718 Eisenhower Drive Key West - The Pendleton Estate

718 Eisenhower Drive in Key West was recently brought back on the market at a new and lower price, $2,475,000. Now that might seem like a really expensive property in most places - and it is even expensive by Key West's inflated market value pricing, but it is not really that expensive when you consider how much this grand old dame offers. The listing Realtor describes the property as a

"Fine example of Victorian Queen Anne architecture, built in the late 1800's, restored in 1993. Wide expansive porches wrap around the mansion overlooking a beautiful pool and tropical gardens. The 4,148 SF main house has a large central hallway, original 8 ft. pocket doors, 15 ft. ceilings, separate dining/living rooms and a large library with hand-crafted bookcases, 3bd/3ba, garage and gated parking. The guest house, the former carriage house, is 1,496 SF consisting of a 2bd/2ba guest apartment, personal gym, and pool side Florida room with bath. The estate was built by C.B. Pendleton in 1885. Mr. Pendleton was a prominent politician/newspaper editor and his home was considered one of the finest mansions in Key West in the late 1800's."

I dug into my old shoebox and found several old photos that show this house in yesteryear.  Two aerial photos show the house when the house had a waterfront view of North Beach on what was then called Salt Pond Road.  Many years later a local politico-developer filled in the beach and built condos.  (Politicians always get to do things real people cannot do. It still happens today in Key West.) The Garrison Bight Marina is now located opposite this property.

The top aerial photo was taken around 1918. The next aerial was taken in the 1920s. The 1920s photo shows the Army barracks up to the right. The big square is the old parade ground. During World War I the house at 718 Eisenhower was used as bachelor officers quarters. The brass, like the politicians, always live better than the real folk. See the photo below taken on the north side of the front porch.  The staircase is one of several that lead to the lush gardens that flank this property today. (Notice the hammock behind the young officer!)

The color photo above shows the same area about 96 years later.  This old house is as grand, or maybe even more grand, than it was over a century ago.  The house is as solid and strong as an owner could want. It has stood the test of time. The interiors reflect an era when big men built big houses to show their place in society.  The room sizes and interiors are more than impressive.

A gentleman's parlor with deep rich bookcases and trophy walls plus the kitchen complete the main level.  A massive staircase leads to the second floor where a wide hallway and a set of French doors with paladin windows open out to the second floor balcony that overlooks the water on the far side of the street. The master suite is huge. Too bad I took my peanut size camera and cannot show you how grand the spaces are.

A two story guest cottage complete with living room, dining room, kitchen, two bedrooms and a gym is located at the rear just off the swimming pool and rear gardens.  This is the perfect place for your guests or hanger-on relatives.  CLICK HERE to view more photos.

718 Eisenhower Drive is now offered at $2,475,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos.  Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this Key West grand dame.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1617 White Street - Casa Marina Estate - Key West

1617 White Street - Key West, Florida

If you are a buyer who wants to purchase an estate type property in Key West, 1617 White Street please take a few minutes to view today's blog, the attached photos, and the mls datasheet and then you will surely appreciate the newly reduced asking price of $3,750,000. This designer home with its incredible park like grounds are located one block from Higg's Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

The listing Realtor at Preferred Properties describes this property thus:

"This splendid tropical estate rests on 25013 square feet of land and extends from White Street right through to Sirugo Avenue. The completely renovated elevated residence has ocean views from the cupola and rooftop deck and a dramatic vista across the pool and lawn to the spectacular waterfall. In addition to the luxurious poolside master suite and two guest bedrooms with en suite baths, there is a charming study in the tower and a very efficient office overlooking the pool. This home was featured in the Oct. '01 issue of Architectural Digest. There is a whole-house generator and a hurricane protection system. For additional money, an adjoining property of two units having a total of 3 bedrooms,3 baths and a pool may also be purchased."

The present owner purchased the main house in 1997 and engaged local architect Tom Pope and brought in designer Thomas Achilles (who had designed other projects for the owner). The trio collaborated to transform the original house into something truly unique. The most prominent feature visible from the street is the widow's walk. Historically, widow's walks were places where sailors' wives would climb to look out to the sea to search for the returning ships.  Wireless radio made those roof top perches needless. Since the original house was only built in 1983,  the widows' walk was more a follie than a necessity when built. Yet it was this novel feature that attracted many an eye a block away at nearby Higg's Beach or at the city park across the street. The new owner and his design team expanded the widows' walk by adding a rooftop sundeck.

