My jaw literally dropped last week when I got to see the inside of
530 Grinnell Street. I was inside the house many years ago when it was offered for sale as a "fixer". I remember the old version as being boxy, cramped, and devoid of style. The new version is open, airy, and chic.
I checked the historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned that 530 Grinnell Street first appeared in the 1889 map except it was then numbered 237 Grinnell Street. The numerical identifier was changed to 530 Grinnell Street on the 1892 map. Placement in the 1889 map tells us this house existed as of 1889 but it could have been built earlier. I found a black and white photo of 530 Grinnell Street that was taken in 1965. At first glance the outward appearance looks pretty much the same nearly fifty years later. The house today is dressed in pink with dark stained shutters and gray porch floor.
As much as the exterior looks the same today as it did decades before, the interiors are quite a different story. Just below is a "before" photo of the kitchen at 530 Grinnell Street taken a few years ago. And below that photo is a color photo taken of the kitchen today.
Remarkable, isn't it! The renovation of this cottage home was designed architect Guillermo Orozco with interiors by Blair Gordon Design. The home was award a Star by the Historic Florida Keys Foundation. The original house had small rooms for separate uses. That is the way we used to live - separate rooms for separate purposes. Today we combine spaces to provide for multiple uses. Several interior walls were removed to create open living, dining, and kitchen spaces. Old ceilings were removed to reveal double vaulted peaks which add drama and volume. All white walls, woodwork, cabinets, and counter-tops are contrasted by the dark Brazilian Ipe floors and black handles, door knobs, and window rod in master bedroom.
I remembered the old house had two bedrooms. So does the revamped version. Except the new version offers much more utility in the same amount of space. Blair Gordon created a front bedroom that offers sleeping spaces for four people. Nothing naughty going on here. The current owners have four little ones. But the sleeping accommodations would work well for the occasional guests that would spend a few nights. Each bed has a lamp for reading and built in storage just under the mattress. TVs are built in to the rear walls. Pocket doors provide privacy when required.
The master bedroom is located at the rear. Like the front bedroom, pocket doors provide privacy at night and open during the daytime. French doors at the rear open out to the Brazilian Ipe deck which seems to expand the refined interior features to the outdoors.
The new bathroom has more features than you will likely find in rooms twice the size. There is a glamorous soaking tub, shower, dual sinks with separate bases, and closet. Note the circular theme repeated throughout the room from tiles, to mirrors, and to insets on the vanities.
French doors in the kitchen and master bedroom open out to the Ipe rear deck. The deck area does not have room for a pool, but it offers refined outdoor living space.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on
530 Grinnell Street that is offered for sale at
$799,000. The furnishings are available separately. Please call me,
Gary Thomas,
305-766-2642 to arrange a private showing of this incredible award winning cottage style home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Most photos courtesy of Michael Philip at Doug Mayberry Real Estate.
