The Key West Garden Cottage

The Key West Garden Cottage is located at 526 Southard Street, just steps east of my office. It is owned by Dominique Barrera and Laurie McChesney (both of Preferred Properties). A couple of years ago they converted the former real estate offices into a shop that could offer one of a kind items for home or garden including fountains, lattice work, benches, mirrors, fences and gates, as well as hard to find or limited editions of special home and garden items that you will likely not find anywhere else. There are also vintage and new treasures for the home or garden. And of course there are gifts and mementos unlike the kind you'll find at a dozen stores on Duval Street.

Come by, sit down, relax, converse. You are sure to find something that you absolutely cannot live without.

Starting today all holiday items are 50% off the regular price. If you aren't in town right now, make a note to stop by on your next visit and mention that you read about The Key West Garden Cottage in my blog and you will receive 10% off your next purchase. Hours are 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. Or shop online at Key West Garden Cottage.

And if you want to buy a house to go with your new found treasures, my office is located steps away at 520 Southard Street in Old Town Key West.

A Dream Come True - 920 Cornish Lane - Old Town - Key West

I was showing a guest house to a potential buyer last weekend. I told the gent that people that stay in guest houses sit on the front porch and dream about what it would be like to live in Key West. He replied "I did that this morning." Some people buy places that are in move-in condition. Others buy places and undertake a big renovation project to turn the dream into reality. Such is the case for the little cottage home at 920 Cornish Lane in Old Town Key West.


The listing Realtor describes this Cornish Lane cottage home this way:

"Extraordinary attention to detail made this ground-up restoration the winner of the prestigious Historic Florida Keys Foundation Ceramic Star for 2010, awarded to only the most meticulous of historic renovations. The quality throughout this exquisite Conch cottage will appeal to the most discriminating buyer who settles for nothing less than the very best. Main house has master bedroom with ensuite bath, a 2nd bedroom/office with no closet and a sleeping loft (square footage not included). The back yard has an inground water feature and a separate outdoor dining area along with wonderful landscaping."

Cornish Lane is located between Fleming St and Southard St on Grinnell

920 Cornish Lane

I wrote about the slow lanes of Key West a couple of months ago and mentioned Cornish Lane. There are only a couple of houses on this lane. It's a small lane. Few tourists ever venture down the narrow lane, but if they did they would see this absolutely charming cottage that looks like something out of a magazine. The place was recently totally renovated. So I doubt a new owner will have little to do as far as "fixing".

This 988 sq ft house is practically brand new from the foundation to the ridge cap as it was built to all current South Florida building codes and hurricane compliance. Everything is new in the house, with the exception of the Dace County Pine sheathing on the interior walls and sistered roof rafters. That includes new foundation piers (keeps the old wall straight), new framing using pressure treated lumber, hurricane strapping and tie down of structure into foundation piers, new metal roof, all new electric, plumbing, and HVAC, on demand propane hot water heater (I have one and it is great), plus interior features that replicate the historic style of the period. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet.

Imagine sitting out back in the still of the night pondering the meaning of life while your friends up north are freezing their behinds off.

Azur is located on Grinnell at Fleming Street

Michael's Restaurant is the place for steak

If you bought this cottage home you would be located within easy walking distance of many local eateries. You could walk up to the corner of Grinnell and Southard to Five Brothers for your morning coffee or lunchtime Cuban mix sandwich. On Sunday walk half a block north to Azul (corner of Grinnell and Fleming Streets) and enjoy your Sunday Brunch with Key Lime Stuffed French Toast and Tw0-For-One Mimosas. That night you could walk over to Mangia Mangia for some cheap pasta or Michael's Restaurant for a great (but not cheap) steak. Cornish Lane is close to where you want to go but far enough away from the commotion on Duval.

920 Cornish Lane is offered at $735,000. If you are looking for a dream house and don't want to go through months and months of living through a renovation, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to set up a showing of this lovely cottage home. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Turn your dream into your reality.

1123 Von Phister Street - Casa Marina Area Cottage - Key West

1123 Von Phister Street - Casa Marina Area - Key West

Just listed by Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. (that's where I work but this is not my listing) 1123 Von Phister Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. The listing agent describes this property this way:

"This lovely 2/2 Conch cottage is located on a quiet street in the desirable Casa Marina neighborhood. Some of the home features include a living room with cathedral ceiling, kitchen with granite countertops, two french doors (one off the of master bedroom), two patios plus a covered porch to enjoy the excellent outdoor living that Key West has to offer. Property is set back from the street for additional privacy."

