815 Sawyers Lane - Old Town - Key West - Picture Perfect

The Picture Perfect Key West Home...

The Real Thing!

If you had a checklist of features you want in your Key West dream home, I'll bet that list includes three bedrooms, two baths, a pool, off street parking, cute as a button, located on a Key West lane, and reasonably priced.

Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. (that's where I work but this is not my listing) offers the near perfect Key West dream house. The listing Realtor describes the lovely eyebrow house at 815 Sawyers Lane this way:

"This classic eyebrow home is located on a hidden lane in the heart of the Historic Key West Seaport District. The property features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, and a great room with French doors that open to an enclosed patio area, lap pool, and lush tropical setting. The second floor master suite offers privacy, extensive storage, and a separate balcony with French doors that invite warm breezes from the Gulf. The bricked driveway, blooming hibiscus, and inviting front porch welcome you to this charming retreat in the heart of Old Town."

Sawyers Lane enters from William Street

815 Sawyers Lane was built circa 1889. The Key West seaport is just a block to the north. Many of the houses and commercial buildings of that era still exist. Most of the homes have been updated to meet the needs of modern living. This home was updated in the 1990's. If this home has a drawback, it is the 1990's kitchen. The cabinets are dated. Woe! Alas! The world is coming to an end! That, Dear Reader, is an easy fix.


Downstairs you will find what appear to be the original wood floors which have been white washed. The kitchen is located up front on the right. Two guest bedrooms and a main floor bath are on the left side. A center hall lures you to the rear of the house where the new great room was added. This room has a high vaulted ceiling and several sets of doors that open onto the pool at the rear or the decks on the left and right side of this eyebrow home. The master suite is located on the second floor. It features a large bedroom and super huge bath plus a nice rear balcony that overlooks the seaport. You can see the water and some boats. The home has 1370 sq ft of living space. CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and to see listing photos of this eyebrow home.


CLICK HERE to view a slide show of photos I took of this home it was listed in mid December. Note how lovely the place looks in December when most places up north are frozen or at least dull and dormant.

If you would like to see this house or any other property in Key West, 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.

1114 Fleming Street - Grand Conch House - Key West

The asking price on the Grand Conch House at 1114 Fleming Street was reduced to just $1,050,000 yesterday. I think this house is worthy of serious consideration by any buyer who wants a large and historic home in Old Town Key West. The listing broker describes the property thus:

"Elegant award winning circa 1886 home with natural cypress siding situated on a beautiful tree lined street. Featuring four bedrooms and four and one-half baths including a separate guest cottage overlooking the pool and patio with covered outdoor dining. The kitchen has a large living area with dining. There is also a downstairs bedroom suite and another room suitable as a den, library or office. There are two bedrooms each with baths ensuite upstairs. The master suite has a walk-in closet and opens to a sunny sitting porch. The property is complete with two off-street parking spaces and much of the designer furnishings are available."

Off street parking for two cars

I showed this home earlier this week. I remembered how lovely it is but at the same time I had forgotten how really lovely it is. This old home has grace and charm that just do not exist in the new houses that are being built today that are supposed to replicate the grand houses of yore.

Last year this house was featured in the Old Island Restoration Foundation's February House Tour and described the property thus: "this two-story home, with its saw tooth additions at the back, was awarded a ceramic star from the Historic Florida Keys Foundation in 1983, and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has maintained its charm while incorporating modern amenities for today's living. Floors are old wide plank pine, doors are old, and most of the large windows are original to the house." This house has all of the charm buyers of big old homes want. And this home would make a great vacation rental if a new owner wanted to rent it.


No matter how you describe this house, you can't deny the sheer beauty of the simple lines and the unique pique the Cypress wood siding gives to the property. The house is quite large and boasts four bedrooms and five baths, a guest cottage, pool and patio with covered dining area. The garden area has recently been pruned and some of the once almost overpowering palms have been removed. And the pool was resurfaced recently. If you have seen this house before, you ought to take a second look now that the asking price on this 2510 sq ft home is $1,050,000 or $512 per sq ft. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view the listing photos. I forgot to take my Brownie with me, so no more pics from me.

If you would like to see 1114 Fleming Street, or any other home in the Old Town area of Key West, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

624 Louisa Street - Old Town - Key West - Short Sale

Four years ago I wrote about a new structure that was being built at Gato Village Pocket Park, a small park on Louisa Street just east of First Sate Bank. The park was created to commemorate by design and structure the historic cigar maker cottages that were the predominant type of housing in that section of old Key West. The old Gato Cigar Factory at the corner of Simonton Street at Virginia Street is now a Monroe County office building.

