639 United Street, Old Town - Key West

The listing agent describes 639 United Street in Key West this way:

"This beautifully renovated cottage is ideally located in the historic district of Old Town just a short stroll to Higgs Beach and upper Duval Street. The main house has two bedrooms, two baths, high ceilings, and an expansive living, dining and kitchen area perfect for entertaining. For cooks there is a gourmet kitchen with beautiful granite countertops, center island and upgraded stainless steel appliances. French doors open from the living/dining area and kitchen to the very private rear yard, lovely heated pool and guest cottage. The guest cottage is one bedroom and a bath with vaulted ceilings and French doors opening onto the landscaped backyard as well. This home has all the features today's buyer desires."

 I scrounged around in my old shoe box and found a black and white photo of 639 United Street that was taken back in 1965.  If you compare the two above photos taken fifty years apart you will notice there is an addition on the left side of the house. No longer is the front porch used as the main entry to this home. Instead, you now enter the home midway down the left side of the house where you walk into the expansive living and dining area with vaulted ceiling.

The original cottage was expanded several years ago. The front part of the house is now where the two primary bedrooms and bathrooms are located. The new addition includes the living - dining area plus the kitchen bump out and entry way. A wonderful floor to ceiling bookcase provides wonderful space to display family photos or objet d'art or whatever.  This home is currently used as the primary residence of the seller. However, this house has features many second homeowners seek including a seductive guest cottage located poolside. The living and dining area could easily be decorated with furniture and fixtures which could make good use of the bookcase and other storage built into this home.

Two entry doors flank either side of the kitchen. The door to the left provides entry from the front sidewalk while the right door provides exit to the pool. These doors mean you won't have to walk through the main house to bring in groceries or go out to the poolside grill to flip the burgers or carry out Bloody Mary mix. These are little things, but little things help define the importance of the design and space in which you live. The design here is very well conceived and executed.

The original front house is now the bedroom and bathroom area. The "front" room is now a bedroom where the door opens out to provide outdoor seating area.  That room exists into the original main hallway. The second bedroom, shown above, is located adjacent. Both bedrooms have baths.

639 United Street could become a very popular vacation rental in my opinion. It has that very much sought after quintessential Key West cottage aura. The little guest cottage in the rear is just the icing on the cake. A new owner could add a few designer tweaks to make this already charming space just pop.  This home is located a little more than two blocks from South Beach, upper Duval Street, and easy walking distance to a lot of the very good and less expensive eateries including Banana Cafe.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 639 United Street which is offered for sale at $865,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this sweet property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.