The listing Realtor, not me, describes
324 Whitehead Street in
Key West this way:
"Historic Truman Annex Naval Officers home, circa 1906, featuring 5 bedrooms
each with its own ensuite bathroom. Classic front double porches grace the
facade of this home, one of the most grandiose in Old Town Key West. Home has
been extensively restored to feature a chef's kitchen, formal sitting room,
spacious dining area, media room, and guest cottage with large indoor/ outdoor
living room not included in living square footage. Master suite boasts a
sun-filled sitting room that serves as its entrance. Spacious guest rooms and
closets throughout. Over 1000 sq. ft. covered decks and porches. Property has
off-street parking via the gated access of Truman annex, yet offers an entrance
off Whitehead Street for easy walking access."
One
of the things I love about my job is that I get to see the interiors of
some pretty incredible homes. I love to see unique cigar Cigar Maker
Cottages and Eyebrow Houses. Sometimes I find a Grand Conch or Bahama
House that is just "done to a T". I am always finding some
extraordinary architecture or interior design in the Casa Marina Area. The home at 324 Whitehead Street is and exquisite renovation and expansion of what was historically a Naval officer's
residence. Today it is a gracious private home offered for sale at
$4,495,000.
I
dug into the old shoebox and found three photos that date back to the
first part of the twentieth century that show 324 Whitehead Street. The
first (above) is an aerial photo of 324 Whitehead Street taken in the
1920s. The entire area shown in that photo was part of the US Naval
Station until the 1980s. Today much of that area is now part of the
Truman Annex. Some of the buildings shown in the top of the photo have
been razed and replaced by the Marriott Hotel and condominiums. The
middle photo shows 324 Whitehead Street in the 1930s. The bottom photo
shows the main gate to the former Naval Station which is about 100 feet
north of 324 Whitehead Street. The grandeur of the gates and the facades
of the houses let's us know that the military officers lived in style.
Wait till you see the inside.
An
iron fence and broad lawn punctuated by tall palms separates the house
from Whitehead Street. The front porch sits high off the ground and
gives a commanding view of the street. The front porch is extra wide
and runs the length of this huge house. Multiple sets of French doors
provide alternate points of entry to the home.
Unlike
modern architecture which has rooms with open spaces and sometimes
undefined purposes, this grand old house has specific rooms for specific
purposes. The front parlor with fireplace is separated from the formal
dining room by an interior sets of petite French doors. An informal
living area is located on the opposite side of the main floor front. The
extra large chef's kitchen is at the right rear.
The
attached guest cottage, pictured above, was added to the north side of the home. The bedroom with en-suite bath sits just inside the covered veranda which evokes a sense of grandeur from long ago. The veranda overlooks the pool below.
When
I arrived at the second floor landing I looked directly into the
sitting room off the master bedroom. I was taken aback. Wow! We just
don't have spaces as grand as this in Key West. The adjacent master
suite includes a fireplace and double sets of French doors that open out
to the second level front porch. What a view you have from that place.
Then I went back inside and entered the master bath. It is enormous.
There are dual pedestal sinks on opposing walls on one side. The entire
opposite wall is a custom made closet with mirrored doors that looks
like it is a hundred years old. But it isn't. A center island with
similar antiquing provides additional storage plus a coffee bar. There
are two more bedrooms on the second floor plus a third floor bed and
bath that take up the entire third floor.
 |
| Back door to the parking |
324 Whitehead Street is offered for sale at
$4,495,000.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos. If you are in the market for a truly grand home, please call me,
Gary Thomas,
305-766-2642, to see this one. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at
Preferred Properties Key West.
