I have been to the home at
1517 Washington Street in
Key West several times over the years, but it was just yesterday that I returned for a visit on Realtor Caravan. This home is owned by a fellow Realtor and his partner, a local architect. They bought the house in 2011 and totally reinvented the space while saving and preserving the very essence of this Mid Century Classic. Millions of similar homes were built across America in the early 1950s. How many of those homest of the past looks so perfect today?
The top photo was taken in 2011 when the house was listed for sale. The previous owners had raised their family in this three bedroom home. They had updated it a bit over the years, replaced the kitchen, and screened in the back porch. The home sat on a 4698 sq ft lot with a 50.25' frontage with 93.5' in length. The house had been very well maintained over the years and the yard had what Realtors call "potential". The second photo shows the soon after the renovation was completed. The last photo shows the front today with matured but minimal landscaping.
The twilight view sets the stage for today's discussion of this home. There are several items to consider. Not the round ceramic tile under the light fixture. The Historic Florida Keys Foundation awarded the owners the 2012 Historic Preservation Award. (Consider this: I was five years old when this house was built in 1952. Houses younger than I are considered historic. I have another birthday coming up in a week. Dang.)
Large tiles lead across the low maintenance enclosed yard. The new wind impact windows and doors are trimmed in dark metal creating a subtle department from Home Depot aluminum products. It is, however, the cleanness of design that lets us know we are ready for a treat.
The owners transformed the former semi-enclosed front porch into a home office. The original Cuban Tile floors were professionally restored. They are stunning. (I was in Paris in September and went to several home resource stores. Cuban tiles are being used there in new projects. Don't assume something "old" has no use in modern design. )
The original house had the same basic room layout and configuration but it did not look like this update. The Florida red cypress ceilings add texture to the clean white walls and contrast to the bluish-gray Cuban tile floors. It works well.
The master bedroom and bath is stunning in its simplicity. The custom teak bed and closet "Wow" visitors when they enter the room. A new bath was added off the bedroom where daytime light makes showering seem like being outside. There is, however, an outdoor shower as well. We Key Westers love our outdoor showers.
The design features from the front and interior follow out to the updated rear where the old screened in porch has become an open extension of the living area. We spend so much time outside that it is important to make that space as equally inviting as the inside. They did that right! There is room for a pool and drawings exist to show a new owner exactly what can be built.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and listing photos of
1517 Washington Street Key West offered at
$1,075,000. Then please call me,
Gary Thomas,
305-766-2642, to show you this lovely home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at
Preferred Properties Key West. What a Christmas present this could be. Past made Perfect!
