701 Elizabeth Street - Key West - Pied-à-Terre

Fresh on the Market: pied-à-terre located at the iconic 701 Elizabeth Street at the tippy top of Solares Hill in Old Town Key West. This three story apartment has designer genes, is fully furnished, and is ready for immediate occupancy. Annual lease required.

701 Elizabeth Street is located at the intersection of Elizabeth Street at Windsor Lane. This is two blocks east of Duval Street and within easy walking distance to all of Old Town.

Private deck for outdoor entertaining.

The living space here is like none other in Key West. The living space soars three stories to the vaulted ceiling on the third level where the bedroom is located.

The kitchen, dining area, and living space are located on the first floor. French doors open out to the front porch for al fresco dining. The indoor space is contemporary chic.

The second floor is home to the quite large bath, laundry and closet.

Access between the floors is via the spiral staircase.  The stairs and movable exterior louvers are an integral part of the design of this apartment. People from the street cannot see inside. The louvers are adjustable from the inside and give you control over the light at any time of the day.

CLICK HERE to view more photos of this one of a kind Key West residence. Annual Lease $2,000 per month. Landlord pays water and sewer. Tenant pays electric, cable, and phone.  First, last, and security required. No pets and no smokers.  Contact Gary Thomas, Preferred Properties Key West, 305-766-2642 to view.

1322 Thompson Street - Key West - The Essence of Cool

Cool.... in Key West!

1322 Thompson Street is the antithesis of the quaint cigar maker's cottages, the big conch houses, or the eyebrow houses that dominate Old Town Key West. Most of those houses are old and have been updated to accommodate today's lifestyle. Some renovations are highly successful while others are often challenged by small buildings, small lots, small budgets, or small imagination.

1322 Thompson Street, located just east of the Casa Marina Area, on the other hand, is a 1958 ranch renovated a few years back by Debra Yates and Raymond Jungles who created a one-of-a-kind Key West residence that is the essence of cool. The Urban Dictionary defines cool as 'The best way to say something is neat-o, awesome, or swell. The phrase "cool" is very relaxed, never goes out of style, and people will never laugh at you for using it, very convenient for people like me who don't care about what's "in.' At least half the people in Key West are cool by that definition. And so is this tropical residence.

 

  The first time I went to this house I was taken aback. The house sits on a large corner lot on a Key West suburban block (not Old Townish by any stretch of the imagination). The lot dominates its corner location which is enclosed by a large privacy fence. Tall palms and specimen trees ring the inside of the fence and grass that looks like a velvety moss delicately frames the lot at the corner of Thompson and South Streets. As much as I know I live on an "island" I sometimes forget it. This property exudes an island flair as soon as it comes into view.

When you open the gate you walk into an oasis of lush vegetation in all directions. Specimen trees of all types and wondrous foliage separate this property from the hum-drum of so many Home Depot instant gardens.

I don't know whether it is the sound of the waterfall or the vibrant colors of the mosaic tiled wall that draws your attention to the pool. But you cannot avoid looking and hearing and just be captivated with this area. It is like "wow" in every direction you look. This is not what you expect to see-in suburbia.

The house itself is bold in design yet very understated. Travertine marble floors in the main living, dining and kitchen areas keep the tone very low key. A glass wall in the living room looks out to the pool and waterfall. The kitchen sits at the back of the living space and is defined by fire engine red wall with non-traditional horizontal windows over the kitchen sink. An intimate dining room without doors (or pretense) completes this part of the house.

The master bedroom and bath are on the south side of the house. The bedroom is totally understated, but it too has a glass wall that opens out to its own private sitting area. There is a separate Debra Yates mosaic in the master bath. A second bedroom and bath are also located in the main house. And then there is the guest cottage located out under the palm trees. Guests can access this cottage from either the front entry or a side gate on South Street.

Indoor and Outdoor Showers - Way Cool !

The listing Realtor describes the new listing at 1322 Thompson Street this way:

"This spacious home is surrounded by privacy fencing. Just step inside the front gate to a private tropical world. A lovely pool with a waterfall and beautiful mosaics tilework designed by the talented artist Debra Yates. A covered lanai perfect for entertaining guests. The interior of the home offers a wall of glass doors which open to the pool area to incorporate the outside living area, a fantastic kitchen complete with a gas stove, stainless appliances and a concrete custom counter top. The master bedroom has a small covered private deck to relax in comfort and enjoy the lush landscaping. All of this along with a one bedroom one bath separate cottage to place guests or use as an office or studio."

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Guest Cottage

Let me add this: it is better than that! It is one of those places that just knocks you over when you enter the property. 1322 Thompson Street is offered at $749,000 or $482 per sq ft.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet on this property.

This place is really cool. The chic contemporary interiors may not work for those with a yen for an Old Town Conch House. But if you are open to new ideas and want a really beautiful place to call your Key West home, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305.766.2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Let me show you this truly remarkable property.

1433 Flagler Avenue - Bank Owned - Key West

The newly listed Bank Owned property at 1433 Flagler Avenue in Key West is most certainly something to cheer about, especially if you are a current Key West family looking for a place that has four bedrooms,  lots of quality living space, a pool, a great enclosed yard, and is in move-in condition.  I was totally surprised by how nice this place looks.

The original house was built in 1953 and has been updated a couple of times in recent years. The current owner has added impact windows and doors, painted and cleaned the inside and outside, added the necessary child safety fence surround by the pool, installed a new fence around the front, and replaced a substantial amount of the roof. The Monroe County Property Appraiser shows this house as having 1730 sq ft of living space under air. (I suspect the actually living area may be larger, but that is only my opinion. A measured appraisal or survey will confirm.) The lot is 83 x 93' or 7473 sq ft.  

The interiors are all fresh and contemporary. New light fixtures and fans plus updated built-in closet systems, valances over windows, travertine marble floors, and crisp and clean interior paint treatments give this home a stylish look. Unlike a lot of houses that have been updated, this place actually looks good. Too often updates are second rate. This house looks like it could actually work for a family.

There are two living areas which include the informal living room and the family room. The kitchen and dining area are open. There is an attractive passage way between the kitchen and family room which provides views of both living areas so the cook can keep an eye of what the kids are doing in both parts of the house at the same time.

There are three good sized bedrooms located at the front of the house. They share a single updated bath.

The master bedroom is located in an addition at the rear. The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling and multiple sets of French doors that open out to the rear deck and garden area. This space is just great.  Mom and Dad can have some really nice personal space located just far enough away from the kids but not so far as to be out of ear-range.

Located on the far side of the family room is an area I dubbed as the playroom or office. This is a nice sized area on the main floor over which there is a delightful guest bedroom with a Romeo and Juliet balcony that overlooks the rear garden at the rear and the pool at the front. (With views like this, your guests will never leave.)

This bank owned family home is offered at just $549,000 or only $317 per sq ft. That is a lot of quality house in a very good neighborhood within a few walks walking distance to Higg's Beach. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet. And CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this attractive property. 

Nearby Higg's Beach

Please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this family home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. This home is worth viewing.