Tucked behind an alluring white-picket fence, this elegantly renovated Island Cosmopolitan Cottage reflects an upscale blend of contemporary with historic architectural design. The floorplan embraces the indoor / outdoor luxury lifestyle, an important part of Key West living, where daily routines involve moving naturally from comfortable indoor rooms to relaxing outdoor decks and gardens. Situated in the White Street Gallery Neighborhood, this home serves up a unique slice of the Key West tropical lifestyle. The elegant amenities are all here - both inside the cottage and on the grounds, making this a perfect place to stay in Old Town Key West for a month or more.

The sophisticated style of this Key West cottage is apparent from the moment you park your car on the bricked driveway and walk through the front gate. Lapstrake siding, painted a soft sage green, blends perfectly with the ferns and palm trees, subtly creating a tranquil transitional zone between the street side of the property and the front entrance. Then, as you walk around to the left side of the house, just past the driveway, you’ll find the wide wooden diagonal plank deck that leads to the back yard and private swimming pool.

Grounds:

A long L-Shape wooden deck winds from one side of the house to the back. Lined with privacy fences, and a variety of lush landscaping, the deck becomes several different outdoor living spaces as you walk through it. Kept uncluttered, the deck spaces are appointed with neutral outdoor furnishings. The overall effect creates calming minimalist outdoor rooms that are strategically placed around the deck - an outdoor dining table and chairs in one area, chaise lounges in another, and deck chairs in yet another.

The jewel of the grounds is the large lap-pool that extends nearly the entire width of the backyard. Around the corner of the house just past the pool, enjoy one of the most fun features of the house, an outdoor shower. Then, centered at the back of the cottage, and overlooking the swimming pool, a columned portico with a tall gable roof creates another outdoor room, seamlessly connecting to the open-concept great-room inside.

Interior Layout:

Great-room - Sets of French doors topped with a large transom window over the portico assure that fresh air and plenty of light will stream into the great room. Gorgeous historic heart-pine walls are left bare in the living / dining room area to recapture this Key West cottage’s early 1900’s heritage. Rooms feel spacious with high ceilings and crown molding painted in white. Interior design layers of natural textured sisal rugs on knotty pine hardwood floors and tasteful island theme artwork make you feel at home in artistic luxury. By mixing a dash of contemporary style with selected cottage pieces, the interior designer created an understated elegant island style cosmopolitan hide-away.

The kitchen is on the west side of the great-room, perfectly placed in relation to the dining and living room areas, conveniently located near the portico leading to the outside deck - ideal for serving food and drinks outside. Wine enthusiasts will appreciate the beautiful wooden wine-bar bar set to store up to 24 bottles of your favorite selections. The kitchen is built-out handsomely with a black sink and appliances, white custom cottage style cabinets, and earth-tone granite counter tops that wrap around three walls. From here, the cook can easily keep a watchful eye on the swimming pool through a French door and windows.

The counters are dual-height – standard counter top on the kitchen side for prepping meals, and taller on the dining side for sitting or standing. Six dining stools are placed along the taller counters, and recessed ceiling lights provide plenty of light. When you want to eat together, there is also a wooden dining table and chairs placed in the center of the dining area.

The living room area is on the east side of the great-room, opposite the kitchen, and is arranged for media entertainment. It offers a comfy duck cotton sofa, two tropical style easy chairs, coffee table, and flat-screen 32-inch TV. A ceiling fan overhead will keep you cool when you lounge with the French doors open, and as with other rooms throughout the cottage, a traditional double-hung sash window guarantees a natural light-filled room all year long.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms - Next, we make our way down the hall to the bedrooms and bathrooms. But as we go, take notice how the hallway runs straight down the middle of the cottage, from the front door to the back door. This is a , a definitive ‘shot-gun’ architecture design feature we find in historic Key West houses. But also notice how the back of the cottage opens to a steep gable roof with columns – this is a telltale colonial design element, that was added during a renovation. Can a cottage be a both shot-gun AND colonial design? This one is! We always appreciate the unique architecture of historic Key West houses, and how the early and contemporary builders combine them to creat amazing spaces.

Master Bedroom Suite - Moving down the hallway, on the first door on the right, we find the spacious master bedroom suite with king-size bed, and luxury en-suite bathroom. A calming and comfortable vibe is established throughout the master suite with muted wall colors, floor-length linen curtains, and white wooden colonial shutters. A linen button-tufted headboard with platform bed and harlequin 5-drawer dresser lend a European flare, while original heart-pine wood walls and five-panel bedroom door retain the historic essence of the room. A cream-colored leather barrel chair,  and pretty artwork complete this beautiful room to rest and rejuvenate.

