cabinet door


what makes a Showcase house a home

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2 9Master Suite – Coffee Bar

Rec Room Desk AreaSpiral Stair (In-Law Suite access to Secret Garden)

Family Room


When innovation meets lifestyle, beautiful things can happen.

Keith Clarke knew taking on the first New American Home to be built for homeowners,

not just as a showcase, would be a challenge. Conti-nental Homes and Interiors would have to balance the owners’ wishes with the leading edge expecta-tions of the NAHB, participating vendors and in-dustry visitors to the house.

“The project is driven by the NAHB. It’s a showcase for vendors, and we get the design from our sub-contractors,” says Clarke. “But as a custom home builder, I wanted more.” The same was true for Kate Clarke, leader of Continental’s interior design team and Keith’s wife. “We got approval to have the owners involved,” says Keith. Adds Kate, “I spent a little time talking to the homeowners to under-stand their lifestyle. Then I made the decisions.”

Isn’t that what home design is always about? Homeowners have ideas, and builders and design-ers use intuition and experience to make homeowners’ dreams into reality – on a timeline and on budget. “It wasn’t stressful,” says Kate, “because I understand where they wanted to be and where I had to be. So I just followed my gut.”

Kate’s starting place was the architect’s blueprints, which she knew would provide a strong creative guide. “I took the lead from the exterior with its symmetrical lines, strong and bold,” she reasoned. It was perceptive design to carry the geometry in-side the house.

The homeowners’ wine collecting hobby also sparked Kate’s creativity in personalizing aspects of the design. First, she incorporated plenty of wine racking and glassware storage throughout the serv-ing and entertaining areas. Then she made a splash in the living areas. “The floorplan shows a library, so I included wine storage over the bookcases.”

When it came to translating the homeowners’ desire for a green home into reality, Keith's own expertise was all the guidance he needed to earn the hallmark NAHB Emerald standing. “Energy efficient, easy-care homes are our standard,” he comments. “The house itself isn’t any different than any other house we build, with the exception of the solar panels re-quired for Emerald status.” For that, Keith used one of his other well-honed skills – finding a great partner to head up that part of the work.

The result? A showcase home that’s move-in ready – as inspirational as it is livable.

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3 2Butler’s Pantry


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Task Force Chairman of The New American Home 2011

get a behind-the-scenes look at what being chairman entails.

Alex Hannigan, owner of Hannigan Homes in Central Florida, considers himself a “Type A" per-sonality with a passion for building things, which seems necessary to fill the role of The New Ameri-can Home Task Force Chairman. Hannigan lik-ens the Chairman position to being “Conductor of the Symphony,” as he directs scores of collabora-tors to build a single, spectacular home. It's an enormous challenge, given the massive project that is TNAH.

The entire Task Force for the 2011 TNAH in-cludes over a dozen different entities, including multiple people within each of those entities. As Chairman, Hannigan’s duties include monitoring the intellectual disciplines of the architect, interior decorator, structural engineer, and the landscape/hardscape designer, among others. He also moni-tors the home’s progress closely, reporting back to the National Council of the Housing Industry and Builder Magazine.

Hannigan comments that TNAH 2011 is unique in that it’s the first time a home has been pre-sold, which he says did two things for the project: “First, it assured financing in a tough economic year.

Secondly, it assured the builder, Continental Homes, a sale.” It was important to have collabo-ration between the builder, the home owner and the Task Force. “Show homes are generally built within a certain range of cost, but often one or more of the players will want to step-up a particu-lar area of the home,” says Hannigan. “The chal-lenge this year was to stay within a budget and produce an outstanding show home. I believe we accomplished that objective.”

Along with challenges, Hannigan is quick to point out there are also rewards. He says one of the greatest joys about being Task Force Chairman has been “working with such wonderful people.” He adds, “I don’t believe you will find a finer group of people than the members of NCHI and Builder Magazine.”

He also finds the “celebration of a spectacular home being completed for the benefit of our in-dustry and all those engaged in our industry” ex-tremely rewarding. “We show the latest and great-est products from the best manufacturers, and all the latest trends, and we serve it up in the finest setting,” says Hannigan. “And home builders and remodelers can see it all with one stop.”

