I Sell Real Houses in Key West

Prices are rising, sellers are getting greedy again, and the dream of buying a place in Key West may start to fade for those who waited too long.

Instead of buying a big house (or small cottage) you might consider purchasing the next best thing: a reproduction of a real Key West home. Consider the 718 Eaton Street's look-a-like home shown above. It is the creation of local artist Ronny Bailey who I have blogged about before.


Ronny grew up in Key West and was a carpenter for 30 years. His re-creation of Old Town Key West homes in miniature sizes is now his passion. He beams with pride as he talks about his work. This is a man in love with his life and his work. And his work is a testament to his love of the place that he has called home. He loves the Key West of yore and recreates houses the way they looked before the gentrification and HARC-ifornication.

Ronny brought his latest masterpiece to my office a couple of days ago. He smiled a big smile as I photographed this glorious piece of art. The house real house is located at 718 Eaton Street. It is located next door to the former house known as the Calvin Klein House. The home next door to the east was featured in the Cuba Gooding, Jr. movie A Murder of Crows that was filmed in Key West in 1998. Rent it you want to see Key West on film. The film was pretty lame if you ask me.

I scrounged around the old shoe box and found a 1965 photo of 718 Eaton Street and then went over yesterday and took a pic from a similar angle. Compare the house of yore with the home of today. Ronny did a pretty good job if you ask me.

718 Eaton Street was built in 1850

718 Eaton Street as it appears in 2012

718 Eaton Street (the real house) is not for sale!

Ronny's reproductions always include miniaturized household items and sometimes depictions of animals. Each wood carving will include the words love, joy, and peace.


CLICK HERE to visit Ronny's FACEBOOK page.

If you are looking for a life size house, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. I sell real houses. They sometimes cost a lot of money. But you can really live in them. CLICK HERE to search the Key West mls. If you see a place you like, please call me. Thanks.

The Calvin Klein House - 712 Eaton Street -- One of Key West's Premier Signature Homes

Before it became known as the Calvin Klein House, it was the home of Angelo Donghia. Donghia was an internationally famous designer in the 1970s and 1980's whose clients included Ivana and Donald Trump, Barbara Walters, Diana Ross, Mary Tyler Moore, Halston, Ralph Lauren and Neil Simon. Donghia preserved the eccentric—and now famous—octagon house which he purchased for $45,000 in 1976 and decorated it in simply with rattan furniture and white canvas coverings. He sold it in on January 1, 1981 for $975,000 to Calvin Klein. Klein sold it on September 1, 1986 for $400,000. (Source: Monroe County Clerk Public Records.) And in the beginning, the Octagon House at 712 Eaton Street in Old Town Key West was built around 1885 for Richard Peacon, the town grocer.

No matter whose house it is called, the manse at 712 Eaton was just listed for sale at the price of $3,490,000. The listing broker describes the house this way: "Soaring ceiling heights, Dade County Pine walls & floors, spacious rooms and huge porches everywhere make this property truly remarkable. This comfortable & casual home offers three or four bedrooms, three baths & meandering brick pathways throughout a lushly landscaped enormous lot. Relax & entertain by your over sized pool & Jacuzzi. Off street parking for 3 cars. All in the heart of Old Town!"

The photos to the right are of the house as it appears today with the exception of the interior shot. That is how Angelo Donghia had it decorated when he owned it. CLICK HERE for more photos and details on this one of a kind house.

I would love to show you this house--if it is in your price range, that is. But if you are looking for something a little less expensive, we've got a lot of those these days. CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtors MLS database. If you see a property that you like, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or email me at kw1101v@aol.com.