After a mother and daughter fell in love with and purchased a 1970 mid-century modern home in Gainesville’s University Acres neighborhood, they began looking for a design studio that understood and would respect the structure’s architecture. Research and word of mouth eventually led them to Chinotto House’s Chelsey Cox and Rachel Rector, two designers who just happen to sit on the board of Gainesville Modern, a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating and preserving the city’s mid-century modern properties.
“They wanted to do justice to the style of the home while creating something entirely new,” says Cox, Chinotto House’s founder. “Their design directive was ‘Palm Springs but make it Gainesville.’ They wanted something playful, warm, and distinctly modern, not a themed interpretation. The goal was to reflect the clients’ love for the joy, color, and indoor/outdoor lifestyle of Palm Springs inside a home rooted in North Florida.”
As a result, the renovation focused on reimagining the existing house from the inside out with entirely new finishes, windows, cabinetry, and interiors. While the roofline was raised and a new primary suite and garage were added, the foundation, exterior walls, split-level organization of the floor plan, and many defining architectural features were preserved.
“We wanted the house to evoke optimism curiosity, and joy,” says Rector, Chinotto House’s lead designer. “Mid-century modern architecture provided the framework, the homeowners’ adventurous spirit gave it personality, and North Florida’s light and landscape kept it grounded.”
When it came to the interiors’ style, the design team leaned into the home’s 1970 roots. “We kept some original features like the Ocala block in the guest bedrooms and the 3D brick around the fireplace in the sunken living room,” says Cox. “And we enhanced those elements by adding furniture with that feel, like a curved sofa and a shag rug.”
The ’70s vibes continue with the residence’s bold palette—green, terracotta, amber, dusty pink, rich burgundy, orange, and walnut all make appearances throughout the house in different ways. “Rather than relying on neutrals, we wanted color to function like another architectural material,” says Rector. “The palette creates continuity while allowing each room to have its own personality, and because every color shares a similar warmth, the house feels cohesive.” That warmth was enhanced by the artworks on display, which introduced vibrant blues and other unexpected shades “that created a dynamic contrast with depth and energy.”
The textures chosen also play a starring role in said depth and energy. Terrazzo, hand-glazed tiles, stained cabinetry, woven fibers, rich upholstery, and natural stone are contrasted with shiny brass, bright powder-coated metals, and copper sheeting, a mixture that adds visual interest and layering.
That penchant for mixing served the design team well when it came to the furniture selection. “Because this is a secondary residence and mostly for rotating guests, we didn’t want anything to feel too precious,” says Cox. “We splurged on a lot of the lighting and hard finishes but incorporated more accessible pieces, vintage and contemporary, into the furniture plan. That balance was important as interiors should feel collected over time.”
“Collected” is actually the ideal term for a residence where every design decision required balancing preservation with practicality to give the finished home its sense of authenticity.
“We are incredibly proud of how this project turned out,” says Rector. “It took us on a different path than the one we expected, but it helped us prove that modern Florida design can be expressive without feeling tied to trends.”
Story Credits:
Interior Design by Chelsey Cox & Rachel Rector, Chinotto House, Gainesville, FL
Construction by Doug Nesbit, Sam Kragiel & Austin Joiner, Atlantic Design Homes, Gainesville, FL
Landscape Architecture by Matt Lucas, A Beautiful Yard, Alachua, FL
Text by Florian Jouin
Photography by Frazier Springfield, Takoma Park, MD
Open to see Interior Design Sources:
Sources
Living Room
Sofa – Eternity Modern
Armchairs – Vintage, Nina Campbell, and upholstered by Coronet Fabric, Gainesville, FL
Cocktail table – All Modern
Wood drink table – CB2
Fireplace – Designed by Chinotto House, Gainesville, FL, and fabricated by Concrete Collaborative Terrazzo, and Atlantic Design Homes, Gainesville, FL
Fireplace hood – Straw and Co. Fine Custom Woodwork, Gainesville, FL
Dining Area
Oval table – Industry West
Chairs – Blu Dot
Lighting – A-N-D Lighting
Florals – Iron & Clay, Gainesville, FL
Conversational Area
Swivel club chairs – CB2
Cocktail table – Homeowners’ collection
Area rug – Beni Rugs
Kitchen
Cabinetry and island – Designed by Chinotto House, Gainesville, FL, and fabricated by Straw and Co. Fine Custom Woodwork, Gainesville, FL
Stools – Woven Shop
Pendant lighting – In Common With
Primary Bathroom
Tub – Vanity Art
Ottoman – Anthropologie
Wallcovering – Zia Tile
Primary Bedroom
Night tables – Lulu and Georgia
Pendant lighting – Luminaire Authentik
Lamps – CB2
Bench – Homeowners’ collection
Area rug – Tufenkian
Guest Bedroom
Bed and side table – Anthropologie
Lamp – Chinotto House, Gainesville, FL
Pool Deck
Sofa and chairs – CB2
Dining table – Homeowners’ collection
Chairs, chaise lounges, and umbrella – Wayfair
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