So what does success look like to Hannigan as TNAH Task Force Chairman? “I consider my job a success when the team—the Builder, Decorator, Landscape Architect and TNAH Task Force—walk the home and I see the pride of accomplish-ment in their eyes.”

Hannigan looks forward to the unveiling of the home at the International Builders Show, which will further indicate success; he expects to hear the attendees acknowledge the contribution that TNAH will make to their businesses, as it helps them “discover valuable products and designs to enhance their knowledge and skills, and to give them new ideas to take back to their own markets across the country.”

While this is Hannigan’s first year as TNAH Task Force Chairman, he’s no stranger to TNAH: he’s heavily involved with the NAHB and NCHI, and he built the 2006 New American Home.

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The first NAHB showcase house to capture the coveted Emerald status – the high-est award on the National Green Building Standard’s efficiency ladder – The New American Home 2011 makes it look, well, easy.

Building a “green” home requires a certain mind-set. When John Broniek talks about the energy

efficiency of The New American Home 2011, he consistently comes back to one word: airtight, con-ceptually and literally.

As the project manager overseeing the home’s en-ergy-efficiency profile, Broniek was involved in the project from the start. Working with the architect, builder, and NAHB, Broniek’s firm, Pittsburgh-based IBACOS, made the case for progressive ef-

ficiency technologies and stayed onsite to help in-corporate the innovations into the showcase home.

“Our goal is simply to make homes as energy effi-cient as possible,” says Broniek matter-of-factly.

IBACOS is well-qualified. The building-sciences think tank has consulted on The New American Home for 10 years. Its researchers work closely with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America program.

To earn the National Green Building Standard’s top Emerald badge of efficiency, The New Ameri-can Home had to accumulate at least 697 points across several categories: energy efficiency; resource efficiency; water efficiency; indoor environmental quality; lot design, preparation, and development; and operation, maintenance, and building owner education. What’s more, a third-party evaluation had to prove the home was, at a minimum, 60 per-cent more energy-efficient than one built to the 2006 baseline established by the International En-ergy Conservation Code/Energy Star standards.

Outdoor Spa2nd Floor Gallery

seeing green Hats off to the many partners who helped The New American Home 2011 land the top-tier Emerald status from NAHB’s National Green Building Standard. Here’s how they did it:

construction methods and materials» Timberlake Cabinetry, the first cabinet supplier to achieve

NAHB National Green Building Standard approval

» Timberlake® Cabinetry contributes 3 points to the project total

» Two-story masonry block system

» Limestone and Accustone exterior

» Reflective roof coating

» Recycled tiles and countertop materials

» Sustainable waste management practices

» Grey water system

indoor air quality» Low VOC paints, stains, adhesives, and sealants

» C.A.R.B. compliant wood cabinetry

» Closed- and open-cell spray foam insulation

» No CFC, HCFC, or halon-based HVAC refrigerants

energy conservation» Thin film photovoltaic technology

» Domestic hot water system

» Solar pool heating system

» Tankless hot water heaters

» HVAC – 20 sear/solar-assisted

» Whole-house automation system

» Whole-house lighting control system

» Energy Star appliances

» Fluorescent and LED lighting

water conservation» Dual-flush water closets

» Low-flow shower head and faucets

» Grey water collection system

» Energy Star appliances

site and landscaping» Native and drought-tolerant plants

» Weather-controlled irrigation system

» Rainwater collection system

» Erosion sediment control

» Permeable pavers

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a tall order? not this year.

The New American Home 2011 amassed the required points, thanks in part to a confident Emerald-is-easy attitude among the project team members. Even be-fore the last efficiency features were added to the home, IBACOS’ Broniek had calculated a healthy savings of at least $2165 on the homeowners’ annual energy bill.

show and tell

What features make this home an energy hawk’s dream?

“It’s very airtight,” Broniek explains, “from the spray foam insulation in the walls and roof to the duct work and the energy-efficient windows and doors. It’s the lighting, the water heating, and the space condition-ing equipment. It all not only looks great, but it’s one of the most airtight showcase homes we’ve ever worked on.”

