1403 Catherine Street, Key West, Florida - La Casa Roja

Just Listed, but not by me, La Casa Roja, the red house, located at 1403 Catherine Street in Key West, Florida. This is one of my favorite houses in all of Key West. Let me share with you some pictures and a couple of stories about this place that makes it so special.

I dug down into my old shoebox and found the black and white photo taken in 1965.  I found another color photo from a previous mls listing before the house was renovated by one of Key West's premiere architects for his own use. The current owners purchased this home five years ago. I was the buyers' agent. I remember the home inspector meeting with us after looking at the house for a couple of hours. He said something like "This is a first.  I could not find anything wrong!  I have never seen a house this well done!" It's the same today. And it remains picture perfect. CLICK HERE to view more photos.

This simple little house is simply just that: a simple little house. But that is an understatement of grand proportion. It is elegant in its simplicity. The new wide oak plank floors were custom milled as were the extra-large crown molding and the extra-wide baseboards. New cedar doors were custom made. The original windows were restored to retain their character.

Doors and floor patterns in the original house were reworked to make the house flow efficiently. The relocated kitchen for example opens onto the hallway adjacent to the living room. The kitchen windows tilt and provide access to the covered outside veranda bar. I would not call this home a "party house", but it was certainly designed for an owner who loves to entertain in style. The kitchen is the heart of this home. And the several social gathering spots flow from or toward the heart of this home.

 What was once the kitchen is now the master bedroom which has its own private covered porch with hot tub. The master bedroom features two sets of French style doors and screens which allow the room to open up to the back yard. Mirrored pocket doors conceal the generous ten foot long closet. Paneled wainscoting and coffered ceiling add depth and interest to this cozy retreat.

And then there is the two story carriage house. It's the perfect place to house your classic Key West car or the perfect place for your own gym, workshop, or studio. Upstairs there is a secret retreat that is just as simple and just as elegant as the rest of the main house. Some people skimp on things that are barely seen. Here, the barely seen is treated as a treasure for the very few.

Not only did the former owner not paint the house white like nearly every other house in town, he turned the house and lot into an ingenious show piece of how one could reinvent an old house.  What might have been a walkway on the east side of the house became a covered bar.  A small deck off the master bedroom became a cozy outdoor living space. The old garage became a third bedroom. There is no wasted here.

I dare the reader to walk around the outside of this property and find something amiss or something not done. Every place you look you see solutions to everyday issues. The front door hurricane panel (photo below) was turned into a whimsical work of art and greets guests near the bar.

This house and and all of its components were designed to standout from the crowd and function properly. It does. Indeed. Some readers may say "I could do that." Perhaps. But most of us see a home like this and admire it with awe. That is why I discerning buyer will seize the opportunity to own a property of this caliber. You won't find anything like it in this price range. I promise you that!

I have sold several houses in this immediate area in the past few years. This little part of town is on fire right now with renovation.  Speaking of fire, in a couple of months all of the Royal Poinciana Trees in town will be ablaze with color. This particular area has a treasure trove of these magnificent trees.


CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS for 1403 Catherine Street. 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. Some very lucky person is going to buy this little treasure and experience the elegance of living well...in Paradise.

1500 Albury Street, Key West - Open House Today

1500 Albury Street, Key West

12:00 to 2:00

Grand New 2240 Sq Ft Custom Built Home situated on a corner lot and resembling the charming historic architecture of Old Town Key West, this 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bath is all new. With 9 foot ceilings and 7 foot doors, the spacious rooms are filled with light. Architectural details include coffered ceiling, crown molding, extra high baseboards and trim, custom wainscoting, and two story grand staircase. 

The gourmet kitchen has Kosmos Granite counters, Thermador stainless appliances, and an incredible amount of storage. Built with long term cost saving features including Hardy Plank Siding and Wind Impact Resistant Windows and Doors throughout. Sunny Heated Pool, waterfall, light display and outdoor shower. sprinkler system, exterior lighting, plus whole house generator. LED lighting and smart house technology throughout the house.