Sunset at Higg's Beach

The palms at the front of the residence now obscure much of the front facade and widows' walk from public view. But the widows' walk is still the most prominent feature when viewed from the back side of the property.

The owner was quoted in the Architectural Digest piece "Key West has Cuban sensuality and a Caribbean irreverence. At the same time, the island has a distinctly American individualism and a clear-stated preference for charm and history that can only be European. We tried to make sure our home blended all of these elements."

I guess I would describe the house as British Colonial Revival. The front veranda features an elaborate front door, decorative crown pediments, and double sets of windows on either side of the front entry. The interiors are rich in design and color. The designer used used a color pallet of tans, caramels, creams, and magenta that were set off by crisp white trim.

The home has 3259 sq ft of living space under air that includes formal entry, elegant living area and views to the front and rear,  three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and the roof top widows' walk with its 360 degree views of the Island of Key West. The entire property is fenced and lighted. There is bricked off street parking for several vehicles.

Although the main entry is Key West casual, you know upon entry this is not s typical Key West property. The front door opens into the entry which then expands to the right where the living room is located. That space is quite large and has multiple sitting areas. The fireplace, one of three in this home, is the focal point of this area.

The rear wall of the living room and adjacent formal dining room is actually multiple sets of French doors that open out onto the covered veranda that wraps around the rear of the home. Note the bay window effect of the French doors.

Bay window off the dining room

Fireplace on south end of the veranda

The master suite (below) has multiple sets of French doors that open out to the veranda as well.  The suite as presently configured includes a large office area which might easily become a media room, the bedroom chamber with fireplace, luxurious master bath, and an adjacent morning kitchen.

View from office

View from the master bedroom

There are two bedrooms on the second floor each of which has an en-suite bath.  And finally there is the widows' walk and sundeck which offer amazing views of the south end of the island, the nearby ocean, and the beautiful park-like garden to the rear.  Guests here will truly never want to go home.

 After completing the renovation and expansion of the main house, the owner purchased abutting properties to the rear. Existing houses were razed to expand the rear of the property where a park-like botanical garden was created complete with massive waterfall plus an nearby bandstand for large gatherings. The resulting property is an irregular rectangle that roughly measures 100 feet x 225 feet.
When you enter the home your eyes are immediately drawn through the house, past the pool and the garden to the sputtering waterfall literally located a block away. You don't see sights like that in Key West nor most places. The effect is quite dramatic.

The waterfall demands attention. It commands first time visitors to walk through the garden to the foot of pond where the water collects. While wandering toward the pool I passed a myriad varieties of fruit and citrus trees, flowering trees, and palm trees of all kinds. The garden is amazing.

Ten foot tall waterfall at the rear of the palm grove

Of course there is a huge swimming pool with its own waterfall, a Jacuzzi, an outdoor shower, a pool kitchen and pool laundry (for pool towels, of course). A sunny deck  surrounds the pool. An expansive loggia provides ample entertaining areas for many guests.  Hilary Clinton was a guest of honor at a campaign event held here a few years ago. I heard there were about five hundred supporters present.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls data sheet on this wonderful Key West property.  And CLICK HERE to view the photos I took. Please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com if you would like to see this home or obtain more information. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

1617 White Street - Key West

1617 White Street - Key West, Florida

 I recently had the opportunity to show 1617 White Street and decided to share some photos I took and offer my impressions of this incredible tropical estate that is located one block from Higg's Beach and the Atlantic Ocean.

The listing Realtor at Preferred Properties describes this property thus:

"This splendid tropical estate rests on 25013 square feet of land and extends from White Street right through to Sirugo Avenue. The completely renovated elevated residence has ocean views from the cupola and rooftop deck and a dramatic vista across the pool and lawn to the spectacular waterfall. In addition to the luxurious poolside master suite and two guest bedrooms with en suite baths, there is a charming study in the tower and a very efficient office overlooking the pool. This home was featured in the Oct. '01 issue of Architectural Digest. There is a whole-house generator and a hurricane protection system. For additional money, an adjoining property of two units having a total of 3 bedrooms,3 baths and a pool may also be purchased."