Builder Keith Clarke agrees the superior insulation is a key to halting the home’s energy drain. Clarke is the president of Continental Homes, the builder of this year’s New American Home. He says he didn’t flinch when, early in the planning process, NAHB represen-tatives urged him to reach for the lofty Emerald sta-tus. A certified Energy Star custom home builder, the Continental team is used to wringing out every watt of energy waste.

“It’s really our standard,” says Clarke. “Energy-efficient homes are one of the driving points of our company. We always try to use energy-efficient products, so that makes the Emerald standard very attainable.”

Admittedly, while several of the efficiency concepts may seem time-consuming and complex to builders

– like deconstructing two existing homes on the lot and meticulously salvaging more than four-fifths of the building materials – they represent proven green techniques that, according to energy experts, are ac-cessible to all builders.

“Any builder can incorporate these concepts into their projects,” IBACOS’ Broniek stresses. “The technolo-gies and techniques we used here are in the market-place today. And that’s really part of what The New American Home is about. It’s showing how energy ef-ficiency can be accomplished – and how it looks when it’s finished.”

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Palm Court Secret garden

the new american home 2008 is the first show home to be certified by the nahb’s new green building standards. This is not your garden variety garden.

Towering palms. A splashing fountain. Flowing greenery along a curving colonnade. These are

just some of the highlights of the formal garden de-signed by Scott Redmond, the landscape architect for The New American Home 2011. His creative vision was three-fold. In sun-drenched Orlando, a garden is a year-round pleasure, meant to provide both a relaxing outdoor space and a spectacular window view. In addition, on the smaller lots of an urban infill home, the garden is also a way to create an inviting private haven in a busy neighborhood.

From the beginning, Redmond was captivated by the possibilities of The New American Home. “We got involved because I saw the plans and I was in-trigued by possibility,” he confides. “The basic struc-ture for the landscape was cut out by the architect in the house plans. The geometry and rhythm of the architecture suggested strong spaces and very dif-ferent spaces,” he says.

The classic design of the formal garden breaks a property into a variety of “rooms”, each with its own very different style. The New American Home’s outdoor blueprint includes a palm court, a secret garden, a pool and outdoor entertaining area.

The palm court is the largest garden room. The broad, green lawn is lined with palm trees, conclud-ing in a 12-foot wall and fountain as focal point. The fountain wall provides the luxury of privacy while the open lawn and palms create a feeling of expansiveness. Designed on the center and cross-axis sightlines of the house, the garden forms strik-ing vistas from the Great Room, Family Room and the Master Sleeping Room.

Visitors make their way into the secret garden by way of a curving path through tall, lush landscap-ing. Tucked in a corner of the property, the area is a step down in elevation, providing even more soli-tude. The space embraces the guest with the gently

arched wall and colonnade, surrounded by greenery. From above, the space becomes a verdant tableau when viewed from the Family Room.

Connecting the two spaces is a bar and dining area, perfect for entertaining or quiet family time. In ad-dition to the glorious setting, the area includes all the food-preparation must-haves, including a grill, icemaker, refrigerator and pizza oven.

And what’s a home in Florida without a swimming pool? Once again taking on the powerful geometry of the house, the pool area becomes an extension of the Master Bedroom. The effect is yet another breath-taking indoor view and inviting outdoor room.

What’s designer Redmond’s favorite aspect of his green space? “The strong definition and connection between the spaces, very different rooms in such close proximity,” he responds. “It makes the space very striking.”

It’s certain that the homeowners will consider it their own private garden of Eden.

a garden of delight

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A secluded haven in the heart of the city

Return to Easy Elegancepages 3 ~ 4

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Main Kitchenperimeter cabinets: Rushmore® Maple Square Hazelnut Glaze island cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

The room design is a perfect reflec-tion of its architectural elements. The center island in Rushmore® Cherry Square Java features a cus-tom built-in table to echo the ceiling’s decorative circular centerpiece. The wall cabinets are open framed with clear glass to showcase china and decorative pieces. Horizontal rows of two-toned decorative tile bring all the elements together with sophisti-cated style.

pages 5 ~ 6

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Kitchenperimeter cabinets: Rushmore® Maple Square Hazelnut Glaze island cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

Additional seating has been created between the columns leading to the family room. Wall cabinets on toe with extended counter tops in the family room make it ideal for entertaining.