This home is offered by Cory Held, Jeffrey Grosky, and Gary Thomas at Preferred Properties Key West. NEW LOWER PRICE $1,999,999.  Preferred Properties Key West  ~  305-766-2642

915 Cornish Lane, Key West - Old Town Buying Opportunity

 I have written a several blogs suggesting that readers quit their jobs and move to Key West. I know some people actually fantasize about doing that. And some people actually follow through and do the deed, not because I suggested it but because Key West is so alluring on so many different levels.  Key West lures the sane and the not-so-sane. People come here to find a way of life that is not possible to achieve elsewhere. Many of those who end up here adopt the manana way of looking at life and develop an ethos that determines the importance and speed within which daily tasks need to be completed. Government workers do the same thing, except they just get paid a salary and receive benefits for moving slowly.

No matter which street a person lives on in Key West, all of us live our lives in the slow lane. Key West is in the midst of Spring Break and people of all ages from all over the world are here enjoying our wonderful climate, our pebbly beaches, our bubbling bars, and a myriad of other things that draw people here. Getting around becomes a chore for us locals who view having to wait two light cycles to cross Truman Avenue as near insanity. When we make it home, we de-stress and all is right with the world. For those Key Westers who actually reside on a lane, life is much slower and much quieter. Many of the lanes such as Cornish Lane are less than a block long. Cornish Lane dead ends about 145 feet from Grinnell Street whence it begins. While Cornish Lane is paved with tar, none of the three homes on this lane have any off street parking space. There are several similar lanes in Old Town and they attract owners that want a slow paced and quiet lifestyle.

The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"Home of Men's Fashion Designer Andrew Christian & featured on HGTV's new show Hunting Vintage. Formerly the home of the B-52's cofounder, Keith Strickland. This stunning contemporary cottage is tucked away at the end of a quiet lane, beautifully renovated down to the last detail and sold turnkey with its designer furnishings. Walnut wood floors throughout, accented with Caesarstone counters in the kitchen & bathrooms, wood built-ins provide a seamless & chic touch. Lush & private from the front, sun-filled and airy in the garden, this 2 bedroom and 1.5 bath home is the ultimate getaway. Viking & Subzero appliances, top of the line fixtures and high ceilings. Wrapped in ipe decking with 2 outdoor showers & a stunning plunge pool."

I showed this property maybe a dozen years ago, I was not prepared for the home as it now exists. I sold the prior owners a large home in the Casa Marina Area a couple of years ago. They told me about the intense renovation they had done to 915 Cornish Lane a few years earlier. Intense was right - they rebuilt it. And everything they did was done with style and demand for excellence.  As you walk down Cornish Lane and spot the cottage behind the gated entrance, you'll notice the board and batten exterior, the wood shutters, and may expect to see a cute little storybook house. Instead when you open the front door you enter into space larger than you would expect with a wall of windows which looks out to the pool and garden beyond. The interiors are stark and modern in design and function. The master bedroom is located immediately right of the entry. A guest bedroom and bath are located to the left. The kitchen is to the right rear and the pool is directly forward.

The master bedroom and master bath are the perfect marriage of old Key West and contemporary lifestyle. One bedroom wall offers private views of the sequestered outdoor space. The en-suite bath offers a step-through shower which can be entered from the outdoors or from the sleek interior. You won't find the custom cabinetry at the bargain barn. Ever.

 The guest bedroom and guest bath are located opposite the front door. This is a small and private space for the occasional guest. While this is a two bedroom house, the spaces were designed for a single person or couple who may have an occasional visitor as opposed to a small family. 

915 Cornish Lane is now offered at $1,265,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and beautiful listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this up to date old house. I know the people who did this renovation. This is a really good buy. This is sophisticated living in an excellent Old Town location close to everything.