The cottage sits behind a white picket fence to the rear of the 36' x 94' (3404 sq ft) lot. The cottage has 854 sq ft of living space plus decks. The Monroe County public records show the house was built in 1938, but we know that was during the Great Depression. Other larger houses in this particular block were built in 1906 and 1907. I suspect this cottage was built some time prior to 1938. Public records also show that the house was updated in 2000. Offered at just $595,000.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on this property. Better yet, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a showing of this home. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West.

Back to Nature - 811 Carey Lane - Key West

811 Carey Lane - Old Town - Key West

I have written about 811 Carey Lane before. It really is one of my very favorite homes in Old Town. There is something so quaint, so cool, so unassuming, and so welcoming that just about anyone will feel at home. The house is nested under some very large trees that give it a protected feeling. It is located on a quiet lane removed from the hubub of Key West and yet it near everything.

A few years back another owner got permission to change the street address from Carsten Lane to Carey Lane in part so that a potential new owner would be able to add a pool to the area on the north side of the house which at that time was the front side of the property. (You basically can't build pools in your front yard in Old Town.) Carey Lane (the street or lane on the rear) is one of the very best addresses in all of Old Town, so the change of street address was a positive change for this property. But neither the prior owner nor the current owner installed a pool. The space awaits its final fate.

The listing Realtor describes 811 Carey Lane this way:

" Located in an area of high end properties, this charming home has an exceptional location on one of Key West's most desirable lanes. You'll find peaceful tranquility and the Key West ambiance you're looking for in this home. Open living and renovated kitchen, dining room, good storage, outdoor shower, covered porch for lounging and lovely gardens complete with inground hot tub. House opens beautifully to the outdoor areas. Architectural plans for 2nd story addition available. Fall in love with this fun and artistic quintessial Key West cottage."

The covered porch allows gracious outdoor living space

Remove the brick pavers and add a pool

The ceilings in the living room and kitchen & dining area show off the historic wood shingles. Metal shingles cover the old wood shingles, of course. The wood shingles add so much character to this living space. The doors are always open which visually expands the interior living space. And the outside of this particular house is so comforting that the comfy-cozy outside permeates into the inside.

One of the two bedrooms

Notice the outdoor shower? Back to Nature!

This great cottage style home is offered at just $589,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet. And CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this property. If you would like to see 811 Carey Lane, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. You might agree that this is the place where you could get back to Nature.

627 Elizabeth Street - OldTown - Key West

The bright and cheery Cigar Maker Cottage at 627 Elizabeth Street sits near the tippy-top of Solares Hill, the highest spot on the Island of Key West. The home was meticulously renovated and received a Certificate of Excellence and a Silver Star for Renovation in 2010. It is as clean as a whistle and ready for new owners to bring their tooth brushes and flip flops. Not much else to do here but sit back and enjoy the good life in Old Town Key West.

627 Elizabeth Street is a genuine quintessential Key West Cottage

I have written before about this lovely home and do so again now that it has been recently re listed. The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Opportunity knocks.This totally remodeled home was awarded the Cert. of Excellence and a Silver Star for 2010. You will feel the attention to details from the moment you step inside. The entire house has Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors. A 2-storey addition was added and there is central HVAC throughout the house. All rooms a wired with cat5 cable for phones and computers. A salt-system, heated pool with a waterfall was installed, and a propane valve is available for your backyard grill. The kitchen has all stainless steel appliances.The house is located at the intersection of Elizabeth and Angela Street. This is the highest point on the Island and flood insurance is not required. Furniture may be purchased separately."

The renovation included major structural improvements that will outlast all of us. Those improvements permitted the owners to edit the traditional approach of room configuration and ceiling heights in cigar maker homes. So what you think you know about a house that looks like this probably is not what you will actually see. The living room is at the rear and has a large vaulted ceiling and wonderful built-ins. The stairway to the second floor master bed and bath is dainty and ever-so-charming.

The home has a very elegant but not overstated feel once you enter. Every detail has been attended to but not in such a way as to make you feel uncomfortable. Some houses come across as being so "done" that you don't fell you can sit down. Not here. This home was made for sophisticated but also relaxed living.

Two bedrooms with a shared Jack and Jill bath are located at the front of the house. A guest bath is tucked in the hallway just off the living room with its vaulted two story ceiling. The kitchen with French doors that open onto the pool at the back occupies most the space at the rear but there is a darling staircase that takes you up to the second floor rear master bedroom and with en suite bath.

The asking price on 627 Elizabeth Street was just reduced to $935,000 or $684 per sq ft. This home has 1367 sq ft of totally remodeled space with superior finishes throughout. The wood floors, for example, are solid wood and not some el cheapo laminate. Everything is done just right. The second floor front window is even wired for placement of an electric "candle light" for the Christmas holidays. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet and to view listing photos.

I think this is a great house and I would really like to show you this property if you are looking for the perfect Key West Cottage. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this home. I am a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.