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Classically inspired archi-tecture and design take � e New American Home back to Florida’s golden era of the early 20th century, when living was unapologetically luxurious.

In the 1920s, Florida’s waterfront communi-ties were a magnet for high-society northerners,

drawn to the sunny south for equal doses of revelry and relaxation. � e Yankee transplants built ex-travagant estates mimicking Old World architec-ture. With open courtyards, terraced gardens, and sumptuous spas, the well-to-do took advantage of the inviting Floridian climate at the height of the

“Gilded Age.”

It’s this era of laid-back luxury that architect Chris Donnelly set out to capture in � e New American Home in Orlando. Donnelly owns Donnelly Archi-tecture, based in Beverly Hills, Florida.

“I kept thinking of the old estates in Palm Beach, Sarasota, Miami,” he recalls. “� en it started to make sense to me, how to balance this classically inspired design with life in 2011.”

While Donnelly admits he’s no student of architec-tural history, he did a fair amount of research on � e New American Home project to ultimately produce a house one would expect to see in today’s Florida.

� e outcome is a show home constructed around three thematic designs: a historically driven, clas-sical approach that naturally blends contemporary amenities with the contextual setting of Orlando’s Lake Davis, a community of some 100 households originally built in the early 1900s.

� e architecture and design details capitalize on – and are respectful of – Florida’s temperamental cli-mate: Breezes from the lake and palm court cool the living area. Shaded porches surround the home’s exterior. � e roof angle refl ects the sun. Insulation battles the southern heat. And landscaping and roofi ng drainage accommodates the rains.

� e original design for � e New American Home 2011 was developed by a historian and architectural

artist. Donnelly’s challenge was to shape that initial artistic rendering into a showcase home that’s both elegantly welcoming and comfortably cutting-edge.

� e result sparkles.

While the style of this year’s showcase home has been referred to as American Empire, with majestic, columnar Greek Revival elements, Keith and Kate Clarke prefer to describe it as Neoclassic. (“I didn’t know America had an empire,” laughs Kate, who grew up in the U.K.) � e Clarkes own Continen-tal Homes, the builder behind � e New American Home; Keith managed the build, and Kate added her interior design expertise.

“� e style really blends English, French, and Greek design elements inside and out,” says Kate. For comparison, she points to several of the ornate his-toric buildings in Washington, D.C.

Architect Donnelly clearly has his architectural and design favorites at � e New American Home: “� e extensive stonework makes the house work. I love the columns, the tablature, the parapet, the detail-ing on the windows and doors. � e niches, cornices, columns, and openings all were carefully designed to be both historically accurate and to complement the formal arrangement of the rooms. As for the interior, I think most people will fi nd the fi nishes absolutely incredible. � e house almost radiates.”

Donnelly explains that one overriding goal was to allow the indoors to blend with the outdoors. � e great room, gallery, and in-law suite off er spectacu-lar views of the lake and downtown Orlando, while the great room, kitchen, family room, and in-law suite also fl ow into the palm court, the pool area, and the summer kitchen.

In the main kitchen, Clarke’s interior design includes a unique wood ceiling with a circular focal point in the center of the room, two distinct cabinetry fi nish-es, an innovative island with an attached table, and fi nishes on the wall that take on the soft look of suede.

“� e interior takes the lead from the exterior,” she explains. “It’s very strong, very bold, with a clear sense of geometry, using circles and squares. It’s quite a sexy house, really. It has pizzazz, yet it still has warmth – with a little bit of South Beach thrown in there. It’s very comfortable and usable.”

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subscriptions

For your complimentary subscription to Portfolio® magazine please email your request to:

[email protected]

creditsbuilder and interior design Continental Homes and Interiors

residential design Donnelly Architecture

sponsoring associationNational Council of the Housing Industry, a committee of NAHB

photography: Jeff A. Davis Jeff Davis Photography Dallas, Texasphoto styling: Henry B. Frey flourish, Inc. Cleveland, Ohio

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What Makes a Showcase House a Homepages 29 ~ 30

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Master Bedroom Coffee cabinets: Rushmore® Maple Square Hazelnut Glaze hardware: Roundel Knob

Hidden behind closed doors is a very functional and clever coffee bar. When the doors are open, you find an open-framed wall cabinet with clear glass. It’s centered on the wall for open display with solid wood cabinets on either side for hidden storage.

