407 Margaret Street, Key West

The listing Realtor describes 407 Margaret Street located in Old Town Key West this way:

"In a prime Old Town Key West location at Margaret and Eaton Streets sits one of the Grande Dame residences of Key West. Built in 1884 this home has been lovingly maintained and updated in keeping with the original features of the home. Enter the property on Margaret Street where there is ample off street parking for two cars. Wonder at the resort style pool with waterfall and hot tub that draws you to the covered porch off of the great room. Light filled with high ceilings and Dade County pine the home is both old and new at the same time. Wolf Stove and Sub Zero refrigerator keep company with your claw foot bathtub. Over 2000 square feet of living space on a large 5805 square foot lot which includes 902 Eaton Street this home has 4 bedrooms and 3 full bathrooms. The master bedroom has a large covered deck overlooking the pool and landscaped yard. Be a part of Key West and it's remarkable history in this very special home."

I checked the historic Sanborn Fire Maps to see if I could determine when 407 Margaret Street was built. The 1889 map showed a "dwelling" located at what was then numbered as 816 Eaton Street. The address was changed to 802 Eaton Street on the 1892 map and changed again to 902 Eaton Street on the 1899 edition of the map. Today the entrance to the property is located off Margaret Street where there is also off street parking. Thus this big old house which once belonged to one of the primary doctors in Key West is identified by the Monroe County Property Appraiser and the United States Post Office as 407 Margaret Street even though the house faces Eaton Street.

The front of the house has a lot of "street appeal". The front porch wraps around the house where there is a second entrance near the kitchen which is located midway in the house. The porch is that formal and reflects the style and dignity one would expect of a doctor during another age. The doctor maintained his office in what is now

Today the former doctor's office is now a home office. I have seen several Old Town houses use similar front rooms for the same purpose. The room can be used as a guest bedroom but it has no closet. Note the abundance of clear coated Dade County Pine walls and floors punctuated by crisp white baseboards and trim work. The living area is located in the rear where glass sliders open out to the covered rear deck that overlooks the pool. There dining area is located adjacent to the kitchen. And there is a full bath on this level as well. 

The listing agent mentioned the view from the covered second floor rear deck off the master bedroom. The view is shown in the photo immediately below. The lot on which the house sits measures 34' X 107'. The adjacent lot on Margaret Street where the parking is located measures 33' X 42' for a total of 5795 sq ft of land.

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet on 407 Margret Street which is offered at $2,395,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing of this great old home. I used to own another doctor's home also located on Eaton Street. These grand old houses offer so much character and history. You owe it to yourself to take a look. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1503 Washington Street, Key West - A Fresh Look

New to the Key West real estate market is the recently updated manse at 1503 Washington Street in the Casa Marina East area. The listing Realtor describes this home this way:

"Enchanting home boasting custom luxury throughout. Not a detail spared in this brand new transformation to create a spectacular architectural masterpiece. Grand Brazilian-walnut double doors welcome you into a courtyard lush with plant life.Through the barrel-vaulted entry adorned with cascading ivy you enter the two-story foyer. The sleek, modern interior just underwent a renovation to allow the entire first floor to seamlessly connect the entertainment, dining and kitchen spaces.The new decor includes reclaimed oak flooring throughout, ornate molding, rustic /vintage-style fixtures, a white slate fireplace, quartz counters, updated baths and more. Viking gas-fueled appliances, custom cabinetry, spacious island, pass-thru counter to dining room and a wine cooler complete the chef's kitchen. Ascend the iron staircase to the second floor where a library with built-in bookshelf awaits. On further are the laundry room, office or bedroom and a whimsical custom bunkroom. Continue on to the master suite offering two walk-in closets, built-in storage and an en suite bath with double vanity, whirlpool soak tub and walk-in glass shower. Stunning outdoor spaces surround the home with tropical landscaping including a sandy beach area for lounging. A large covered patio boasts an outdoor kitchen, dining and lounging area all overlooking the heated pool. A Truly sensational home to encounter!"

The beige's of the former home were replaced by whites and earth tones. The home should now appeal to a whole new universe of potential buyers. I wrote about this house on two prior occasions and showed it several times. The house is sparsely furnished and this should give buyers a preview of what they could do.  The doors at the rear open out to the outdoor living area complete with a separate outdoor kitchen. The pool is located adjacent. Notice the barrel portico which leads along the east side of the home toward the front where there are covered off-street parking spaces on either side of the front entry.

The simple white painted walls and woodwork show more profoundly in the second floor library which dominates the two story entry hall. I think this space is both dramatic and practical. It gives purpose to space which might otherwise go unused. The new colors really do make a difference here. There is an adjacent laundry room which is really decked out and in keeping with the rest of this high end home. The owners are in the process of converting the home office into an additional bedroom.  The current guest bedroom with multiple bunk beds provides a novel sleeping set-up for families with several children or occasional guests. Both bedrooms share a large bath. The master suite is located in the rear. It has a huge master bath.

2013 photo of the outdoor living area and kitchen

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and more listing photos of 1503 Washington Street which is offered at $1,950,000.  Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642 to schedule a private showing of this impressive home. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.

