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."

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.

"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.