609 Angela Street - Solares Hill Eyebrow House - Key West

609 Angela Street is located near the tippy top of Solares Hill in Old Town Key West.  I dug deep into the old shoe box and found a photo taken in 1965 with a note stating this house was built in 1889.

 Eyebrow houses are unique to Key West. They sort of look like  tall salt boxes with a roof that extends over the front porch.  The second floor front wall is shorter than the rear because of the steep roof angle. The second floor windows are typically located just about at floor level. From the street the second floor windows appear rather short as the roof overhang protects open windows from rain or wind.  This projection shields the windows from rain or wind which normally falls down to the earth. Thus the windows can stay open most of the time and provide natural air flow without letting rain into the house.

Almost all (but not absolutely all) eyebrow houses were laid out pretty much the same.  The main entry is located in the center of the house with a hallway that led straight to the rear. On the main level the primary living area was located on either side of the entry hall. Upstairs you would find two bedrooms.  In many instances in old days a cook house would have been located in a detached building at the rear.  Some eyebrow houses in their original form were smaller and less ornate than others. And, you guessed it, some are quite large and very ornate. Some eyebrow houses have been modified and have had additions added to the backside where bathrooms now exist.  That is not the case in this home. The two second floor baths use the large bathroom on the main floor.

 It is the additions and renovations that have occurred over the decades that now distinguish these special Key West homes even more.  Some eyebrow houses have dormers added to the rear or a shed roof added to the rear that extended the second floor bedrooms and provided room for a bath. This house got a second floor balcony off the west side which provides a shady spot for the family auto and a place to get a great Key West tan. A main floor addition added a new main level bath, kitchen, and dining room plus an extra large main level porch on the east side of the home. A later addition added the new master suite at the rear which has French doors that open out to a covered porch and the swimming pool.

Window looks out to the swimming pool!

  609 Angels Street has 2181 sq ft of living space which includes four bedrooms and two baths. The lot is extra large, especially for this part of Old Town. There is even off street parking for three vehicles. The obligatory white picket fence and stately street appeal make this a home serious buyers ought to see. This home is offered at $1,395,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet on 609 Angela Street and to view listing photos.  I took more photos which you can see if you CLICK HERE.

I gotta tell you the view from the front door is pretty impressive as well. The former home of  Philip Burton (the adoptive father of actor Richard Burton's) is located across the street. Liz and Dick would come to Key West and stay at Phillip's house.  Other houses on this one way street are a mix of Cigar Maker cottages, a smattering of recently constructed homes near the corner at Simonton Street, and a couple of impressive Conch houses. The Phillip Burton house is the doozy of the neighborhood, however.

If you would like to see this home or any other property in Key West, 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.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

906 Florida Street - The Meadows Area - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 906 Florida Street in Key West. I would describe this 1061 sq ft home as an Arts and Crafts style bungalow.  Although the Monroe County Property Appraiser shows the construction date as 1938 (which was in the midst of the Great Depression) I think the more logical date would have been the 1920s. The house is located at the corner of Florida and Albury Streets.  The house sits behind a tall fence which provides privacy from passing dogs, bicyclists, joggers, walkers, and other area residents and tourists who happen to stumble upon this little block located one block north of Bayview Park.

I dug into the old shoe box and found two photos of 906 Florida Street and learned that there used to be a second cottage on the lot.  On the day I arrived to take photos of this property I parked my car on Albury Street which runs parallel to Truman Avenue.  I remarked to myself as I excited the car how long the lot was and how densely populated it was with tropical foliage. (The lot is 90' long and 40' wide or 3630 sq ft.) When I found the second photo I understood why the lot was so large - there used to be a second cottage on the lot.  The second cottage was razed and the old cement block fence has been replaced with a tall wood privacy fence.

The listing Realtor, Mitzi Krabil, describes the property this way:

"This charming remodeled 2 bedroom 2 bath home is located on a private fenced corner lot in the popular Meadows neighborhood. The living room with vaulted ceiling opens through several sets of French doors to the pool, garden and hot tub. Additional features include a new kitchen and electrical service, off street parking, and hurricane rated shutters. Well maintained and easy to show."

Glass windows now enclose the previously screened front porch. The current owners use this space as an artist studio. Imagine how you might use this well lighted space.  When you enter the front door you step into an area the owners use as an office but the space could have many alternative uses. The recently updated kitchen follows.  Note the window view your mate will have as he or she does the dishes.

The living room or great room is located at the rear of the house. The vaulted ceiling really makes this space seem very large. French doors open out to the pool and hot tube (protected by its own little canopy).  The garden is lush with tropical foliage.  As soon as I saw this space I thought about buyers who want a place that could be rented as a vacation rental and said to myself this would make a great vacation rental property.  The outdoor space is just amazing.

The home has two bedrooms and two bath which you can view together with more photos of the house and yard if you CLICK HERE.

