A Design-Loving Couple Set Out to Build Their Midcentury Dream Home From Scratch
When Sean Brunson, a graphic designer and creative director, and his wife, Geri, decided to move back to Geri’s hometown of Satellite Beach, Florida, they settled into an affordable house blocks away from the beach. Happy to be closer to the ocean and in a more tight-knit community after years of living and working in Orlando, the Brunsons nevertheless found themselves unsatisfied. "We had always been inspired by the simple pureness of design in 1950s- and ’60s-era modern homes," explains Sean. "And then we had the idea that we could build something from scratch. That itch never really went away."
Sean and Geri Brunson designed and built the airy, glassy, midcentury-inspired home of their dreams on Florida’s east coast.
When a small infill lot in the neighborhood became available, Sean and Geri jumped on it. "We went for it with no idea if it would even be possible to build what we wanted to build," recalls Sean. Because of their affinity for midcentury-modern designs, the couple aspired to create a glassy, post-and-beam home—but they weren’t sure they could pull it off within present-day building codes. Not to mention their location in a hurricane zone.
A modest street-facing facade allowed the Brunsons to concentrate their design energy on the L-shaped home’s interior, and the pool behind the gate.
"One of the great things about those historic homes is that they’re just so delicate and light," says Sean. "If it was going to become something heavy and bulky to meet codes, we just weren’t interested." Sean was also set on guiding the design of the new home himself. Besides collecting midcentury furniture as a hobby for decades, Sean built up his design chops by helping architect Gene Leedy of the Sarasota School renovate several 1950s ranches. The couple also completed several renovation projects on their previous home.
Homeowner Sean Brunson led the design of the new modernist home, enlisting the help of architect Alex Stone to complete the drawings. For the design, the Brunsons were inspired by the modest post-and-beam homes of the 1950s and ’60s, particularly the Sealy House by Edward Killingsworth.
After doing some preliminary sketching, Sean sought out the help of his friend, architect Alex Stone, to see if the glassy, low-slung design he and Geri envisioned would be possible. "We spent about a year testing the feasibility and seeking out engineering consulting," says Sean. "It was looking positive, so we developed all the plans, and our architect created the drawings."
A key challenge was balancing the light, airy design of the 1,250-square-foot home with the necessary hurricane resilience features. Sean and Stone developed a solution that involved using more concrete than a normal home would require, concealing a good amount of steel in the structure itself, and using twice as many hurricane straps as required by code.
"A lot of people thought we were crazy to put a fireplace in a Florida home, but the biggest surprise for my wife and me has been how much we use it," says Sean. "It’s a woodburning fireplace, and there’s just something so mesmerizing and cozy about it." The fireplace cladding is thin brick stacked in a vertical bond.
Soon, the couple found themselves on the hunt for a builder. "It took a full year of interviewing builders to find someone who would create our design—and keep to our modest budget," recalls Sean. Finally landing on a contractor, Sean strategized ways to save money. "Time is money, so we discussed with the builder that the less time he spent on site, the less money we’d spend," he says.
The Brunsons sourced all of the furnishings in the home, and many are vintage midcentury designs, including a green Bertoia diamond chair and a vintage Florence Knoll couch. The wall hanging is a vintage Stan Bitters screen, and the lamp is vintage David Cressey.
In turn for offering the Brusons a fixed fee, the builder agreed that Sean would be the primary boots on the ground. "I was here every single day," says Sean. "I juggled that with my day job, but I was OK with it because it was so much fun. I spent so much time developing the plans with the architect, that our builder would be the first to admit I knew the house better than anyone."
Sean and Geri both work remotely several days a week, so a home office was a key part of their design brief. The credenza is vintage Florence Knoll, the desk and chair are both Herman Miller, and the pendant light is by George Nelson.
Besides managing day-to-day communication and coordination with subcontractors on-site, Sean also acted as interior designer, sourcing and procuring the majority of the materials, finishes, and furnishings for the home. While Sean and Geri enjoyed selecting everything themselves, an unexpected challenge came with the cypress wood used for the tongue-and-groove ceiling. "Cypress does well in high-moisture environments like Florida, and it was used a lot in midcentury homes," explains Sean. "You can buy it presealed, but it’s double the cost. So my wife and I decided to do it ourselves."
"The kitchen is pretty small, so we were inspired by Japanese design where everything is highly organized," says Sean. "It functions really well." Sean and Geri designed all the cabinetry, and a childhood friend who is now a cabinetmaker built them using match-grained walnut. The backsplash is imported Japanese finger tile, and the countertops are quartz.
After spending four days over a Fourth of July weekend sanding and sealing a massive pile of cypress wood beams, Sean and Geri realized they had only received half of the necessary wood from the supplier. "That was the one time in the project where the wind really got knocked out of our sails," recalls Sean. With encouragement from their builder, Sean and Geri tackled the second half. All told, completing that work themselves saved the couple over $20,000.
The home’s single bathroom contains tile by Daltile, quartz counters, and custom-built walnut cabinets.
Finally, after nine months of construction and countless hours of sweat equity, the Brunsons moved into their new home. Even though it doesn’t have the ocean views of their previous locale, the couple feels more connected to the outdoors in their new home. Nestled in the crook of the L-shaped home is a pool that mirrors the floor plan, giving the couple views of the water from every room. Using sliding glass doors instead of windows helped maximize connections between inside and out.
"We made the pool an L-shape to mimic the form of the home," says Sean. "No matter what room you’re in, you’re looking at the pool. It’s relaxing and tranquil." The couple opted for sliding glass doors with transom windows above.
"The house is so peaceful," says Sean. "It’s the water and the plants, but it’s also being surrounding with sculpture, art, and furniture that we enjoy." Most of the period furniture in the home was sourced and restored by Sean. Even though the couple would be the first to admit designing and building their dream home was a challenge, they insist they’d do it all again. "If you’ve ever experienced good architecture, you know it’s like being inside a work of art," says Sean. "It enhances your life."
Floor Plan of the Brunson Residence
Structural Engineer: H. B. Associates LLC
Landscape Design, Interior Design, Lighting Design, and Architectural Concept Design: Sean Brunson
Cabinetry Installation: Bright Wood Works
Photography: Doug Scaletta
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