A 72-Year-Old Ranch Home Goes from Tear-Down Candidate to IBS Spotlight

A 72-year-old ranch-style home in an affluent neighborhood would typically be a prime candidate for a tear-down project. But this particular home is different: good bones, abundant charm, and an ambitious owner.

That owner happens to be NAHB member Phil Kean, CEO of Phil Kean Design Group, who bought the home in 2023 largely because of the home’s desirable location and large lot.

“I debated what to do with it — fix it up or tear it down,” Kean recently told ProRemodeler. “There are $20 million homes on the street and the lot is particularly large, so I thought maybe it could be torn down and replaced with an $8-9 million house. On the other hand, I was enjoying having a big yard for my dogs, and it is a pretty street.”

Ultimately, Kean decided not to tear the home down and instead chose to challenge himself to see if a “soft remodel” could still produce a “wow home.”

Those who come to this year’s NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) will be able to judge for themselves, as Kean’s home will be on full display for attendees as The New American Remodel® 2026 — one of the show’s two official exhibit homes.

Over the decades, the home underwent at least five significant renovations including various additions, which made the home feel disjointed. Kean focused largely on improving flow and sightlines, making the entire home feel more cohesive and spacious.

While the build team created a more open floor plan, Kean says they tried to create more visual interest and defined spaces by using large archways throughout the home. They were also able to optimize space that previously had no purpose, creating a mudroom, a pet wash station, a larger kitchen and an improved pantry.

The façade of the home also received a facelift by swapping out the gables with ornate parapets, replacing and recentering the windows, and adding decorative shutters.

However, many of the original elements of the home were retained — if only reconfigured. The original brick from the back patio was stored during construction and later reinstalled. Likewise, the original roof tiles were kept and reinstalled as part of the soft remodel.

Guided tours of the home will be available to registered IBS 2026 attendees. Free tickets for the complimentary shuttle bus to the home — as well as to The New American Home® 2026 — will be distributed at The New American Home booth (W40) in the West Hall of the Orange County Convention Center on a first-come, first-served basis each day of the show beginning at 7:30 a.m.