In the early 80's, when Rob Florez approached his brother Mike about moving to North Carolina's Outer Banks, Mike's apprehension for his younger brother was understandably justified. In those days the Outer Banks was somewhat less than a boomtown, and although property sales and vacation rentals were a thriving entity, never-the-less work for an aspiring residential home designer was sparse at best.

In spite of Mike's advice against relocation, Rob quit his job with the established architectural firm where he and Mike were employed, packed his bags and headed south. After several weeks searching the local classifieds, Rob found himself a position as the in-house designer for one of the Outer Banks most up and coming builders. It wasn't long before the Florez design influence was turning heads, and the ensuing freelance business was through the roof. (No pun intended) Soon Mike Florez found himself spending every weekend and holiday at the beach, helping his brother with the freelance work that now was overwhelming the young designer. "I'll never forget the day," beams Mike, "that I shrugged off the same advice I had given Rob just a few years earlier, now being offered to me by my employer, and followed my brother south. I often wonder from time to time, if we ever cross that wise old gentleman's mind, as a source of whimsical pride, or perhaps a deep-seeded regret for not seizing a moment in his young life to take a chance and live the adventure"

In the earlier years, the designs were somewhat modest and simpler in configuration. But as interest in vacation property increased, so did the cost of that property, as well as the size and sophistication of the homes being built. Now well entrenched into the mainstream, the Florez & Florez Design Firm was there to seize the opportunity. Each project contracted brought newer levels of space innovation and creative structural design, deeply influenced by the natural coastal environment that had attracted them here, just a few years prior. Today the Florez brothers are credited with virtually redefining finer home design on the Outer Banks most prestigious North Beaches, and their influence can be seen throughout the entire eastern seaboard.