Real LI

At nearly 11,000 square feet, overlooking a lake and with a $4.8 million price tag, the New American Home 2008 should have a WOW factor. And it does. But it's not so much about the bells and whistles as it is about one key factor -- warmth. I can't believe a home of this size has such a warm feel. But designer Dan F. Sater, an acclaimed Southwest Florida architect pulled it off.

I've seen four of these grandiose show homes, and this one is by far the most inviting. With prefinished wood floors and earth-tone carpeting and wall applications, you can imagine Paula Dean making a pecan pie in one of its three (or is it four?) kitchens. It's got a real Southern feel, and, well, I just like it.

The New American Home is a feature attraction of the NAHB International Builders Show. This year's show completes a four-year run in Orlando, and the home is about 10 miles from downtown Orlando, in a high-end subdivision being built off Lake Nona. Last year's home was in an urban setting, and it was a four-story mix of contemporary design and hard, cold materials. Concrete, steel and glass seemed to be everywhere. But this year's version, the 25th in the series, is sunny by comparison.

This is a big home, but it's open-air space of 2,900 square feet makes if feel smaller. It's hard to explain, but when two remote-controlled sliding doors open in the rear of the home, an inground pool and hot tub seem to appear at your feet. The doors open and bring in the outdoors. They don't push visitors out. It's good stuff.

Now, it's supposed to be green, as in eco-friendly, and we'll examine that at another time.

But, if first impressions count for anything, this home is a keeper.