906 Florida Street is offered at $699,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet which contain detailed info on this home and more photos as well. But better than looking a photos and details, why don't you call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this lovey Meadows Area home.  It is really sweet and it is in move-in condition.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West, Florida.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

328 Elizabeth Street - Old Town - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, the picture perfect home at 328 Elizabeth Street located near the Historic Key West Seaport.  I found this home shown on the 1889 Sanborn Fire Maps for Key West.  So we know it was built prior to that date. Interestingly the house next door to the north 324 Elizabeth Street  (opposite Donkey Milk Lane) was built in 1867.  The seaport area is where the first houses and commercial buildings in Key West were first built. My guess is that 328 Elizabeth was built about the same time as it's neighbor to the north.  But it is only a guess.

328 Elizabeth Street photographed in 1965

324 Elizabeth Street built in 1867 as photographed in 1965

Donkey Milk Lane

Today 328 Elizabeth is a beautifully restored two story home with 2808 sq ft of living space under air but not including the finished third floor attic.  That is a "lot of house" in Old Town Key West.  The lot measures 28' x 101' (2830 sq ft).  A small cottage is located rear of 328 Elizabeth Street. Even though the lane is public, that cottage is the only user of this lane.  The listing Realtor describes the property this way:

"Beautifully renovated 4 bedroom historic home in the highly desirable Key West Seaport section of Old Town. Great open floor plan with Australian Cypress hardwood floors, detailed woodwork, Dade County Pine wood walls and bright, airy rooms. Gorgeous chef's kitchen with stainless steel appliances and quality finishes. Large master suite with artist studio/office ensuite. Lush tropical yard with custom designed pool and waterfall. Incredible location and off street parking make this the perfect Old Town Key West Hideaway. Close to Solares Hill, restaurants, night life and walking distance to marina and the Key West Bight. A Historic Seaport Beauty!"

The front porch offers a restful perch for watching locals and tourists as they walk or bike up and down Elizabeth Street toward the seaport or as they head for Duval Street or other local destinations.  I can never stress how wonderful it is to be able to sit on your front porch and have so many interesting people to watch.  But when you must go inside the house, and especially this house, your mind quickly appreciates the beauty of owning a historic home in Key West.  

When you enter the house your eyes are first drawn to the brawny Dade County Walls and the crisp white painted staircase at the right front.  Then your eyes move to the left where the left where the informal livingroom is located. Although the walls and ceiling in this space are all Dade County Pine, the spaces are painted so as to break up the monotony of a single color. The room is both masculine and feminine - a bit of ying and a bit of yang.  And totally sophisticated.

The combined kitchen and dining area with the adjacent "sun porch" complete the main level of this house. These spaces repeat the variation between exposed Dade County Pine walls and painted walls. Crown molding, baseboards, and windows are all painted crisp white and accentuate the architectural beauty of this home.

It is the sun porch, however, where I suspect you would spend the most of your indoor time. What an absolutely delightful space this is. You can watch your mate make you a meal or look out to the pool and garden and garden. Understand this, not every home in Key West has a view as pretty as this. Not by a long shot!

The pool with magical waterfall is a recent addition to the property. A small shed is located at the left rear of the lot.  The off street parking space is located adjacent to the pool. A newly erected privacy fence with subtle high-end exterior lighting provides compliment the exterior. It is, however, the beauty of the pool and the tropical foliage that make this space so lovely. Sitting in the chairs you might notice the custom wood shutters with palm trees. Or you might just bask in the sun and be oblivious to anything other than the sunny skies and wonderful temperature that is typical of Key West.

The master suite with adjacent sitting room and extra large en-suite bath are located at the rear of the second floor. Like the first floor, the Dade County Pine walls are a mix of natural wood and painted wood.  When I see spaces like this my mind takes me back to mind childhood in Colorado where we would stay in cabins while my folks would go fishing. Certainly this house is no rustic fishing cabin, but the mix of the rich wood with the painted wood creates a very warm and restful atmosphere.Two other bedrooms and another bath complete the second floor.

There's still more to this old house. The third floor attic has been turned into bonus space that is not included in the reported square footage of this home as shown in the Monroe County Property Records.  The third floor space includes what is now used as an extra bedroom, a third floor sundeck, a cedar lined closet, and a/c space tucked away behind the closet. The kids or grand kids will love this space. So will adult guests who want to use the deck to get an all over tan.

CLICK HERE to view more photos that I took of this really wonderful Old Town property.  As I write this and look at the photos I can see some of the details I missed as I was photographing the house. There is a lot of attention to detail in this house that you will likely not see in many homes in Old Town.  As a buyer you need to consider not only how cute a place looks but also how well built it is and how recent the improvements were added. Click on any photo to enlarge so that you can examine the pic in detail.

328 Elizabeth Street is offered at $1,495,000.  CLICK HERE to view the Key West mls datasheet and listing photos.  But even better than looking a photos, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to let me show you this beautiful Old Town home. I know you will like it. It is really beautiful.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.