1413 Grinnell Street Key West, Florida

Just listed by Preferred Properties Key West, that is where I work but this is not my listing, 1413 Grinnell Street in the Casa Marina Area of Key West. I live in the Casa Marina Area, in fact I live a little over one block from this property, and I love this part of town.  I vaguely remember the house as it looked in the latter part of the 1990s when the house was thoroughly renovated. I remember going inside the house as the general contractor was doing the renovation. He started with a simple box with a shed roof and a dormer in front. The renovated house is anything but simple, and it no longer resembled its former self.  I looked for but could not find a photo of the house as it looked in the 1990s. I did find a much older photo that was taken nearly fifty years ago, see the black and white photo below. I also found an old aerial photo of the Casa Marina Area that was taken in 1930.  I added an arrow that proves 1413 Grinnell Street existed in 1930. (County records show the house was built in 1943. Clearly the county records are incorrect.)

1413 Grinnell St in 1965

Click this photo to enlarge

The current house barely resembles its old self. That's because the old house has been enlarged and gentrified into a 2487 sq ft home with four bedrooms, four baths, an expansive great room with living, dining, and kitchen that flow out to the covered rear deck that looks out to the pool and spa. 

There are two main floor bedrooms each with bath. Notice the heart pine floors throughout the house. All floors have been recently refinished and the house freshly painted just before the house went on the market.

Upstairs you will find a very comfortable master bedroom (that was added to the rear of the original house) complete with ensuite bath.  French doors open out to the second floor rear deck which provides a place for private sun worship or a shady spot for reading or viewing the goings-on in the pool below. A fourth bedroom and office complete the second floor.

The 1990s two story addition to the rear of the property includes the two tiered deck that wraps around the house. The ground level portion provides an outdoor sitting and dining area. French doors open out from the great room and kitchen onto the main level deck.  On the second floor French doors open from the rear master suite and the office out to the covered deck.  The views from the either level reveal a great pool. The views of the house show a beautiful home with lots of space for a family or a couple with plenty of relatives and friends. CLICK HERE to view more photos I took of this home.

1413 Grinnell Street is offered at $1,895,000. CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this beautiful Casa Marina home.  I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.  Let me help you find your place in Paradise.

421 Catherine Street - Key West

Just listed, but not by me, 421 Catherine Street in Key West, Florida.  This house has been totally rebuilt from the ground up. It is in tip top condition.  The listing Realtor describes the property as:

"Charming and meticulously renovated 2 bedroom 2.5 bath home in Old Town Key West. The home has a breezy front porch for relaxing and watching the interesting neighborhood stroll past. The interior is impeccable with cherry floors, and vaulted ceilings. There is a bedroom and bath on the first floor, top of the line kitchen, half bath,surround sound system, and living room which opens through French doors to the private back yard. There is a master bedroom and bath with walk-in closet and a balcony on the second floor. New roof and hurricane shutters."

The house did not always look as good as it does today. I dug into my old shoebox and found a photo taken nearly 50 years ago. The notation on the back of the photo says the house was built around 1889.

This property is a cigar maker cottage that has been enlarged from the original building with a two story addition at the rear. The addition provided more interior living space. Some original walls were removed. This permitted the builder to create living spaces that better suit the way we live our lives today. The historic entry was retained.  The classic 'shot gun' style entry hallway was retained. The hallway is now vaulted.   Wainscoting and wall sconces were added to the hallway.  Pocket doors were added to provide privacy to the first floor bedroom. The adjacent bath doubles as guest bath as well.

The kitchen is located midway in the house. This space is very welcoming and radiates warmth. Rich wood trim was added throughout the house during the renovation. The main floor ceilings are now enhanced by wood slats that give the house a sense of immense strength - at least in my mind.  Custom kitchen cabinets and the mini-bar at the rear add style to substance in these areas.

The stairway leads to the second floor master suite which includes an unique bath and large walk-in closet.  The second floor balcony that overlooks the back yard where there is room for a pool.

If you are a buyer that wants to occasionally rent a property to offset some of the costs of ownership,  I think 421 Catherine Street would make a great vacation rental.  The property is located about 1/2 block off Duval Street.  South Beach is a five minute walk to the south. LaTeDa and lots of nearby restaurants, bars, galleries, shops, and more are minutes away in either direction on Duval Street.  Vacationers will love the convenient location and the beautiful spaces, large bedrooms, and private baths.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and listing photos.  If you would like to see this lovely little home in person, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1108 Fleming Street, Key West, Florida - An Old Town Beauty

Just listed, but not by me, 1108 Fleming Street, Key West. This home is the model of what would-be buyers hope to find in an Old Town Key West home. The listing Realtor describes the home this way:

"Located in the heart of Old Town Key West sits this quintessential Key West cottage. The lovely front porch framed with bougainvillea creates a picturesque entry. Wood floors & painted wood walls grace this light filled three bedroom & three bath home. Offering a 1st floor bedroom & 2nd floor master suite with an office space. Not a detail has been missed in the open floor plan - even the poolside guest cottage is something out of Coastal Living magazine. Perfect indoor/outdoor living from the great room & kitchen out to the patio, heated pool & outdoor shower. The sunny patio & pool area are perfect for entertaining with a wet bar & space for dining and lounging. Bricked off-street parking off Curry Ln. in the rear of the home."

The house is bright and cheery from front to back and bottom to top. Every room is different, but the entire place flows evenly and with purpose. Three sets of French doors at the rear appear to extend the great room out to the pool, rear deck, and guest cottage beyond. There is also off street parking located behind the guest cottage.  The cottage is tiny but ever-so-cute.  There is an outdoor shower where guests can shower in the sunshine or under the moon glow. It's pure magic. Your guests will beg you to let them stay there. 

The house is laid out with one bedroom located at the front of the house on the main floor. Except for the elegant entry hall and stairway, the kitchen and living area comprise the balance of the first floor. The master bedroom has an adjacent sitting area or office. The second floor bedroom is filled with lots of built-ins. The listing Realtor states the house and cottage have a combined total of 1604 sq ft of living space under air. This beautiful home is now offered for sale at $1,300,000. 

Main Floor Bedroom

Three sets of French doors at the rear of the main house look out to the pool, deck, and guest cottage. While the space is compact, every inch of space is part of an aesthetic design that flows from the inside to the outside. All spaces are treated as each matters - and they do. Nothing has been left undone.

 

 

CLICK HERE to view more photos of 1108 Fleming Street which is located at the far end of Fleming Street just a few doors from White Street. Duval Street is perhaps an 8 to 10 minute walk to Duval Street. Or you can walk to the Historic Seaport in about the same time. There are two neighborhood convenience stores on White Street. And there are numerous restaurants and cafes within a few minutes walk. Most of the gyms and yoga studios are located up near the corner of White at Truman - a five minute walk.   

CLICK HERE to view the Key West Association of Realtors mls datasheet and to view listing photos. Better yet, please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a showing of this beautiful Key West home that really is Pretty as a Picture. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West. Let me help you find your home in Paradise.