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Rec Room Desk Area cabinets: Yellowstone® Cherry Javahardware: Steel Bow Pull Vene-tian Bronze

A kneehole desk drawer beneath the counter top with file drawers and desk cabinets on both sides creates a beautifully simple and smartly func-tional desk area. The wall cabinets above provide hidden storage and open display area. The backsplash is a custom made pin board that gives the area a rich and elegant feel.

pages 31 ~ 32

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Butler’s Pantry (Full Shot)cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

Designed for china display and storage for service items, this space is equipped to complement formal dining and entertaining. The deep dovetail sliding shelves provide added storage with easy access.

Meet Alex Hanniganpages 33 ~ 34

far right

Main Kitchenperimeter cabinets: Rushmore® Maple Square Hazelnut Glaze island cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

The unique blend of light and dark cabinetry brings a relaxed and invit-ing elegance to the kitchen. The open framed wall cabinets with clear glass create focal points for china dis-plays, while the wall cabinets provide ample storage for all the necessities of cooking.

Airtight Casepages 35 ~ 36

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Master bath cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Steel Bow Pull Satin Nickel

Revel in this spa-like room with floating cabinets and a vessel sink. Drawers on both sides of the sink offer ample storage space.

pages 7 ~ 8

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In-Law Suite Kitchen cabinets: Yellowstone® Maple Cof-fee Glaze hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

The in-law suite kitchen is fully equipped. The simple line of the Yellowstone® door gives this kitchen a timeless feel. 42” high wall cabinets on toe facing the dining room pro-vide abundant storage, beautifully displayed.

Differentiation is the Way Forwardpages 9 ~ 10

top left

Butler’s Pantrycabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

The base cabinets provide easy access to service items with deep dovetail sliding shelves and drawers.

top right

In-Law Suite Laundry cabinets: Yellowstone® Maple Cof-fee Glaze hardware: Toggle Knob Satin Nickel

More than just a laundry, wall and base cabinetry provide an excellent space for seasonal storage. The hang-ing bar above the sink is handy for doing laundry.

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Butler’s Pantrycabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

The deep drawer base cabinet in the butler’s pantry provides handy stor-age for extra table linens.

bottom right

Kitchenisland cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

The base pantry pull out cabinet provides easily-accessed cooking storage.

Charm & Charitypages 13 ~ 14

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Wine Cellar cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Bar Pull Satin Nickel

An impressive focal point is created by an open frame cabinet with clear glass to showcase glassware, centered between handsome wine storage cubes and tall wine coolers. The stem glass holders beneath the storage cubes keep wine glasses at the ready. A handy sink provides easy efficiency for serving and clean-up.

Behind the Cabinet Doorpages 25 ~ 26

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Master Bedroom cabinets: Rushmore® Cherry Square Java hardware: Steel Bow Pull Satin Nickel

The floating bed, created entirely of Timberlake elements, is the focal point of the bedroom. A unique design element, this single structure bed includes built-in nightstands and headboard. On toe on the back side, bookcases and glass-front cabinetry add storage with style.

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As the market is showing ever-so-slight signs of recovery, Timberlake Cabinetry is seeing

a gradual swing back from the extreme standard-ization and cost-cutting initiatives that took away much of the diff erentiation between builders the last several years. Todd Jarvis, Channel Market-ing Manager of Timberlake observes, “Builders are looking for signature items that homebuyers won’t fi nd at all of their competitors. � ey are starting to off er a bit more choice.” � e key, Jarvis adds, is that to be most profi table, it needs to be “controlled” choice, which can help diff erentiate builders, while containing costs.

To set themselves apart, builders are looking for ways to add features that have high impact, and that are valued by homebuyers, but that don’t add signif-icant cost. According to Jarvis, “At Timberlake, we view everything through the lens of ‘how will this help the builder make money?’” To this end, Tim-berlake continues to add “semi-custom” cabinetry features to a builder-focused product line. Just as builders strive to diff erentiate themselves, so does Timberlake: � ey off er something that none of the other builder-focused cabinetry manufacturers can.