1010 Elgin Lane, Key West - Time to Buy in Old Town

 Just Listed 1010 Elgin Lane, Key West. This place is so cute and so charming that it may not last the week.  I wrote about this timeless classic ten years ago. I was smitten then and I am smitten now. This home has the features most second home buyers in Key West seek - great location within easy walking distance to Duval Street and the Seaport, a pool, off street parking, three bedrooms, plus oodels of charm. And priced at just $1,295,000  it won't break the bank. I dug down into my old shoebox and found a photo taken in 1965 which shows the house in what I think was pretty much its original condition. This was taken before the invasion from the north. I also found two photos I took in 2010 when the house was sold to the current owners. The lower photos show the house as it looks today.

I researched the historic Sanborn Fire Maps and determined that this house first appeared on the 1912 map. There were numerous small cottages on earlier maps.The listing Realtor describes 1010 Elgin Lane this way:

"Tucked away on quiet Elgin Ln. you enter this magical property through the white picket fence surrounded by orchids and lush tropical landscaping. A classic deep front porch with porch swing is perfect for relaxing. The main home is Old Key West at its best with original Dade Co. pine floors, painted wood walls and ceilings. Every room in this home has a special feel. The spacious living room and den are both filled with eclectic character and Key West style. Featuring three bedrooms and three baths with one bedroom and bath on the first floor. The first floor bath details beautiful custom mosaic tile with a spacious shower and windows that open to the gardens. Roomy eat-in kitchen with windows and glass paned door out to the gardens. French doors open from the den to the outdoor space. Historic wood windows throughout the home fill the rooms with light bringing the outdoors in. Up the colorful wood staircase is one bedroom and bath as well a bonus space perfect for a studio or office. This one of a kind home only gets better when you reach the outdoors space. The rear gardens and heated pool are captivatingly flanked by a coastal one room guest cottage with full bath as well as a most enchanting octagonal pavilion with stunning architectural doors and arched windows. Many more special features such as the brick paved driveway."

 Years ago when I first arrived at the front gate I noticed a clock face next to the front gate with the ELGIN logo and clock hands indicating 10:10.  The new owners used the same imagery when they placed the clock on the front mailbox.  When you walk through the double gates and up the steps you enter a world where time seems to have stood still. There are few amenities that remind us we are in the second decade of the 21st Century. Instead, this old house looks pretty much today as it did a century ago. While some part so the house have sagged a bit, the sags are like character lines on a face. Some people can't live with the signs of age. Others embrace them. Take a look inside and see if like what you see.

The front door opens to an open hallway on the right which leads to the kitchen and dining area at the rear. The stairway to the second floor is also located there.  The living room is located immediately to the left. You'll quickly notice the wood floors which stand in stark contrast to colorfully painted Dade County Pine Walls and ceiling trimmed by crown molding. If you look back at the old black and white photos at the top you will see a small extension off the left side of the house. You'd never guess that small room could look as bold and beautiful as it is today. Look immediately above. How great a space is this?  French doors open out to the pool.

Even before I got to walk around the house this go-around, I was looking forward to seeing two things at this old house. There is a small guest cottage located as pool's edge. The place is so adorable. The guest cottage is a two room symphony in how to make sweet love. I cannot imagine any place better to be with the person you love most. This room is so simple and comfortable. The compact size, wood walls, ambient light, and privacy invite intimacy. I guess you could travel to Bail and rent a place overlooking a beach and find something better. Perhaps. But why bother when you could have your own Bali Hai moment every day.

The second thing I wanted to see was the folly. I remembered it from before. It is just a small shell for no useful purpose which provides such a wonderful space to express one's imagination as to the use of space. I was talking with a fellow Realtor about this house and said that our modern day HARC (Historic Architectural Review Commission) would never permit a structure like this to be built today unless the lot was extra large. HARC requires compliance with RULES which are actually GUIDELINES which they enforce through disapproval of plans. In my opinion houses built by committees suck. This house does not suck. It is a work of art.

As I moved from room to room I noticed the floors were wood but some had a different finish or look. That made me determine that the way the rooms were used and furnished played off of the floors and the existing Dade County Pine walls. These are real wide pine floor boards. The patina shows the rich history of this old house. The windows were old and original and not those new replacements that are made to look old. These are the real McCoys. A side hall took me to the rear where I was greeted by a  sweet breakfast nook. It is part of the large kitchen that takes up the rear 1/3 if the house. The kitchen is a saw tooth addition to the main house. The kitchen is so simple, but it looks like something you might see in a Ralph Lauren Home Furnishing Store. You don't see stainless steel or marble or granite. Thank God. The kitchen cabinets look ancient but aren't. The room looks like it evolved over time. It didn't. The kitchen is a work of art.

I asked the listing agent if the furnishings might be available for purchase and was told a definite NO. I'd try to persuade the seller to sell some if not all. That's because I don't have enough imagination to create something as clever as this. But a buyer who does have that special gene could have  field day in this old place.

"Because Elgin produced so many watches and produced so many spare parts, they can still be easily bought and fixed, so even a 100 year old Elgin can be used, with care, on a daily basis. While mechanical watches can't compete with quartz watches for accuracy, there is something about having a watch that ticks that a quartz watch just can't replace."

The Elgin Watch Collectors Site

I think the same can be said about old houses like this one.  

CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet to view more details and to see a lot of great photos of 1010 Elgin Lane. Then please pick up the phone and call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to discuss this truly great property. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.