1104 South Street, Key West, Florida

One of the joys of living in the Casa Marina Area of Key West is driving home down uncontested streets lined with giant palm trees and mahogany trees.  I often see locals walking their dogs or tourists on bikes touring the area pointing out houses that they wish they someday could call home. Some of the houses sit back from the street behind expansive lawns while others are hidden behind six foot tall privacy walls. There are a smattering of 1960 vintage CBS houses left that have not been touched. While Casa Marina Court, Johnson Street, and Flagler Avenue have curbs and gutters, the rest of the area retains its original almost rural charm where yards and driveways extend out to the street. The architecture varies throughout the area and ranges from Grand Conch houses to mid-century modern to avant garde 21st Century.

Each block in the Casa Marina area is different - there's nothing cookie cutter about this part of town. The new listing at 1104 South Street was designed and built in 1999 by Kum Kee Fu an international architect who built three homes in Key West. This home sits adjacent to 1100 South Street, the bungalow Ernest Hemingway lived when he completed A Farewell to Arms. The two houses could not be any more different in style or construction. Both have merit in their own right. A prior owner added a brick veneer that now covers the original wood on the Hemingway bungalow. 1104 South Street by contrast is recent construction with a contemporary style. You can't tell exactly what is there, however, because the front almost seems to be a carriage house, but you intuitively know there is more to this place which cannot be seen from the street. It is that privacy that makes this place so precious.

Guests enter the home through double doors which lead through an outdoor hallway where water gently falls over the rocks on either side. The Trex deck foot path splits and leads either to the pool at the east or to the main entrance to the west. Take one step, turn left, and be prepared to be awed.

The living room has multiple architectural features that make this space so intriguing. They include the pyramid ceiling under which are clerestory windows over either French doors, interior passages, or windows all which add light and spatial interest to the space. The long black pool is located opposite the French doors. The deck from the front walkway turns south and flanks the living room and adjacent library and dining room both of which have French doors and clerestory windows.

 The dining area is just plain stunning.  It is so simple. It is so grand!  The cathedral ceiling mimics the style of the living room but on a much smaller scale. If you look at the reflection in the mirror above you'll see a metal spiral staircase that leads to the second floor rear guest bedroom. You'll also see that spiral staircase from the kitchen window. And what a kitchen this home has. It also simple but grand as well. Sometimes things that are understated appear much more important because they don't clamor for attention: they earn respect just by their being.

The second floor rear bedroom packs a lot of punch for a small space. You enter the space off a small balcony. Like the grand living room and smaller dining area, this room has a cathedral ceiling as well. You'll quickly notice the bath, hall closet, and a door that leads to a rear second floor balcony where you could get that all-over Key West tan in total privacy. I had not seen this space in years when I took the photos for today's blog. I was so excited about this space because it oozes charm!

The second guest bedroom is located on the main living level to the rear of the living room. The efficient room is large enough to accommodate a Stairmaster, bed, two chests with table lamps, a side chair and reading light. If it were any larger, the guests would never leave.

The biggest surprise I had when photographing this house was the renovated master bedroom. Entrance is through a pocket door just off the main entry. A staircase leads up to what was previously a guest apartment over the two garages.  The bedroom and bathroom each occupy the same amount of space. The result is two dramatic spaces.  

French doors from the bedroom and bathroom open out to separate balconies.  The bathroom has a separate W/C and shower. There's room for a coffee bar which is something I'd probably add. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this wonderful home.

The house has 2412 sq ft of living space. The lot is 44' wide by 112' deep or 4974.66 sq ft in area. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet for 1104 South Street which is offered at $2,145,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule an appointment to see this special Key West home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. You just may fall for this house. I'm sure you'll fall for the Casa Marina Area.  

1503 Washington Street, Key West

Dear Reader, I planned to write a new blog on our listing at 1503 Washington Street. But when I looked through what I previously penned I decided not to change it. While the references to the Christmas in Connecticut movie may be corny, they are real nonetheless.  This home has lots of personality and plenty of space for family living and gracious entertaining. Below: a reprise.

Shortly after I arrived at 1503 Washington Street to take photos for today's blog, I fell in love with this home and garden that was decorated to the nines to celebrate the Christmas season.  At first I wandered through the front, side, and rear yards checking out the gardens, fountains, ponds, and babbling brook that make this Key West home like no other. At the rear I spotted St Nick peeking inside the house alongside a 13 foot tall Christmas tree.  I took a peek as well and saw a home decked out for a Christmas party. I went inside and recognized this home was designed for both entertaining and easy family living.  When I saw the wraparound piano bar, I remembered a scene from my favorite Christmas movie - Christmas in Connecticut - where Barbara Stanwyck and her beau sang while she trimmed the Christmas tree.  I thought to myself about buyers who could choose between freezing their rears off in Connecticut or tanning their backsides in Key West.  Key West wins every time.

Barbara and her little stole have been replaced by a silent butler with fur wrap that sets the mood for Christmas cheer at 1503 Washington Street. The main level of this home includes the formal entry, the removable piano bar - living area, dining area, guest bath, kitchen, den, and informal dining area. The Connecticut home has a grand two story entry.  The Key West home has an equally impressive entry which features Brazilian walnut entry doors.

 

The den or family room opens into the informal dining area and kitchen.  These spaces are the way modern families live as opposed to boxed in spaces like we see the Connecticut home, grand as it was, it is a relic in time. The Key West home even has a modern day fireplace. Personally, I like the fireplace in the Connecticut house a bit more, but at least this home has fireplace. The Connecticut house has a bar whereas the Key West house has a wine storage closet. And the Key West home an outdoor kitchen - something unheard of in Connecticut in the wintertime.  Many homes in Key West have outdoor living spaces and kitchens.  This is how we live no matter the season. At Christmastime when our relatives up north are wearing sweaters and wraps and wallowing in the snow, we can go to the beach in the daytime and dine outside at night.  

 

The pool, gardens, and pond wrap the house like Christmas wrapping paper. Everything is tied up with a cute bow. This home has a carport that is currently used as a semi-office. The second and third photos below show the inside of the "carport".  (There is a second garage on the opposite side of the front.) You can hear the babbling brook through the louvers at the front of the enclosure. You would be amazed at this space. 

The second floor includes a large master suite at the rear, a guest bedroom, an office which could easily become a bedroom, guest bath, a library, a laundry room, an ironing room, and a library. You won't find many houses in Key West that have this much attention to detail as this home.

Real work gets done in the office at 1503 Washington Street. A buyer who wants a home office won't need to be too creative to move right in and set up shop.  Maybe mergers and acquisitions got done in Connecticut. I will bet people who live in the cold north will jump at the chance to move their home office to Key West.

CLICK HERE to view more photos of 1503 Washington Street.

1503 Washington Street is listed by Preferred Properties Key West. That is where I work but this is not my listing.  This home has 2845 sq ft of living space situated on a 4698 sq ft lot. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this home that is offered at $1,999,999.  Better than looking at photos, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this wonderful Key West property.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. If you buy this home, you will have a Key West home by Christmas this year.