Like inspired fantasy island art this splendid Key West botanical-oasis home stands in a class all in its own. Originally built in the early 1940"s as a "country-style conch house" this spectacular property was masterfully updated and aesthetically redesigned in the late 1990"s. I knew the folks who visualized the artistic transformation of this property and was privy to the excitement during the initial creative renovation. In the some 10 plus years I have known this special Key West home, it has continued to hold a special place in my heart, and today it stands beautiful as ever, discretely hidden from view and completely incognito.

The garden entrance to this property is on a "street less traveled" in the distinctive Casa Marina neighborhood of Old Town Key West. The front gate to the property is set up to the quiet street through a custom designed Japanese-meets-Caribbean style pergola. Envisioned as an exotic garden entrance, a vivid display of purple flowering vines were planted to wind through a custom Asian-style trellis that is perched atop Key West style capital fence posts.

THE GARDEN: Once featured in the Key West Old Island Restoration House and Garden Tours, this property is impressively set on two full Key West lots and the tropical garden encompasses one of them. Inside the front gate you"re met with a fantasy-like path of Boston brick that leads you to a remarkably spacious outdoor lanai and then on into the hidden forest garden. The garden path meanders past a grand grotto style pond and into an impressive variety of palm trees and native hardwoods. Low-lying tropical shrubbery makes an exotic under-story and depending on the time of year, some plants offer up impressive colorful blooms. When I first walked this special path and rounded the little bend past the pond, for just a second or two, I felt that childhood thrill of being in nature. Sounds of rustling palm fronds, the soothing natural pond and oasis style swimming pool make it easy to restore your senses and relax into simple island-time.

THE HOUSE: The great-room - The layout of the house offers up an enviable setting to kick-back and enjoy the Key West indoor-outdoor garden lifestyle. Some say the main room of the house is really the oversized garden lanai with custom wide planked decking, and tongue-and-groove ceiling with open beamed ceilings painted Caribbean Blue. A few artful bamboo and wooden chaise lounges are scattered around for lounging on the deck and provide the perfect place for a snooze after a dip in the pool. But, if you prefer to hang-out indoors, the spacious island chic great-room is just inside the double set of traditional French doors adjoining the lanai.

The beautiful great-room has been aptly described as "tropical grandeur." It was created by removing the original interior walls, opening up the ceilings to expose the cathedral beamed ceiling, and then adding an impressive line of custom single pane tall windows all across the front and along one side to bring in the garden view. The floor of the old original "Florida-Room" was raised to meet the height of the living room, and the old "mud room" became a gallery-style front entrance. Beautiful oak hardwood floors were added and an interior decorator created custom interior wall colors for all the rooms. Then, to top it off, a German artist was commissioned to create faux paint crown molding using a specialized paint brush technique.

The gourmet kitchen adjoining the great-room was completely remodeled at a later date and brought to elegant first-class standards. Custom wood grain cabinetry, white textured tile, and brown-tone granite counter tops were chosen to compliment the main living area. A double panel door breakfast bar between the kitchen and dining area was designed to complete the perfect chef's station within steps of the round 6-person dining table.

Up-scale tropical modern furnishings were chosen for the dining area and great room. The owner has chosen honey and chocolate colored rattan and water hyacinth furnishings with hibiscus red and sand tan upholstery. A round glass top dining table with 6 chairs, an oversized sofa, comfortable occasional and lounging chairs, and a large screen TV invite you to relax and let the stresses slip away. The whole effect is made complete with woven grass-mat area rugs, reed stick window blinds, a custom coffee table made from a hand-milled log, and original fine art work.

The Bedrooms and Bathrooms - There are 4 unique bedrooms and 2 luxury bathrooms in this home and all were artistically customized to enhance the original layout. Access to all the bedrooms and bathrooms is off an extra-wide hall just off the great room, with 3 bedrooms and both bathrooms on the first floor, and a 4th bedroom on the 2nd level at the top of the spiral staircase.

The luxurious master bedroom and gorgeous en-suite bathroom are at the end of the hall on the right, and the combination creates an incredible master suite. The originative attention to architectural detail resulted in a roomy master bedroom and an over-the-top luxury bath. The master bedroom was finished with custom off-white window and door trim, an open beamed board trimmed ceiling with matching wainscoting, and a stylized octagon exterior wall with a bank of sash windows with a view to the garden. A set of traditional double French doors lead from the master bedroom to the oasis-style swimming pool and, of course, the garden. The master bedroom offers a queen sized sleigh bed made from woven water hyacinth, and a matching seating bench is placed at the foot of the bed. Walls are faux painted a custom okra color and the floor is finished with off white tile.

The custom-made and highly stylized bathroom is an artistic one-of-a-kind creation that was inspired by a love for Key West garden living. A huge walk-in shower room is flanked on one side with a floor-to-ceiling curved glass block-tile wall. The over-sized bathtub has beautiful chrome fixtures and is framed with custom-built pillars with crown molding and garden green tiles. A commissioned mural painting of a red blooming Key West ginger bush and white orchids adorns the wall behind the bathtub, and the designer lighting and fixtures, faux painted wall color to match the bedroom and small white bathroom floor tiles complete the picture. Moving back down the hall towards the great-room we find the 2nd and third bedrooms. Off the hall, the 1st bedroom has a queen size bed and is shown in our slide show with sage colored walls and a hibiscus red and sage green pattern coverlet. The 2nd bedroom, shown with the aqua-blue walls, provides 2 twin size designer bunk beds. These two bedrooms are adjoined by a door that can be left open or shut for privacy, and the bedroom with the bunk beds nearest to the back of the house also has an exterior door that leads to the garden.

Across the hall you find the 2nd luxury custom built bathroom which is smaller than the master bath, but equally as stylized. It too has an oversized shower with a glass block-tile wall. This bathroom is finished with black and white tiles, designer fixtures and lighting, and customized cabinetry.

The 4th bedroom is found at the top of the spiral stair case in a 1/2 story room, and is shown in our slide show with peach colored walls and queen size bed with the sea-blue bedspread. When you close the door to this bedroom it feels like your own private garden nest. There are plenty of windows to let in the filtered sunlight light.

Sleeping configuration:

• First Floor- Master Bedroom: 1 - Queen size bed - French doors lead to garden and pool
• 2nd bedroom - 1 Queen size bed - privacy door between 2nd and 3rd bedroom
• 3rd bedroom - 2 Twin bunk beds - Door leads to garden
• Second Floor (1/2 story) - 4th bedroom - 1 Queen size bed

Amenities: Large tropical garden with meandering brick path, mature trees and plants, private oasis style swimming pool, garden pond, expansive lanai, privacy fences. Fully equipped gourmet kitchen, central a/c, telephone, large screen cable TV, stereo, washer / dryer. Linens and towels are provided. Catering can be arranged. Maid service can be scheduled.

Parking: Off-street parking for two cars.

Activities: Exclusive Casa Marina Old Town Key West in designated historic district. Just a 5 minute walk to Higgs Beach and on the beach Salute Restaurant and White Street Pier. Just one block from White Street Gallery District with Faustos Fine Foods grocery, Cuban Coffee shops, bakeries, and sandwich shops, variety of restaurants, art galleries, some retailers, fully equipped Island Gym. Bike or short walk to all Duval Street and downtown old town features.

Restrictions: Smoke free house. Only well behaved children. Smoking permitted outside only. No pets please. This property is ideal for a family or small group of friends and is not suitable for loud partying. We do not accept guests less than 25 years of age unless accompanied by a family group or guardian.