416 Margaret Street, Key West - Beautifully Renovated Old Town Home

The house at 416 Margaret Street is one of the prettiest homes in Old Town. The listing Realtor, not me, describes this Key West home this way:

"Sophistication, Glamour and Style, This Classic Key West Home and Winner of Ceramic Star for it's renovation in 2009 embraces it's Historic Integrity with a Modern Flair. With reclaimed Dade County Pine throughout, impeccable floors, Granite Kitchen, this is an entertainers dream. Being sold TURN KEY with exceptional designer furniture package, the first two Bedrooms and Baths are located on the ground floor while the upstairs has been transformed to a spacious Master Suite, with wet bar and sitting area. Private Pool with covered rear porch coupled with extra wide porch to the front, offers plenty of outdoor space for dining and relaxing. Mature Tropical Landscaping throughout the property. Off street parking in the rear and location in x zone. This is a remarkable home in the Heart of it all, just a few blocks from the Historic Seaport and Duval." 

I get a kick out of showing Key West home like this. It is filled with Dade County Pine throughout. First time lookers usually don't know the significance of this wood so I often provide a short lesson in how our old homes were constructed. Dade County Pine was a variety of Florida wood in abundant supply when the houses in Old Town were built in the middle to late 1800s. The wood provided extra stability to our wood frame houses some of which are two stories tall. The houses were built to move ever-so-little during hurricanes. Since plaster would crack, the pine walls were covered in with a paper-like material called beaver board. Beaver board could be painted and provide the visual affect of plaster. When Key West was re-discovered and renovations to the old houses began, many owners removed the beaver board and exposed the Dade County Pine walls. This home is a perfect example of an historic house where the pine walls are a key element of the design. The crown molding, trim, and baseboards provide a crisp framework for this old house.

The house is laid out with both downstairs bedrooms located at the front of the property.  The living room, dining area, and kitchen are located at the back side of the house. This is typical Key West arrangement for our modern age where public spaces are located at the rear of the house where the rooms open out to rear porches, decks, or pools. The current owner of this home has created a flexible bedroom arrangement, Both ground floor bedrooms have access to the two main level bathrooms.

Although the kitchen is small, the space is totally functional for long term living or for use as a vacation home. Many locals spend the winter months in Key West and the summers some place up north in America. You will notice the kitchen door opens out to the back deck made of Ipe wood. The same Ipe wood is used inside but there it has a gloss finish. Use of the Ipe floors inside and outside creates a wonderful transition between the living spaces which seem to merge as one. The photo immediately above shows the rear gate where the off street parking spot is located on Lopez Lane. There is an outdoor shower located in that pathway as well.

The master bedroom suite takes up the entire second floor. The ceiling follows the roof line of this old house. It's magical. There is a little morning kitchen where the owner can prepare coffee or cocktails. The view across Margaret Street is of an equally beautiful home that sold in 2014 for $2,200,000.  It's not the price that's precious, it is the view!  The bedroom has nice filtered light throughout most of the day.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet on 416 Margaret Street which is offered for sale at $1,475,000. After you have looked and the facts and fotos, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to set up a private showing. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

1214 Varela Street, Key West - Two for One

Just Listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 1214 Varela Street and it's cute as can be guest cottage on Knowles Lane. The listing Realtor describes this sophisticated duo this way:

"This exceptional property impresses with a combination of sophistication and elegance coupled with a very high standard of home luxuries. An absolute highlight is opening the front door and looking through the kitchen, dining, living room to the outstanding outdoor living space, surrounded by lush tropical landscaping and a 30 foot glassed tiled pool to the two bedroom two bath guest house. Well-conceived, there are 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in the main house. The master suite on the second level has 2 private terraces, a wall of multiple glass closets and one of the largest bathrooms with a claw foot tub. On the main level there is a bedroom, bath and pantry room adjacent to the massive living space with beautiful built-ins and folding French accordion doors to the outside. Reclaimed Dade County Pine. The guest house backs up to Knowles Lane for privacy from your family or friends."

 As soon as you enter the front door of 1214 Varela Street you sense you are entering into a very beautiful and well planned home. The attention to detail and sophistication is everywhere from the classic Dade County Pine walls and ceiling, the beautiful dark wood floors, the crown moldings and extra tall baseboards. 

There is a main floor bedroom and bath located at the front of the house. As you move forward the kitchen and dining area emerge as does then the living area. The kitchen has top of the line stainless steel appliances, cabinetry, and lighting. You have no idea how many kitchens I have seen where lighting is treated as an after-thought. The new owner of this home will be able to see what is being prepared. The photos above show the tray lights. These can be turned down to create the perfect romantic dining situation or mood for any occasion. French doors at the rear of the great room open out to a covered rear deck area and pool.  The deck continues beyond to the two story guest cottage. You will note the pool and deck are flanked by an alley of tall palms and tropical foliage to create an inviting space to grab that perfect Key West tan.