A doorway next to the chair, leads to the elegant en-suite bathroom. Hardwood floors continue into the bathroom, which is nicely redone combining modern fixtures with cottage style features. A long grey granite counter with vessel sink is set on a white cottage style vanity base, while the historic wooden walls are painted a creamy white to match the bedroom. The oversize shower spans the entire width of the bathroom and is finished in earth-tone slate tiles and a tall glass wall with frameless shower door.

Second Bathroom and Laundry - Stepping back into the hall, opposite the master suite, we find the shared  bathroom, located between the great-room and the 2^nd bedroom. A stunning orange feature wall in the shared bathroom, takes a turn from the muted palate of the rest of the house, and provides a striking contrast to the white bathroom tiles and hardwood floor. This bathroom provides a bath tub with in-tub shower, and white pedestal sink.There is also a laundry closet in this bathroom with a stacking washer / dryer. Access between the main guest bedroom and shared bathroom are easy since their doors are next door to each other.

Second Bedroom - The pretty 2^nd bedroom takes on a French Caribbean feel in design and color. Done up with a teal color diamond stenciled bureau, bedside tables, and bedroom chair, it provides a queen size white wooden platform bed with storage drawers beneath it. Built on the wall opposite the bed, an artistic renovation used six panel wood doors painted white and topped with crown molding, to create a wardrobe alcove for the pretty bureau and the closet. Wood parquet flooring laid on the bias is another elegant feature. Bamboo blinds on two of the large sash windows amp up the island feel, and colonial shutters above the bed integrate the décor with the rest of the cottage.

Third Bedroom / Den - Finally, we look at the 3^rd bedroom, which is nearest to the front of the cottage. When the cottage was first built in the early 1900’s, this room was a front porch. But fast-forward to the 21^st century, when the architect closed it in with a creative and functional contemporary design. A versatile layout, two combined spaces now have a wide square arch that connects them to make one stylish room. It can comfortably be used as a bedroom for those who want to sleep separately, a den for reading or watching TV, or a separate small office space to work remotely.

Each space in this 3^rd bedroom has a built-in twin size bed with storage drawers underneath. Dressed as day-beds, both twin beds are great spaces to lounge or sleep. In the space nearest the front corner of the house, there is an alcove with a reading chair, overlooking the front yard through four windows. A privacy wall between the alcove and the rest of the room, has built-in book shelves. In our slide show it displays an artistic collection of glass balls and vases.

Pass through the square arch to find the second built-in twin bed. Directly across from this bed, there is a beautiful faux bamboo-style dresser set between two closets; built-in the same creative design as we see in the 2^nd bedroom. A 32-inch TV is set on top of the dresser. Nice quality island and nautical theme wall art create a definitive space that brings the tropical feeling indoors.

Bedding Summary:

• Bedroom 1 (Master Bedroom) – 1 king size bed
• Bedroom 2 – 1 Queen size bed
• Bedroom 3 – 2 built-in platform twin size beds (cannot be joined)  

Amenities: Upscale renovation with many extras. Beautifully decorated and furnished. Fully equipped up-scale kitchen. 32- inch flat screen TV living room. 32-inch flat screen TV in 3^rd bedroom / den. Central A/C. Linens and Towels are provided. There is a laundry closet in the 2^nd bathroom with washer/dryer. Long heated lap swimming pool, lush manicured tropical gardens, large private sun deck, BBQ grill.

Activities: Conveniently located close to White Street where you find Faustos Fine Food Palace (grocery shopping), art galleries, restaurants, authentic Cuban coffee shops, hair salons, restaurants and coffee shops. Yoga studio, massage therapist, chiropractor, consignment shops, two gas stations. Close to Higgs Beach, children’s parks, tennis and pickleball courts, White Street Pier. Ride your bike to Duval Street and the Southernmost point of the U.S. in 20 minutes.

Area:  White Street, referred to by many as "The Local's Duval," offers a culturally diverse assortment of locally favorite businesses including restaurants, bakeries, Cuban Coffee shops, consignment shops, tile stores, small grocery stores, and art galleries. A variety of art galleries now deems it the "White Street Gallery District," and because the former home of famous playwrite Tennessee Williams is in this neighborhood this district is also his namesake. The architecture presents an eclectic variety of mid 1900's to mid-20th century architecture to create an authentic Key West neighborhood ambience. From here you can walk to the beach in 5-10 minutes and to Duval Street in 20. Just 2 blocks to the classic Dairy Queen.

Parking: This home has a private designated off-street parking paved with bricks for one car. Parking on the street is fine too.

Restrictions: Month minimum rental. Smoke free house. No pets please. Not suitable for staging loud parties. Maximum of 6 guests allowed. We do not accept guests less than 25 years of age unless accompanied by a family group or guardian.