Everything about this historic Key West tropical gem adds up to make a precious private garden cottage. Sitting in the mature tropical tree garden in the hidden back yard, you would never know you're just 1/2 block off Duval Street in Old Town Key West. It is indeed rare to find a cottage property in this downtown island location situated on two full private lots with such lush mature tropical landscaping.

This unique vacation garden cottage was refreshed complete with new kitchen and new flooring throughout in 2009. In January 2010 a new landscape design was created for the back garden and the swimming pool was re-stored to brand-new condition. If you have stayed at Down Island Digs before or if you've heard about it, you'll love the upgrades and attention to detail of this authentic vintage circa 1918 historic island cottage. While we have honored its well earned charm, we have added lots of spice and luxurious comfort features.

A focal point of this unique property is the Key West quintessential indoor / outdoor living that makes island life so wonderful. Even though you are located in the down town Key West area, the entire large back garden is made private with high fences and unless you've been back in this yard you would never know this spacious garden is here. A redesign of the garden in January 2010 features an adorable tropical living area complete with lounging hammock stretched between a giant gumbo-limbo and grand palm tree. A round stone garden table set amidst a stage of soft river stones and variety of fanciful foliage, makes a relaxing setting to enjoy a garden lunch that you can buy right across the street at Fausto's Fine Food Palace. At the front part of the garden, next to the cottage, is a wooden pool deck which is joined by sliding glass doors to the interior living room and pool-side bedroom. The wooden deck surrounds the graceful lounge pool which you enter down a graduated underwater stair case.

In contrast to the expansive back garden, the interior sitting room area of the cottage is made cozy and charming. Colorful walls of Caribbean blue and sage green create the back drop for whimsically framed mirrors that offset the comfy coral colored sofette, fan-back "queen chair" and home spun dining table that command the space between the indoors and outdoors. Then over-sized sliding glass doors open up the back of the cottage by connecting the deck on both sides of the living room to draw guests onto the deck to the outdoors. Chocolate colored wicker outdoor living room furniture provides plenty of pool side seating under a forest green awning to create an irresistible tropical indoor / outdoor living room comfortable for lounging.

The newly renovated U-shaped kitchen is traditional cottage-style with bright white tiles and new light wood cabinets. Adjoining the small dining and living room area, the kitchen is fully equipped, offers a full size electric range, dishwasher, and refrigerator with ice maker and has a nice view of the pool and garden so the cook can be part of the party. New cottage wooden floors throughout the living room, kitchen, and bedrooms that feels nice to bare feet.

The bedrooms have a tropical flare and are comfortable and inviting. The coral colored spacious master suite is toward the front of the cottage and offers a luxurious king size, cottage-style white 4-poster bed, with pillow top mattress, full size sofa sitting area, and wall mounted flat screen TV. The master suite offers an en-suite bath and has direct outdoor access to the front porch of the cottage for sitting and watching the world go by.

The sage-colored pool side bedroom is toward the back of the cottage and offers a queen size bed and bedside TV and DVD player. This bedroom has a view of the pool and sliding glass doors that open out directly onto the pool deck for that quick dip in the morning.

Interior Layout: The floor plan of this vintage cottage has been re-worked to focus the main living area toward the back of the cottage so that indoor / outdoor pool garden living is maximized. The cottage is not entered through the front door, but instead is accessed through an extra tall locked green garden gate situated immediately to the left of the front of the cottage. Once through the gate a deck leads to the back of the cottage where you enter to the interior. As you enter the cottage you step into the sitting / dining / kitchen area which also has sliding glass doors on the back wall that lead to the pool deck and garden.

Proceeding forward, past the dining area, you find the sage colored pool-side bedroom which also has a sliding glass doors leading to the pool. Immediately to the right of this bedroom is a full bathroom just off the open hall. At the end of the hall just past the kitchen, is door to the coral colored master bedroom. Located towards the front of the cottage, the master suite was the original living room space, before the cottage was reconfigured to meet modern requirements of linking the interior to the outdoor pool garden area. An en-suit bathroom joins the master bedroom to the right of the bedroom door.

The front sitting porch, and front door entrance, is visible to the street but has been railed off to block street access and has been re-designed to become a private sitting porch for the master bedroom.

Note: The layout of this cottage makes it ideal for 2 couples or it is a wonderful space for 1 couple or single who want to spread out. The sleeper sofa in the master suite works great for one couple with a child, or for guests who need extra space and do not mind sharing a bedroom.

Sleeping configuration:

• Master bedroom Four Poster king (pillow top mattress) size bed.
• Queen Sleeper sofa
• Second Bedroom - queen size bed.
• Living room - twin sleeper sofa.

Amenities: Swimming pool, pool deck, large tropical gardens. New fully equipped kitchen, a/c, telephone, High Speed Internet, cable TV and DVD, stereo, washer / dryer. Linens and towels are provided. Catering can be arranged. Maid service can be scheduled.

Parking: Private off - Street Parking in lot across the street for one car. If you arrive by car plan to park it in your designated private parking space and enjoy walking or biking around the island.

Activities: This property is located right next door to our Pavilion Villa and is just a few blocks from Mallory Square, steps from Fausto's Fine Foods for grocery shopping, excellent downtown restaurants, popular clubs, the Historic Seaport, and tropical shops makes this one of the most requested and convenient accommodations in Key West. With the size of the garden in this downtown location we are pleased to offer it as one of our more unique properties available in Old Town.

Restrictions: Smoke free house. Only well behaved children. This property is not "child-proof." We do not accept guests less than 25 years of age unless accompanied by a family group or guardian. Smoking permitted outside only. Absolutely no pets. (Please don't ask!) This home is offered as an exclusive vacation rental in the most requested location in Key West.