Designer Octagon House of Key West

Standing prominently in the sought-after Key West Historic Seaport Neighborhood, this iconic Designer Octagon House of Key West, makes a grand architectural statement. Truly a home of fine distinction, it also has an eminent restoration history that began in 1976. Most recently in 2018, it received a sensational interior design makeover that brought it to current 5-Star Quality Resort Amenities standards.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY:

Often referred to as ‘The Calvin Klein House,’ in truth the iconic Designer Octagon House of Key West was an avant-garde preservation project accomplished by designer superstar Angelo Donghia during 1976.
When he got to Key West in the 1970’s he was taken with the hundreds of historic wooden houses and craftsmen who were beginning to restore them. When he found the unique octagon house on Eaton Street, it had been standing for over 90 years. Donghia was somewhat reluctant to do the project because of the neglected state of house. But dreamer that he was, in 1976 he purchased it for $45,000, and spent two years restoring it. He turned it into a spectacular show piece putting his indelible signature on the southernmost city.

Donghia’s renovation project was impeccable to the point where the house sold in 1981 to Calvin Klein for nearly $1 million; 15 times the original purchase and a record price at the time. Today we owe thanks to Angelo Donghia for saving this iconic home while raising the bar on historic home renovation in Key West. In homage to Donghia’s preservation of the home, an old photograph of the front of the house as it looked when it was restored is hung on a wall.

THE HOUSE TODAY:

INTERIOR LAYOUT – DOWNSTAIRS:

As you enter the garden gate, the bright turquoise shutters on the house captivate your attention, and your eye is naturally drawn to the center of the octagon porch to find the front entrance. But before we step inside to take our tour, take a moment to admire the lush tropical gardens, the proportioned five-sided porch details, and matching blue Adirondack rocking chairs that will tempt you to stop here and simply relax into the beauty of the surroundings.

Entrance Hall and Dining Room: When you step inside, the 12-foot ceilings and tall arches with crown molding are immediately uplifting. Next, notice how the entrance hall features a classic Victorian staircase leading to the 2nd floor, creating a stately ambience. Always an intriguing feature in the grand centurion Key West Victorians, this staircase is elegant, curving out at the bottom. Except for the spindles, all woodwork is painted white, in traditional contrast to the bold yellow painted walls of the entrance way.

All you need to do is follow the yellow wood walls toward the back of the house and you’re in the vibrant dining room. Here again, classical is contrasted with contemporary with a traditional dark wood dining table and 10 rattan chairs set in the middle of the bright yellow room.

Donghia once said that “everything happened, it seemed, in houses with great moldings,” and as you stand and look around, you’ll see how the thick wooden moldings connect the dining room, living room and the kitchen – one room flowing into the next from the front or the house to the back. Essentially what you experience, is an open concept room, but classical style, with just enough wall space to keep the rooms visually separate.

Living Room: The living room is where we first get to experience the dramatic feel of the octagon space inside the house. A long semi-circular gray-blue sofa centered across the five-sided windows creates a stunning conversation space for family and friends to gather, or even better to just lounge and relax. The mix of the generously proportioned sofa with anvil shape side tables set in bleached wood floors and white pickled walls, adds to the overall beauty of this room.

First Floor Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom (Bedroom One): The spacious 1st floor bedroom, has two access points. The main door connects though the wide dining room arch, with double pocket doors and a 2nd door adjoins the living room. Upscale tropical furnishings include a honey-tone king size 4-poster bamboo-wood and wicker bed with matching dresser and side tables, armoire and a sisal rug to add natural texture to the floor.

The en-suite bathroom is in sync with the calming influence of the bedroom. Beautiful bleached bare-wood walls and white tile wainscoting behind the floating white vanity with modern molded square sink create a spa-like feel. A tiled step-in shower closes with a frameless glass door. Another nice feature is a door that conveniently leads outside to the back covered porch – ideal when you want to throw on your suit and go right out to the swimming pool.

Designer Kitchen: The kitchen adjoins the dining Encompassing the entire back of the house, the kitchen is synonymous with a bold contemporary design in a luxury cooking environment. Unexpected combinations of patterns, colors and textures include spectacular Neolith Calacatta quartz surfaces, and bright white cabinets with window pane tops set in striking contrast to bright red, yellow, and cobalt blue parrot patterned wall paper. Two sash windows over the kitchen counter plus two sets of single pane French doors provide multiple views of the expansive wooden deck and lush tropical pool-garden in the back yard.

Then for a prepping for a meal or in-kitchen eating, there’s a stainless-steel sink with brushed nickel faucets, and a wine fridge underneath. Throughout the kitchen, floor tiles perfectly match with the quartz countertops. High-end appliances include a chefs Viking stove with 6 burners, double oven, built-in Bosch microwave, Viking refrigeration with double freezer on the bottom, and touch water dispenser inside the fridge.