The present owner purchased the main house in 1997 and engaged local architect Tom Pope and brought in designer Thomas Achilles (who had designed other projects for the owner). The trio collaborated to transform the orignal house into something truly unique. The most prominent feature visible from the street is the widow's walk. Historically, widow's walks were places where sailors' wives would climb to look out to the sea to search for the returning ships.  Wireless radio made those roof top perches needless. Since the original house was only built in 1983,  the widows' walk was more a follie than a necessity when built. Yet it was this novel feature that attracted many an eye a block away at nearby Higg's Beach or at the city park across the street. The new owner and his design team expanded the widows' walk by adding a rooftop sundeck.
 The palms at the front of the residence now obscure much of the front facade and widows' walk from public view. But the widows' walk is still the most prominent feature when viewed from the rear.

The owner was quoted in the Architectural Digest piece "Key West has Cuban sensuality and a Caribbean irreverence. At the same time, the island has a distinctly American individualism and a clear-stated preference for charm and history that can only be European. We tried to make sure our home blended all of these elements."
I guess I would describe the house as British Colonial Revival. The front veranda features an elaborate front door, decorative crown pediments, and double sets of windows on either side of the front entry. The interiors are rich in design and color. The designer used used a color pallet of tans, caramels, creams, and magenta that were set off by crisp white trim. 
 The home has 3259 sq ft of living space under air that includes formal entry, elegant living area and views to the front and rear,  three bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths, and the roof top widows' walk with its 360 degree views of the Island of Key West. The entire property is fenced and lighted. There is bricked off street parking for several vehicles.
Although the main entry is Key West casual, you know upon entry this is not s typical Key West property. The front door opens into the entry which then expands to the right where the living room is located. That space is quite large and has multiple sitting areas. The fireplace, one of three in this home, is the focal point of this area.

The rear wall of the living room and adjacent formal dining room is actually multiple sets of French doors that open out onto the covered veranda that wraps around the rear of the home. Note the bay window effect of the French doors.

Bay window off the dining room

Fireplace on south end of the veranda

The master suite (below) has multiple sets of French doors that open out to the veranda as well.  The suite as presently configured includes a large office area which might easily become a media room, the bedroom chamber with fireplace, luxurious master bath, and an adjacent mini kitchen. 

View from office

View from the master bedroom

There are two bedrooms on the second floor each of which has an en-suite bath.  And finally there is the widows' walk and sundeck which offer amazing views of the south end of the island, the nearby ocean, and the beautiful park-like garden to the rear.  Guests here will truly never want to go home.

 After completing the renovation and expansion of the main house, the owner purchased abutting properties to the rear. Existing houses were razed to expand the rear of the property where a park-like botanical garden was created complete with massive waterfall plus an nearby bandstand for large gatherings. The resulting property is an irregular rectangle that roughly measures 100 feet x 225 feet.
When you enter the home your eyes are immediately drawn through the house, past the pool and the garden to the sputtering waterfall literally located a block away. You don't see sights like that in Key West nor most places. The effect is quite dramatic.

The waterfall demands attention. It commands first time visitors to walk through the garden to the foot of pond where the water collects. While wandering toward the pool I passed a myriad varieties of fruit and citrus trees, flowering trees, and palm trees of all kinds. The garden is amazing.

Ten foot tall waterfall at the rear of the palm grove

Of course there is a huge swimming pool with its own waterfall, a Jacuzzi, an outdoor shower, a pool kitchen and pool laundry (for pool towels, of course). A sunny deck  surrounds the pool. An expansive loggia provides ample entertaining areas for many guests.  Hilary Clinton was a guest of honor at a campaign event held here a few years ago. I heard there were about five hundred supporters present.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls data sheet on this wonderful Key West property.  And CLICK HERE to view the photos I took. I can't take much pride in these pics. It was my first time with a new Nikon and I didn't do as well as I planned.