{{Short description|American real estate, design executive (born 1962)}} {{Infobox person | name = Randy Florke | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1962|12|17}} | birth_place = Iowa, U.S. | occupation = Real estate and design executive | spouse = {{Marriage|Sean Patrick Maloney|June 21, 2014}} | children = 3 }}

'''Randy Florke''' (born December 19, 1962) is an American real estate and design executive specializing in country style. He is the owner of a real estate business, The Rural Connection, based in Sullivan County, New York and has written books on interior design.

== Early life and career == Florke was born on a farm in Iowa to a family of German descent.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Grynbaum|first=Michael M.|date=2014-07-03|title=A Relationship Where Marriage is Freedom|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/06/fashion/weddings/a-relationship-where-marriage-is-freedom.html|access-date=2022-02-14|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He graduated from Washington High School in 1981.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-06-15 |title=WHS alum Florke to be at Book Vine Saturday |url=https://www.chronicletimes.com/story/1735534.html |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Cherokee Chronicle Times |language=en |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625132609/https://www.chronicletimes.com/story/1735534.html |archive-date=June 25, 2011}}</ref> Florke moved to New York City at the age of eighteen to model and enroll in a fashion course.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> He later started a real estate business, The Rural Connection, which sells homes in Sullivan County, New York. Florke has written articles for ''Country Living''. He has authored books on interior design.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Forgrave|first=Reid|date=2005-10-14|title='Green Acres' style in New York|pages=44|work=The Times Recorder|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94917602/green-acres-style-in-new-york/|access-date=2022-02-14}}</ref>

A spring 2007 profile in ''O, The Oprah Magazine'' reported that Florke, a decorator and author, manages six houses and owned a brokerage business and construction company.<ref>{{cite web|date=Spring 2007|title=Home Suite Home|url=http://www.oprah.com/home/Home-Suite-Home/1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507093240/http://www.oprah.com/home/Home-Suite-Home/1|archive-date=May 7, 2013|access-date=May 21, 2013|work=Oprah}}</ref> Florke starred in an A&E reality show about his real estate business.<ref name=":1" />

== Personal life == Florke has been with his husband Sean Patrick Maloney since 1992, when they met in New York City, where Maloney was helping plan the Democratic National Convention. They have adopted three children<ref name="Family">{{cite web|title=Sean Patrick Maloney profile|url=http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/maloney_sean_patrick.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219073409/http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/maloney_sean_patrick.html|archive-date=February 19, 2014|access-date=May 19, 2013|work=GLBTQ}}</ref> and live in Cold Spring, New York. Florke and Maloney became engaged on December 25, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reilly|first=Mollie|date=January 14, 2014|title=Dem Congressman Announces Engagement To Same-Sex Partner|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sean-maloney-engaged_n_4595995|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222171808/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sean-maloney-engaged_n_4595995|archive-date=December 22, 2020|access-date=December 4, 2020|website=HuffPost}}</ref> They married in Cold Spring on June 21, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schutzman|first=Nina|date=June 22, 2014|title=Rep. Maloney marries longtime partner|work=Poughkeepsie Journal|url=http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/06/22/maloney-marries-longtime-partner/11235815/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=|access-date=June 22, 2014}}</ref>

== Selected works ==

* {{Cite book|last=Florke|first=Randy|title=Country Living Your House, Your Home: Randy Florke's Decorating Essentials|last2=Becker|first2=Nancy Jane|date=2005|publisher=Hearst Books|isbn=978-1-58816-411-7|language=en}} * {{Cite book|last=Florke|first=Randy|title=Restore. Recycle. Repurpose: Create a Beautiful Home|last2=Becker|first2=Nancy Jane|date=2010|publisher=Hearst Books|isbn=978-1-58816-769-9|language=en}} * {{Cite book|last=Florke|first=Randy|title=Country Living Simple Sustainable Style: Ways to Make a House Your Home|last2=Becker|first2=Nancy J.|date=2012|publisher=Hearst Books|isbn=978-1-61837-052-5|language=en}}

== References == {{reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Florke, Randy}} Category:Living people Category:Businesspeople from Iowa Category:Businesspeople from New York City Category:American real estate brokers Category:American businesspeople in construction Category:American LGBTQ businesspeople Category:American gay writers Category:LGBTQ people from Iowa Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state) Category:People from Cold Spring, New York Category:21st-century American male writers Category:Writers from New York (state) Category:Gay businessmen Category:American people of German descent Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:1962 births