1107 Fleming Street - Old Town - Key West

1107 Fleming Street - Key West - February 2011

1107 Fleming Street - Key West - circa 1978

The asking price on the one time home of William Copley (surrealist artist - CLICK HERE to read more about him and his work) was just reduced to $1,350,000 which makes this Key West property an interesting buying opportunity. The listing Realtor describes 1107 Fleming Street (shown in the almost antique looking photo above) this way:

"Built circa 1895, this grand historic home had a cigar maker's cottage moved from another area and abutted to the main structure in the rear. It was once owned by the well-known surrealistic artist, William Copley. A trap-door slit still exists where he passed his paintings from the 3rd floor studio apartment to the 2nd floor. There are two bedrooms and a bath on the second floor and another bedroom and bath on the first floor. Classic moldings and historic pine are evident throughout. Includes a formal parlor in the front and a large open kitchen, dining, living room in the rear with screen porch on the side. Multi-layers of decking descend to a large solar heated pool. This home is ready to be personalized to your specifications."

William Copley, 1976

Today the outside has a strong and formal feel to it. The stairs evident in the 1978 vintage photo are gone now. A new white picket fence has been added. The clapboards are painted gray and the trim a bright white. The entry is formal and lets all who enter know that this is an important house. Before reading on CLICK HERE to view the listing photos shown. Once you enter the door you instantly "get" this place. This is an "old house" and many of the rooms are compartmentalized as was the case in older homes. Each room has a defined purpose whereas many contemporary homes have big open spaces where uses merge. The new kitchen and informal living area at the rear make this place work for modern living and still allows the owner to use the other rooms for original intended purposes.

OMG!
The bedrooms are located on the second floor. The art chute from the once third floor artist studio still exists and invites you to go upstairs to see what this is all about. The third floor is an OMG! What a space. What a view. And the view from the inside looking out (see photo above) is to use the most over-used word in America today "awesome". And I sincerely mean that.

A buyer who covets a home with a grand feel will love this place. The formality of another era is still present here. But modern day whimsy is scattered throughout this place as well. The house has 2776 sq ft of living space on three floors. The house has front porches on the first and second floor which makes for excellent people watch. (Two guesthouse are located at the end of the street and you will have excellent material to watch as the temporary tenants stroll back and forth during the day and neighbors walk their dogs and do the things neighbors do.) More interesting are the multi-tiered decks at the rear which provide sunning spaces that lead down to the bright and sunny pool. There is even a sun deck on the second floor. Look carefully at the photos below to see if you see what I see.



1107 Fleming Street is a big house. It is too big a house for many. But if you are a buyer with a large family or if you have lots of friends and like to entertain, this may be the place for you. And if you are an artist that craves space to create, we already know this house works. It is now priced at just $1,350,000.

If you would like to see 1107 Fleming Street, please contact me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642. I am a buyer's agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Coastal Realty, Inc. in Key West. It will be exciting to see who the next owner of this great home will be.