Inviting front porch

View from the front porch

A real life cigar maker's cottage is located about one-half a block away at 624 Louisa Street. The home has been enlarged and probably made grand beyond the expectation of the families that once lived there. It is offered for sale today as a short sale. The listing Realtor describes 624 Louisa Street this way:

"Superbly crafted designer home finished w/ meticulous attention to detail & style. 2 story addition overlooking pool & tropical gardens compliment the original conch cottage architecture creating a total of 3bd/3.5ba plus pool cabana. Careful selection of luxurious finishes include copper sinks, custom tile showers, Jacuzzi bathtubs, wired throughout for sound, custom cabinetry, granite & top of the line fixtures to name a few. Beautiful outdoor spaces within a very private setting finished in brick pavers & mature landscape complete this tropical retreat. Do not miss the chance to step inside this picture perfect gem just a short walk to famous Duval Street."

The original cottage has been expanded and is now laid out to meet the needs of a present day owners with different lifestyles and housing needs. I think a new owner may likely use this home as a part time residence and rent the home as a legal vacation rental during non-personal use times. The house is perfectly setup to that end.

Front bedroom

Jack and Jill Bath

Second Bedroom

The house is laid out with two guest bedrooms on the main level that share a Jack and Jill bath. The living area and a grand kitchen with custom cabinetry are located at the rear of the house. French doors open out to the pool and cabana at the rear. Upstairs you will find the very private and extra large master suite with vaulted ceiling, large walk-in closet, and inviting bath with jacuizzi and a separate shower.


Master bedroom with vaulted ceiling and deck that overlooks pool below

Luxurious master bath

Pool and cabana (with mini kitchen and bath)

624 Louisa Street has 1676 sq ft of living space on two floors. All interiors are top of the line construction and materials. No expense was spared in the renovation and expansion of this once small cigar maker's cottage into a very large three bedroom, two bath residence with off street parking and a pool. The asking price is $799,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos. I took more photos which you can view if you CLICK HERE in a slide show format.


This property has a good rental history as a vacation rental. A buyer looking for a large home that can actually function and rent well as a vacation rental ought to take a look at this property.

If you would like to see this house or any other property in Key West, please contact 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, Florida.

1517 Washington Street - Key West - Dreams Fulfilled

1517 Washington Street - June 2011

1517 Washington Street - June 2011

February 2012 the look is just a bit different

Some Readers may remember when I wrote about 1517 Washington Street in May 2011 when Preferred Properties listed it for sale at the asking price of $425.000. I wrote:

"The house was built in 1963 so it has the architecture of that era. The slanted roof and jalousie windows give this house a distinguished look. Some may not like it, but others will embrace it. Much of the architecture in the Mid Town and New Town areas of Key West have similar features. Some buyers do blow-outs or tear downs and reconfigure and expand the living space. Others prefer to conserve money and fix that which is broken and update that which needs it. When money is tight, some new owners prefer to keep things simple and do low cost improvements rather than big renovation projects. This house could go either way in my opinion. This house has been perfectly maintained and will be just fine if left as is. Serious! It is old Florida."

The property was purchased by Kent Ducote and Guillermo Orozco. Kent is a Realtor that works at a Doug Mayberry Realty. Guillermo Orozco is an architect whose name and designs I have referred to several times in my little blog. They just completed their renovation of 1517 Washington Street and I was invited to see the results.

I had not been past the house in the months since it was sold. As I drove near I immediately saw a large fence in front and recognized Guillerm0's sleek minimalist style.

The new owners removed the old jalousie windows, revamped the kitchen, and added a new bath on the east side of the house. They kept most of the interiors the way they were, but they are still different. The Cuban tile floors and the stained wood ceiling remain the two focal points of this mid century home. The interiors were painted white so the interior will not confuse the observer with too many diversions from the simplicity of the design. Less really is more. Take a look at some before and after shots of the same living areas and see if you do not agree that for these new homeowners, theirs is a dream fulfilled.

Former living room. Note the door to left of the clam shell table. That door is now the main entry into the home.

The new living room pays homage to the old Cuban tiles

Former semi-enclosed front porch

Contemporary home office anyone would admire

This kitchen had been updated from original but...

...It lacked the finesse the new owners desired.

The wall separating the living room from the kitchen and dining area was shortened and new cabinets and counters were installed. The Cuban tiled floors gracefully blend the two living areas together.

Original master bedroom

Same space, different look, new bath added to the left

Stunning new addition added so much utility and grace to this dream home.

Former second bedroom ...

...is now a functional office

The old carport...

...is now the inviting entry into this lovely home.

This project was much more than just replacing windows, painting walls, installing a new kitchen, adding a new bathroom, and erecting a privacy fence. Each individual element was part of a harmonious plan that used the existing building and its design elements as the basis upon which the replacements and additions would play upon. The result is a simple and harmonious blend of old with new. Not everybody can pull this off. That's why regular folks hire architects and designers if they want to get things done correctly. This blog is not a plug for Guillermo, but you must respect his and Kent's vision. Proof is in the pictures. CLICK HERE to see more photos.

If you are looking for a Key West house that you could turn into your dream home, please CLICK HERE to search the Key West Association of Realtors mls database. If you see something you like, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 or send me an email at kw1101v@aol.com. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. Let me help you find your place in Paradise.