- April 26, 2024
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By now, it’s no secret that celebrity designer Ty Pennington has built his new home in Flagler County’s The Hammock. Plans for Pennington’s Hammock home were announced in February 2014, when he bought the Hernandez Avenue property. Since then, he has been seen around the county hanging on the beach, eating at restaurants, partnering with Flagler Habitat for Humanity, and even throwing the first pitch at the Palm Coast Little League opening ceremonies.
How did he get to throw the first pitch, you ask?
Fred Lewers is the answer. Lewers is an avid volunteer with the Palm Coast Little League. So much so that he was awarded Little League International Volunteer of the Year in 2011. He is also a real estate professional with Palm West Home Realty and Palm West Home Builders. When Pennington was looking for a builder in Florida, a mutual friend recommended Lewers and Palm West Home Builders.
“It wasn’t the normal way to find a builder,” Pennington said.
But it was the small town way.
“I’m usually a good judge, I’ve got a good sense of character,” Pennington said. “Fred was a good guy.”
The home, which was built by Lewers and Palm West Home Builders Inc., boasts six bedrooms, 5.5 baths, a pool, a boat dock with a solar lift, two electronic fireplaces, a recirculating hot water system, an array of energy saving LED lights and all the latest and greatest state-of-the-art technology.
“Building this type of home, it really is the next generation of homes,” Pennington said, adding that dealing with the newest technology on the market had its challenges.
Pennington utilized a lot of local companies during the project, and also teamed with Eaton, a 2015 Energy Star Partner of the Year and producer of the first Energy Star-certified light-emitting diode (LED) downlight. More than 200 of Eaton’s Halo LED lighting solutions are utilized throughout the interior and exterior coves of the home.
The LEDs and the process of making Pennington’s new home energy efficient, weather and storm resistant, healthy and smart was featured in an online TV series with NextGen Home TV, “First to the Future Home,” viewable at nghtv.com.
“First to the Future Home is an ideal showcase for Eaton’s innovative, energy-efficient residential products and solutions,” said Mark Eubanks, president of Eaton’s Lighting Division. “Viewers will learn how LED lighting and other innovative electrical solutions enhance the design and construction of new homes, and how they can result in dramatic cost savings and environmental benefits.”
Eaton’s products featured in the home also include electrical vehicle charging stations, safety and disconnect switches, surge protectors and a variety of receptacles. The home also features Eaton’s Aspire RF wireless controls, a customizable, energy-saving solution. The easy-to-use radio frequency-based control system includes one-touch controllers and a wide range of wiring devices, providing the capability to create an integrated control network for the home.
Other green items in the home include a solar hot water heater, drywall that absorbs odors, an automated air exchange system, hurricane-resistant impact windows, sage glass and a self-cleaning water filtration system.
“Anything down on the water gets battered with the salt and wind and this house has elements to help it withstand the elements,” Pennington said.
The big thing, Pennington said, is that because of the solar panels used, the house is net zero when it comes to energy.
“Because we’re creating energy for the house through all the solar panels, we’re actually sending power back to the grid,” Pennington said. “So (the house) is self-sustainable, which is what the goal was.”
While the house itself is unique, so is the lot that it stands on.
“The property, the way I understand it, is that when they built the intracoastal in 1940, the fill was piled on the shore,” Lewers said. “And that’s what this lot is built on.”
The home that stood on the lot before Pennington purchased it was angled, so Pennington built his home angled as well.
“We wanted to pay homage to what was here before — the old-school Florida design,” Pennington said. “My house is on the footprint as the previous one. It’s a really special lot.”
Ty Pennington’s seven secrets to creating an outdoor oasis
Summer is as much a mindset as it is a season. But even the ultimate summer state-of-mind is hampered by an uninspired outdoor living space. So in the spirit of the season, Sears Outdoor Living and celebrity designer Ty Pennington have teamed up to offer seven secrets to the art of creating the perfect outdoor oasis. In June, the company will unveil videos featuring Pennington showcasing Sears outdoor living products, along with solutions to common design challenges at his new Palm Coast home.
“Nothing says ‘summer’ quite like an outdoor oasis, but if I know anything about outside entertaining, it’s that everyone’s space is unique,” Pennington said. “Regardless of size, climate or seasonal element, you can achieve the ultimate outdoor entertaining area with a lot of creativity and a little help from my friends at Sears.”
1. Build your base, add over time — After envisioning your dream outdoor space, you can purchase an entire patio collection at once or build it over time, depending on your entertaining need
2. Get to grilling
3. Welcome small spaces — Think your condo balcony or oceanside deck is too small for outdoor entertaining? Think again.
4. Go green and add some color — Nothing dresses up a patio faster than plants and flowers. Refresh your patio with colorful rugs, pillows and cushions. Also, a strategically-placed patio umbrella can do more than just block the sun, it can define your entire outdoor space. After all, summer parties should create a relaxed vibe.
5. Make your move, weigh your priorities — Summer is moving season. Whether you’re moving from the city to the suburbs or from a single-family home to a condo in the city, match your outdoor entertaining to the space you have. If moving to a market with extreme climates, invest in durable furniture that can stand up to the environment. Consider patio furniture with a rust-resistant steel frame, UV-resistant fabric and an all-weather resin weave.
6. Dine with family and friends
7. Consider your climate — The most popular patio sets on the market are made with either aluminum or steel. Steel is heavier than aluminum but can rust over time. Aluminum is naturally rustproof and generally requires less maintenance. For added protection, make sure your patio set has a heavy duty powder-coated frame if you choose steel.
