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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Artist's Retreat - 809 Virginia Street - Key West



The kewl pool at 809 Virginia Street
Just listed by Preferred Properties (that's where I work, but this is not my listing) 809 Virginia Street in Old Town Key West. If you like the avant garde, read on. The listing broker describes this unorthodox home this way:
" Completely renovated by an artist/designer, this classic Key West cigar maker's cottage has wonderful style. The living area opens to a very private pool surrounded by lush tropical foliage. French doors and windows fill the house with light from the front porch to the back of the house. Light wood floors, high ceilings, an open staircase to the loft and the two bedrooms all have the charm factor. Great old town location."
The front room
When you walk inside you kinda feel like Dorothy, only this time instead of knowing your not in Kansas, you know you are in some place very different. The front room is currently used as a bedroom and art showcase. The vaulted ceiling, blank walls, and gauze curtains unlike anything in Kansas, for sure.

A hallway leads you to the second room, a smaller bedroom, which precedes the bathroom. Then you suddenly emerge into the large rear end of the house. A big bright kitchen is to your right and a small staircase takes you to a landing where the living room soars up to the rafters. This area is bright and alive and the space is filled with the art and sculpture. If you look out the Fench doors you will see a secluded pool and deck and of course you want to go outside. But it you turn around to look down into the kitchen your eyes are drawn upward to the loft that runs a good portion of the length of the house. Now how did I miss that? Do you go out or do you stay inside? What a delicate dilemma.


The pool is lovely. It's plenty big for Key West. There is room for sunning and reading under the shade. There are bricked side yards on either side of the house. One has an outdoor shower which you will come to love if you buy a house in Key West. Really!


Back inside you see the stairway to the loft spaces. Yes, plural. The sleeping area is located toward the front. Two skylights let daytime sunlight fill this space.


It is the rear of the loft that is the big draw for this space. Look at the photo just below because it will help you understand the simplicity of design that makes this space so damned appealing both as a design element and as functional living space.


Viewed from below the vertical slats in the loft are something akin to back of a sofa or perhaps a headboard.

When we look at the same area from the other side we see a "built-in" bed or whatever-you-want-to-call-it. I sat on these fluffy pillows and came up with all kinds of fun things one could do here.

The view from the loft looking down to the kitchen and living area is so inviting.

The house has lots of niches for storing stuff or showing off possessions. No space was wasted. CLICK HERE to view a slide show of this wonderful property. You will be amazed.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls database and to view listing photos of this property. This property is offered at $699,000. If you would like to see 809 Virginia Street or any other home in Key West, please consider contacting me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Hey, don't worry about this place being too far out. It's close to everything.

6 comments:

FloridaAG said...

I live in the immediate (and I mean immediate) area of this property. Definitely interesting to see pictures of it, looks nothing like the entrance. Do you think they will be able to get this kind of price for a 1 bathroom house with a bad kitchen?

Frankly I hope so but am skeptical. Will have to wait and see what happens.

Gary Thomas said...

The kitchen is anything but 'bad'. The house only has one bathroom.
Gary

Anonymous said...

i'm familiar with the area since i rented a house down the street in march -- this looks nice, but i don't remember the "front" looking nice and the one bath is a big problem. Even if there is somewhere to add a bath or even a half bath, the permit process is a damn nightmare down there. I'm all for doing construction right, but it's now overkill. The process is suffocating the home market...and gawd help you if you need a variance...aint gonna happen. too much money for such a small house with no possibility of expansion. i don't expect you to post this. good luck to the seller.

Anonymous said...

FloridaAG needs to buy something. Not everyone is interested in their opinion.

Sorry Gary, this person is just way too much for your blog. Needs a life.

Anonymous said...

I really like this house. I could even live with the kitchen - small but kind of charming. Having only one bath, though, could be an issue. Is there any way to add another bath? What does the front of the house look like?

Gary Thomas said...

Copy and paste the url in your browser. Best I can do for the front.
http://tinyurl.com/809Virginia
I don't think there is any room for a second bath. This is a cottage home-not some big family home. The second floor loft could function as a bedroom for the occasional guest.

I have refreshed the mls link so you can see the listing photos which go away after 30 days.

Gary

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