A white porcelain path leads through a two-story atrium and runs from the front to the back of the 2014 New American Home. This gallery space is open to the kitchen and living room on the left and the dining room and floating staircase on the right. The kitchen features two islands—one for cooking and a second for eating and homework.

One of two master suites, the owners’ retreat, which is on the second floor, features a two-sided intelligent fireplace that can be enjoyed from either the sleeping quarters or the soaking tub. An adjacent glass shower accommodates two bathers while separate sinks and toilet closets provide enclosed facilities. Glass doors beside the bed open to a private second-story terrace with a spiral staircase that leads to the roof deck.

Nestled into a hillside in an upscale Henderson, Nevada, housing development, the 2014 New American Home takes full advantage of its surroundings. Glass walls that disappear into wall pockets are strategically oriented to capture the spectacular vistas of the Las Vegas strip, the desert valley, and the mountains beyond.

The carriage suite, a self-contained apartment on the second floor of the 2014 New American Home, is designed to accommodate in-laws or grown children who want to live independently but remain nearby. Both a staircase and an elevator lead from the entry court to the suite, which comprises a bedroom with fireplace, full bath, living room, laundry, and kitchenette.

The 2014 New American Home design team focused on versatile living spaces like the "casita," a self-contained studio on the home's first floor. Accessible from the entry court, it has a private entrance and was intended for flexible use, be it work, sleep, study, or exercise. The casita features a full bath and is currently furnished with a daybed, conference table, and a full media station.

The use of sustainable materials was key to Josh Anderson’s crew's ability to meet the criteria for LEED and Energy Star certifications. In addition to insulating with spray foam and using engineered lumber for framing the house, they chose Thermory engineered wood, featured in this photo, for exterior decking and exterior wood cladding because it is environmentally safe and, unlike untreated wood, can withstand the harsh desert climate.

The design team brought the inside out by using folding and sliding glass doors to extend the indoor living space to the more than 1,000 square feet of surrounding terraces. To enhance comfort and provide shade, motorized retractable screens by Phantom Screens can be raised or lowered with the touch of a button. A covered outdoor kitchen, swimming pool, and spa are all accessible from the terrace.

The 2014 New American Home features a state-of-the-art home automation system that controls the home’s technology, including audio, video, home theater (shown here), security, shades, lighting, and more from a convenient touch screen. The home automation system is adjustable for use in both small homes and large estates.

Architect Jeff Berkus and designer Marc Thee captured the organic elements of fire, water, metal, earth, and wood throughout the 2014 New American Home. This aesthetic is exemplified by the view seen here—looking out from the entry court, a stone path leads through a water feature, past the entrance to the casita, and toward a wooden deck outside one of the home’s two master suites. Other water features include an indoor waterfall and an outdoor pool and spa.

Having met Emerald status under the National Green Building Standard, the 2014 New American Home is the greenest show home in the National Association of Home Builders’ history. Breaking new ground in high-performance building, the house features a solar electric array that is key to offsetting 83 percent of the home’s annual energy load. In addition, sprayed open- and closed-cell insulation plus high-efficiency windows keep the building envelope tight.

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