 The entire second floor of the main house is devoted to the master or mistress of this house. There master bedroom includes private second floor rear balcony that looks down to the pool and guest cottage beyond. The deck is so private you can sunbath al fresco. (Nobody can see.) The bedroom chamber is a big and open area with a vaulted ceiling a bank of windows and a door out to the sundeck. The space includes a sitting area and a more cozy spot for the bed itself. There is a bank of wood doors with glass panels that line the wall of the bedroom and continue on into the master bath. Each closet space is lighted. The bath includes a dual vanity except this one is more like a partner's vanity with sinks opposing each other rather than being side by side. There is a soaking tub and extra large shower with dual rain shower fixtures.

The guest cottage also has been updated. Now there are two bedrooms and two baths, one on each floor. The downstairs portion has a small sitting area and a mini-kitchen where your guests can prepare morning coffee or a late night snack. There is an off street parking space on Knowles Lane.  Your guests can come and go and not interfere in your life. 

The main house and guest house have a combined interior living area of 3100 sq ft and sit on a 6218 sq ft lot which extends all the way through to Knowles Lane (entered from either United Street or Catherine Street).

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls data sheet and listing photos (which are great!). Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of 1214 Varela Street which is offered at $2,685,000. It will be like buying two homes for the price of one. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

620 Petronia Street, Key West - Renovation Project on Top of Solares Hill

 Just Listed, but not by me, 620 Petronia Street which sits at the tippy-top of Solares Hill in Old Town, Key West, Florida. The listing Realtor describes this property this way:

"Conch cottage in the X-zone, 3,500+ sq ft lot, 1 off street parking (easily augmented for 2 cars), and just 2 blocks from Duval Street, situated within walking distance of all Old Town has to offer. HARC approved plans by award-winning residential designer, Guillermo Orozco, will convey. Plans include expansion of living space incorporated into the lovely outdoors with a pool. Create your Old Town oasis! Tented in 2013."

The aerial photo above of Solares Hill was taken by Ty Symoski in 1987.  I added the purple arrow and street annotation so that you could see the location of this new listing. I searched the Historic Sanborn Fire Maps and learned that 620 Petronia Street existed as of the 1889 map but was then identified as 718 Petronia Street. The address had been changed by the 1899 map. Then I dug into my old shoe box and found photos of 620 Petronia as it existed fifty-one years ago plus photos of the neighboring properties. They are shown below.

These older photos show the way this block looked six decades ago. Our Historic Architectural Review Commission (HARC) reviews any proposed changes to properties the Old Town historic district. The house at 618 Petronia Street is not historic and is in the process of a major renovation and expansion. The little Shoe Shine Stand at 622 Petronia Street no longer exists. That space is now parking for 620 Petronia St. That building was razed around 1967 before HARC was created. The house at 624 Petronia Street still exists and looks today much like it looked when it was photographed in black and white. The mls description states that HARC approved plans to renovate the property will convey with the sale. I had the occasion to look at the plans which basically re-purpose much of the existing interior and expand the rear of the house with a new addition which will provide new kitchen and living space and covered outdoor living and dining area. A new pool will be added as well. The existing facade will remain pretty much in tact. I've seen and written about other projects Guillermo Orozco has done. They are all quite crisp and clean. I expect the same here if his plans are carried forward by the new owner. Let me share some photos of the existing property which I took on a dreary rainy day in Key West. Then I will explain the proposed changes. Let me make sure you understand: this house is perfectly fine as is. It would benefit from a total renovation to add the features most second home buyers are looking for.

The existing house is pretty simple. There is a very large and wide front entry. There are two small bedroom on the left (west) side of the house. The living room is on the right side. That space flows to the rear where the kitchen is located. There is a second bedroom on the right (west) rear. The one bathroom is located between the kitchen and rear bedroom. The proposed plan would gut the existing interior and reduce the entry hallway. This would allow for the creation of two equal sized bedrooms, each with private bath, at the front of the house. The existing rear shed addition (storage) would be removed. A new addition would allow for the creation of a covered rear deck area. The existing kitchen bedroom area would become an expanded great room.

 The renovated house will have two new bedrooms and baths, a new kitchen and living area plus a new covered outdoor dining and living area, plus a pool and off street parking. This area is a mix of full time residents and houses rented as monthly vacation rentals. The proposed renovation sounds like it could become a great second home or possibly a terrific monthly vacation rental. The renovation of the house next door to the west is almost done. They still need  to finish their interiors and add a pool. The house across the street is getting remodeled as well. The property directly across the street is an active community church. It isn't going anywhere except forward into the future. CLICK HERE to see more photos.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on this property and 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. Let me help you find your Perfect Place in Paradise.