Conveniently not only from the kitchen, the half-bath is easily accessible from the back deck just outside the French door. It’s beautifully decorated with Caribbean blue walls, bright white wainscoting, a floating white sink vanity, and unique gray-tone hexagon floor tiles.

INTERIOUR LAYOUT – UPSTAIRS:

Bedroom Two: Returning to the front entrance hall, our tour now goes upstairs to the 2nd floor to view three more bedrooms and two bathrooms. At the top landing, look straight ahead, then to your left to find the entrance to bedroom two. We find more awesome color used in this bedroom, with original pine wood walls painted a striking lavender with white ceilings and trim. Furnished with upscale bright white contemporary colonial furnishings, this bedroom provides a queen size 4-poster bed with matching headboard and bedside tables. A full-size abstract rug on the wood floor carries on the tropical ocean theme with images of lobsters and coral. Two sash windows look out toward the garden and the 1st floor roof and bring in the sunlight.

Bathroom Two (Shared Bathroom) – Directly outside Bedroom Two just a few steps away from the door, is a full bathroom. This bathroom is also shared with Bedroom Four just around the corner at the end of the hallway. A white modern vanity with molded sink, bare bleached wood walls and ceiling, and floor subway tiles of soft blue, gray, and white. A full-size bathtub and in-tub shower walls are tiled with large faux light gray-white marble bath tiles. A surprise artistic feature is a ships-portal window set in the in the shower wall.

Master Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom (Bedroom Three) – found immediately on the left and Bedroom Four at the end of the hall. If you want to sleep in the unique octagon space, make your bid for the master bedroom on the 2nd floor. An exotic black and white scene is created using dark wood furniture with a lathe turned 4-poster King size bed and William and Mary style side tables, set against the bleached bare-wood walls and white trim that remain from Donghia’s timeless restoration. With the dark headboard at the center window, the bed is gently enveloped by the five-sided white trimmed windows. A large armoire holds a 43-inch TV. An intricate and stunning black and white Indian honeycomb pattern chest placed at the foot of the bed and a faux zebra rug create a chic ambiance and complete the room.

The spectacular en-suite bathroom continues with the black and white monochromatic scheme. The entire large shower is made of frameless glass making it nearly disappear. Two modern gray-wash floating vanities, with lighted mirrors, are placed on either side of a small-scale French door leading to the 2nd floor verandah. Soft gray-wash floor tiles are perfectly matched with the vanities. When you’re done showering, put on a nice robe, and you’re in perfect position to walk out the adjoining French door and sit on the porch to enjoy your morning coffee or an evening glass of wine.

Bedroom Four: Situated at the end of the 2nd floor hallway, this bedroom is painted in energetic Caribbean blue with a sand-tone rug. In contrast, walnut tone wooden furniture, including the queen size bed, take a calming South Asian flare lending the room its own exotic feel. The original closet is in place for hanging clothes. This bedroom also has the special feature of a private door that leads directly to the 2nd floor verandah overlooking the front and side garden.

EXTERIOR LAYOUT:

Porches and Verandahs –

Key West is known for its alluring gingerbread wrap around verandahs, and this home is famous for its iconic octagon front porches. In the front of the house, the 1st and 2nd floor verandahs offer unique places to relax

In the back of the house, an expansive covered porch adjoins the kitchen through two sets of single-pane French doors on two sides of the house. A string hammock is strung on one side of porch when you just want to hang out, and when you’re ready to explore the lush tropical gardens or go to the swimming pool, three sweeping stairs, the length of the porch, unify the back porch with the grand bricked garden.

GROUNDS:

Back Yard: A phenomenal paradise, the expansive back yard feels like a small private luxury resort with attention to absolutely every detail! Much of it is covered with beautiful brick pathways winding through exotic garden spots planted with a large variety of mature tropical trees, palms, and beautiful flowers. One garden spot features a trickling waterfall that spills into a koi pond. An outdoor dining table is perfectly placed in the garden, not far from the back porch.

Beyond the winding brick garden paths, at the back of the property, is a full-size swimming pool surrounded with a large wooden deck. A low brick wall provides a transition between the garden and pool.

The poolside area is staged for outdoor recreation with a large wooden pagoda, built along one side of the pool. Under the roof, the pagoda is staged with cushy club lounge chairs, a stainless-steel ice maker with two beverage cooler drawers, and a large flat-screen TV. On the other side of the pool, the deck is set with chaise lounges, sun umbrellas, and a full-size ping pong table. Then, at the back of the pool an adorable white cottage with Caribbean blue shutters was transformed into a poolside bathroom with sink and commode. Next to the bathroom cottage, is an outdoor shower.

Front and Side: A quintessential white picket fence completes the romantic tropical setting in the front garden, while lushly landscaped grounds and privacy fencing continue down both sides of the property all the way around to the back. On the east side of the property, there is a bricked driveway for off-street parking.