614 Frances Street, Key West - Sophisticaed Renovation

Just Listed, but not by me, 614 Frances Street, Key West. This freshly renovated home is located on one of the very best blocks in Old Town. The former top selling Realtor in Key West dubbed Frances Street "the Park Avenue of Key West". When you sit on the front porch and look across the street at the two large homes that extend one entire block to the rear, you may agree this is a high society location.

The listing Realtor, not me, describes this 1700 sq ft home this way:

"A stunning combination of classic Old Town charm with a head-to-toe remodeling gives you the best of both worlds all on coveted Frances Street. Every benefit of renovated living - from new floors, electric, plumbing, roof, windows, doors, air conditioning to everything in between - including vaulted ceilings, fully insulated walls and impact-resistant Euro-designer folding doors that open to a newly constructed pool and private covered patio. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths - including a spacious master suite with in-suite bath - provide ample comfort all on one level. Stay high and dry in the heart of Old Town in the desirable X-flood zone. The home also features 2-car off-street parking and a lovely guest cottage. It's the total package for anyone seeking the best in Key West living on a corner lot (off of a quiet lane) in a sophisticated neighborhood."

1965

2009

2009

2016

I dug into my old shoe box and found a photo dated 1965 that shows how 614 Frances Street looked then. If you look carefully you may agree with me that the base of the front porch appears to be cement which suggests the porch was not original because the porches on most historic homes were wood. The flat and boxy roof looks more like a 1950s addition than something that would have been a part of the original house. I then checked the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and determined the house first appeared on the 1892 Map. The 1889 map did not show any houses on Frances Street between Southard  to Olivia. I am confident many houses did exist but were omitted from the map. The two color photos dated 2009 show a different styled roof with pseudo-Victorian thingamajigs added. The 2016 photo shows the freshly renovated home with a crisp white facade, new roof with historically correct metal shingles, and a white picket fence. There is off street parking located to the left. The main entry is tucked on the right side just off Roberts Lane. This little lane adds separation and privacy from the small enclave of houses located there.

As a practical matter an owner would probably park the car and enter the house on the south or kitchen side. Guests would likely enter from the Roberts Lane entrance on the north whereupon they would walk into the large living area with vaulted ceiling. Most of the ceilings in the home are vaulted and have recessed lighting. New wood floors were added to all of the house except the bathrooms. The historic Dade County Pine wall boards were removed from the living room and master bedroom. New insulation was added throughout the house together with all new electric service, plumbing, and air conditioning. The Dade County Pine was planed and reinstalled creating what I like to call "drama walls". I think a new owner could use very contemporary furnishings or look backward and use over-stuffed furniture as well. The kitchen cabinetry, counter tops, and back splash are uber chic. There are abundant windows and doors that bring lots of light into the communal living spaces.

The listing Realtor describes the impact glass doors as Euro. They look like Nano door systems to me. Whatever they are, they look great - especially the folding living room doors that fold back and let the outdoors merge with the indoors. The waterfall pool is a new addition to this home. Newly planted tropical foliage will soon fill in and provide more privacy for the pool area. The little cottage to the south was totally updated. It has a separate bath and closet. It would definitely work well as a writer's cottage, private gym or yoga studio, or a bedroom for a teen who like to listen to loud music.

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The main house has three bedrooms. A center hallway leads from the living area to the master bedroom which is located in the front building of this saw tooth home. The original front door opens out to what is now a private porch looking out to Frances Street. What a delightful little area this is.  I must add that I was really impressed by the quality of the workmanship and the materials used in this renovation. There is a lot of attention to detail throughout this house.

Both guest bedrooms have vaulted ceilings which reflect the soaring heights of the saw tooth construction. You'd never think the bedroom space above is located in an house that is perhaps 125 years old. But it is. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this home.

614 Frances Street is offered for sale at $1,950,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  This old house may the home to our new future.

1104 South Street - The Casa Marina Area - Key West

You know the saying "You can't judge a book by its cover". Well in Key West real estate you often cannot tell how incredible a house is by the view from the street. The home at 1104 South Street presents a simple facade. If you are just driving by, you might think the house sits above the garage blow. And you would be wrong.  Passers by have no idea how magical the house is behind the facade.

Two glass panel doors at the front driveway open to a entry where water drips down flagstone walls and delivers you to an intersecting exterior walkway that leads to the main entry or alternately to the pool and garden area. The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"With a pleasing but unassuming exterior, this house is a dramatic surprise inside. Entrance is through a long cool breezeway with trickling water walls on either side. This leads to a series of interconnected pavilions with soaring cathedral ceilings and walls of French doors. The huge living room, spacious dining room, kitchen and study surround an intimate courtyard with lushly landscaped swimming pool. The secluded master suite has four walls of windows and several inviting balconies. There is a bedroom suite downstairs and a separate guest bedroom and bath upstairs with its own rooftop deck. All this and an enclosed garage too. This unique home is very special."

The living room and adjacent study provide comfortable living spaces. Both rooms have French doors that open out to the deck and pool area. The study area flows into the kitchen which flows into the dining pavilion.

This home is a bit of a contradiction. It sort of looks all glamorous and almost to perfect to live in. And yet it has such an easy flow and genuine relaxed and comfortable feeling when you are there. I immediately "got" this place. I know I would love living here. Even though the house is pretty amazing, it is the easy transition from the architecturally interesting interiors to the simple pool and lush gardens that make this home very appealing.

The large canvas sails over the pool deck area emanate from the second floor guest suite which has its own sun deck which provides the perfect place to get a stunning Key West all over tan. The bedroom with ensuite bath is just adorable.

There is a main level guest suite and bath located on the main level. I took more photos of this wonderful home which you may see if you CLICK HERE.

The master bedroom is located on the second floor of the "carriage house" at the front of the property. This space is both expansive and dramatic.

French doors open from the bedroom and bathroom out to two separate covered second floor balconies. I can imagine sitting out here in the morning sipping coffee and watching neighbors out walking the dog or jogging. At night you could look off to the west and see our magnificent Key West flirted just a bit by the swaying palms that dot the Casa Marina neighborhood.


CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 1104 South Street which is offered by Preferred Properties Key West at the asking price of $2,045,000. Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this special home. There is not another like this in all of Key West.