“We can help set a builder apart with semi-custom features without disturbing their supply chain be-cause all of our products are available from the same plant on the same lead time,” says Jarvis.

Examples of semi-custom features that Timberlake off ers include All-Plywood Construction, Furni-ture Ends, Increased and Reduced Depths, Pre-mium Finishes and Glazes, Solid Wood Doors and Storage Solutions. According to Jarvis, “Just off er-ing one or two of these features can diff erentiate a builder’s kitchens from the competitive builder down the street who is showing unimaginative, standard kitchens.”

A cornerstone of Timberlake’s proposition is their “4S Model,” which looks holistically at the home sell-ing process so that Timberlake “can come alongside the builder to help in each critical area,” says Jarvis.

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SELL. Helping the builder sell more homes. � is includes design, training and merchandising to cre-ate a superior homebuyer experience in the model (especially eff ective at setting models apart from other models visited).

SELECT. Helping the builder drive profi table up-grades in the most important room in the house—the kitchen. Timberlake does this through its proven Good-Better-Best product line, local rep-resentatives who train and provide assistance, and innovative tools for the design center or wherever product selections are made.

SCHEDULE. Keeping promises so construction stays on track and the builder avoids any costly de-lays. It takes a whole company to execute this day in and day out. Lean manufacturing, advanced elec-tronic quality control methods, world-class logistics and an experienced fi eld service organization are among the enormous investments Timberlake has made to help the builder keep his promises to the homebuyer.

SATISFY. Assisting the builder in making the homebuyers so pleased with the experience that they help sell the builder’s next home through posi-tive “word of mouth.” Timberlake’s fi eld personnel strive to catch any potential warranty items before the homebuyer does a walk with the builder. Vis-ibility at all levels of the organization to a set of de-manding metrics insures attention to what matters most. An innovative dashboard program allows the builder and Timberlake to monitor progress and discuss improvement opportunities.

Timberlake tries to help take the commoditization aspect out of the process for builders trying to dif-ferentiate themselves to homebuyers. “In the ab-sence of diff erentiation, you are by defi nition a com-modity that is purchased solely on price,” says Jarvis.

“� is is a trap all of us in the building industry need to avoid, or better yet, escape.”

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Products and Processes � at Can Help Set Your Company Apart

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“But the vendors have been an absolute dream, just fantastic to work with,” he says. “� ey’re very gener-ous with their time and products. And some of the larger vendors have even built relationships with each other as they’ve worked together on the home. It’s been benefi cial all around.”

One of the primary challenges of building � e New American Home, according to Keith, was timing, working toward a compressed nine-month turnaround. Another was size. Originally planned as a 5,500-square-foot home, the structure grew to 11,000 square feet during the planning process.

But the easy-going Clarkes took the issues in stride, crediting the vendors and the NAHB with helping to work through snafus – and maintaining the ob-jective that the general blueprint of the larger-than-

life residence is transferable to any house.

“� e construction techniques and building technolo-gies absolutely can be incorporated into any project by any builder, even in a home of say 3,000 square feet, starting with the fl oor plans,” assures Keith.

So what prompted the Clarkes to take on the com-plex task of building � e New American Home? In part, professional courtesy. According to Keith, Alex Hannigan, president of the Orlando-based Hannigan Homes and chairman of � e New American Home 2011 Task Force, had worked with Continental on other building projects in the area and approached the Clarkes about joining the NAHB eff ort.

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Other hidden gems, as architect Donnelly refers to them, include a sculptural staircase that’s tucked out of sight near an entryway, a tiny powder room off the circular dining area, a luxurious in-ground spa, and, yes, a secret garden – “pockets of privacy and relaxation, oases from the modern world,” he says with a smile.

Of course, the home’s extraordinary upgrades add to its price tag, an idea that sometimes gets lost when so many generous partners volunteer labor and products. � e Clarkes invited a local realtor to walk through the house and tag its market value. � e tally? Conservatively, more than $3 million. (Donated materials account for approximately $1.6 million of that, according to Keith Clarke.)

