The Ellison House

Artist Christopher Florentino says his respect for Gene Leedy drove his update of the architect’s 1963 Ellison Residence in central Florida: “Being original is important to me. I don’t want Gene Leedy to come here and be like, ‘Damn, you killed my vision.’” In the living room, George Nelson’s Saucer Bubble pendant hovers over Eames classics, like an LCW chair, a Molded Fiberglass armchair, and a Molded Plywood coffee table. Christopher found the lounge, an Eames replica, in a dumpster and couldn’t let it go to waste. A Warhol print hangs from the sandstone block wall; the Ekko mobile is by Matthew Richards.

Brooklyn-born painter Christopher Florentino sought a residence to house his collection of midcentury modern furniture that he’d started to amass as a teen. When he saw a Gene Leedy–designed 1963 ranch house on Instagram, he knew he’d found the perfect place. Nestled in Winter Haven, Florida, the Ellison Residence was teeming with all the elements of Florentino’s modern design fantasy including courtyards, local sandstone, glass walls, and a sense of indoor/outdoor living. He bought the house without even stepping inside. Now, it’s filled with the quintessential accents of the era including a George Nelson’s Saucer Bubble pendant, Eames furnishings including a LCW chair, Molded Fiberglass armchair, and Molded Plywood coffee table. He also maintained all original facets of the home from cabinets to door hardware down to the cork flooring; and even the palette plays to the era with primary colors and color blocking dominating the abode.

Beneath a work from Christopher’s “Something Modern” series sits a record player once owned by his grandfather, which Christopher retrofitted with a Bluetooth speaker. A vintage Robie Junior robot vacuum sits atop a modern-day automated floor cleaner.

Sandstone block walls abound in this 1963 Winter Haven, Florida, ranch house that was designed by Gene Leedy, one of the founders of the Sarasota School of Architecture. Sliding glass doors that lead to the patio exemplify Leedy's love of indoor/outdoor living.

Leedy’s signature precast double- T concrete beams create overhangs. Christopher furnished the patio with a red GN2 lounge chair by Peter Ghyczy and Maya chairs from CB2.

The master bathroom in this Gene Leedy-designed home in Florida is mostly original, with new grasscloth paper covering the formerly white walls. The midcentury modern bathroom vanity features muted wood and white tiles for a clean, modest look.

Christopher, known professionally as Flore, surveys a painting in his garage turned studio.

A Jeff Koons lobster joins a float by the artist KAWS in the pool.

An Eames lounge chair covered in Alexander Girard fabric from Maharam sits near a Girard Model 108 coffee table for Knoll.

DCM Molded Plywood chairs by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller sit around a dining table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll.

A Diamond chair by Harry Bertoia for Knoll sits in the guest bedroom.

The 1946 Womb Chair by Eero Saarinen by Knoll was reupholstered in Knoll Boucle Orange.

The LCW Molded Plywood chair is by Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller.

KAWS Companion Figure.

The kitchen cabinets are original.

A print of Jean Michael Basquiat's "Head