But all those bells and whistles don’t necessarily translate to overt extravagance.

“� is is a good-sized house, and it could be impos-ing,” explains Donnelly. “Instead, it has a relaxed

luxury about it. It fi ts this area of Florida. You can come home from a banquet in a tuxedo and feel equally as comfortable as if you came home from jogging in the neighborhood.”

After many months of working through the ar-chitectural details, Donnelly says he’s taking away an important revelation from his experience with � e New American Home: “On a personal note, I like the fact that the house has a simple layout us-ing basic elements that are extremely well-crafted and carefully placed. You see this in the kitchen in particular, but it carries throughout the house. It’s a straightforward form that’s carefully detailed. It’s been a good lesson for me – and for architects and builders in general, I think. You don’t have to go over the top with form. You can design something beautiful that’s basic and detailed.”

� en, in a rush of self-consciousness, Donnelly quickly redirects the conversation: “Okay, enough about that. If someone wants to know what the house is all about, I say, ‘Let’s go see it!’ I like to let the work speak for itself.”

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When innovation meets lifestyle, beautiful things can happen.

Keith Clarke knew taking on the fi rst New American Home to be built for homeowners,

not just as a showcase, would be a challenge. Conti-nental Homes and Interiors would have to balance the owners’ wishes with the leading edge expecta-tions of the NAHB, participating vendors and in-dustry visitors to the house.

“� e project is driven by the NAHB. It’s a showcase for vendors and we get the design from our sub-contractors,” says Clarke. “But as a custom home builder, I wanted more.” � e same was true for Kate Clarke, leader of Continental’s interior design team and Keith’s wife. “We got approval to have the owners involved,” says Keith. Adds Kate, “I spent a little time talking to the homeowners to under-stand their lifestyle. � en I made the decisions.”

Isn’t that what home design is always about? Homeowners have ideas, and builders and design-ers use intuition and experience to make home-owners’ dreams into reality – on a timeline and on budget. “It wasn’t stressful,” says Kate, “because I understand where they wanted to be and where I had to be. So I just followed my gut.”

Kate’s starting place was the architect’s blueprints, which she knew would provide a strong creative guide. “I took the lead from the exterior with its symmetrical lines, strong and bold,” she reasoned. It was perceptive design to carry the geometry in-side the house – circles, squares, sharp horizontals and verticals. “It’s made it so strong and extreme, but still warm and modern,” she adds. It’s quite a sexy house…very South Beach.”

� e homeowners’ wine collecting hobby also sparked Kate’s creativity in personalizing aspects of the design. First, she incorporated plenty of wine racking and glassware storage throughout the serv-ing and entertaining areas. � en she made a splash in the living areas. “� e fl oorplan shows a library, so I included wine storage over the bookcases.”

When it came to translating the homeowners’ de-sire for a green home into reality, Keith's own ex-pertise was all the guidance he needed to earn the hallmark Emerald LEED status. “Energy effi cient, easy-care homes are our standard,” he comments.

“� e house itself isn’t any diff erent than any other house we build, with the exception of the solar pan-els required for Emerald status.” For that, Keith used one of his other well-honed skills – fi nding a great partner to head up that part of the work.

� e result? A showcase home that’s move-in ready– as inspirational as it is livable.

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Working on a build of the size and scope of � e New American Home always requires careful planning, precise scheduling and open communications.

The shortened timeline of this year’s project re-quired all the partners to reach an even higher

level of service. “We were supposed to get our build-ing permits in December,” confi des Keith Clarke of Continental Homes and Interiors, “but they didn’t arrive until March. � is has been a 7-day-a-week marathon.”

A strict timeline, a bit of ingenuity and a can-do atti-tude were requirements to make the fi nish date, and there was little room for error. Keith’s bottom line on Timberlake? “One word: fantastic.” He contin-ues, “I’d never worked with Timberlake before the New American Home, but it was like they belonged there from the start.”

As someone known for building green homes, Keith appreciates the fact that Timberlake uses sustain-able American hardwoods and is certifi ed earth friendly. Still, he knows that green has to be gor-geous, too. “Homeowners want the look,” he con-fi rms.

Kate Clarke, Continental’s lead interior designer, found she could rely on Timberlake’s design sense and partnership to achieve her vision. “� ey were like family,” she says. “We worked closely with them on design. It was just superb.”

� at’s why she turned to Timberlake’s team when she had a brainstorm for how turn a design chal-lenge into a designer focal point. She asked them to create a cabinetry bed, the fi rst of its kind. “I wanted to fl oat the bed in the middle of the room,” she explains “but I didn’t want to see the back of a headboard.” � e fi nished furniture-quality piece was a single structure that included a headboard and built-in night tables, with bookcases on the re-vealed back side of the headboard. “No one said ‘you can’t do that’. � ey made it happen.”

Keith found the installation as fl awless as the de-sign. “On the install, the whole team was great. � ey’ve been on site, checking everything.” He also shared a story about the can-do attitude Timber-lake brought to a problem that arose with the urban infi ll construction site. “We were supposed to get a whole semi full of cabinets, but the semi couldn’t clear the trees on the street.” � e truck was going to break the lower branches of the mature trees in the established neighborhood. � e solution took some resourcefulness and a little muscle. “� e truck parked as close as possible, then the Timberlake team shuttled the cabinets to the house.”

He adds, “At Continental, we have our own cabinet company and face issues on a daily basis. Working with Timberlake has us rethinking our own com-pany. � ese people were on the ball and ahead.”

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A builder takes you inside his thinking on partnering with Timberlake.

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Task Force Chairman Of � e New American Home 2011

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Alex Hannigan, owner of Hannigan Homes in Central Florida, considers himself an “A” type per-sonality with a passion for building things, which seems necessary to fi ll the role of � e New Ameri-can Home Task Force Chairman. Hannigan lik-ens the Chairman position to being “Conductor of the Symphony,” as he acts as external spokesper-son for TNAH, as well as internal communicator with the various factions involved in the massive project that is TNAH.

� e entire Task Force for the 2011 TNAH in-cludes over 13 diff erent entities, including multi-ple people within each of those entities. As Chair-man, Hannigan’s duties include monitoring the intellectual disciplines of the architect, interior decorator, structural engineer, and the landscape/hardscape designer, among others. He also moni-tors the home’s progress closely, reporting back to NCHI and Builder Magazine.

Hannigan comments that TNAH 2011 is unique in that it’s the fi rst time a home has been pre-sold, which he says did two things for the project: “First, it assured fi nancing in a tough economic year.

Secondly, it assured the builder, Continental Homes, a sale.” He says that working with the builder, the owners and the Task Force was the most challenging aspect of this year’s home. “Show homes are generally built within a certain range of cost, but often one or more of the players will want to step-up a particular area of the home,” says Hannigan. “� e challenge this year was to stay within a budget and produce an outstanding show home. I believe we accomplished that objective.”

Along with challenges, Hannigan is quick to point out there are also rewards. He says one of the greatest joys about being Task Force Chairman has been “working with such wonderful people.” He adds, “I don’t believe you will fi nd a fi ner group of people than the members of NCHI and Builder Magazine.”

He also fi nds the “celebration of a spectacular home being completed for the benefi t of our in-dustry and all those engaged in our industry” ex-tremely rewarding. “We show the latest and great-est products from the best manufacturers, and all the latest trends, and we serve it up in the fi nest setting,” says Hannigan. “And home builders and remodelers can see it all with one stop.”

So what does success look like to Hannigan as TNAH Task Force Chairman? “I consider my job a success when the team—the Builder, Decorator, Landscape Architect and TNAH Task Force—walk the home and I see the pride of accomplish-ment in their eyes.”

Hannigan looks forward to the unveiling of the home at IBS, which will further indicate success; he expects to hear the attendees acknowledge the contribution that TNAH will make to their busi-nesses, as it helps them “discover valuable prod-ucts and designs to enhance their knowledge and skills, and to give them new ideas to take back to their own markets across the country.”

While this is Hannigan’s fi rst year as TNAH Task Force Chairman, he’s no stranger to TNAH: he’s heavily involved with the NAHB and NCHI, and he built the 2006 New American Home.

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portfolio v11i1: a return to easy elegance by timberlake cabinetry

Documents

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