I finally got to take a full tour 628 White Street yesterday afternoon during an open house. It is a beautiful Old Town landmark.There lookers inside when I entered, as I walked around, and when I left. A steady stream of potential buyers. Before we look around, checkout the photo taken from the same location in 1965 - half a century ago. This is one very pretty home. Great lines. Oh, and HARC, dormers were used in Old Town. HARC hates dormers.
Other than the fence being added, not much else has changed. I know the current owner replaced the original jalousie windows with impact glass windows. It is super quiet and hurricane safe inside.
As I approached the front door I sensed I had been in this house before. There is off street parking on the right. The front porch is prim and proper. The house and grounds are in immaculate condition. I entered and saw the listing Realtor in the rear. I know for sure I was inside last year when customers of mine stayed here. I only saw the living area on the first floor then. I distinctly remember asking them how they liked the house. They loved it. I was about to get my turn to see why.
First, this place has a sense of home. While the house is old, it does not feel old. It is neither a museum nor re-invention. It is just a very clean and easy living environment with south facing windows bathing the interior with subtle light. There is a media wall in the living area which has ample seating for an entire family. I have seen the same room divide in many houses of that era. A door at the side of the kitchen leads to a first floor guest bathroom and the pool and outside kitchen beyond.
The master bedroom and en-suite take up about two thirds of the space of the first floor north side of the house. Both rooms are extra large. The rear hall and guest bath take up the balance. The ceilings are tall. Tall men who have trouble in houses with low ceilings and older couples who don't want to do stairs will love this space.
When I arrived at the second floor I had to pause. I had a sense of de-javu. But I knew for certain I had never been inside this area - ever. And then my mind took to me to a very similar house in the 600 block of Grinnell Street. Both houses had front and rear bedrooms with a landing area in between. The spaces were designed differently. There is a sweet little office nook sandwiched in under the south facing dormer. I took a picture of the wedding cake house across the street. I have never been inside that house either. I remember watching carpenters and painters work on if for months - making every detail perfect. Not a bad view. Oh and the cemetery for the fallen of the Battleship Maine is across the street. There is no parking on that side of the street. It is a quiet and lovely neighborhood.
There is a little media room with sofa, television, gaming equipment, and so forth located opposite the desk area.
As soon as I entered the front bedroom I headed over to the little nook overlooking the cemetery. It is the perfect place for reading, knitting, or Twittering. This space is so cute and so Key West.
The rear bedroom is equally charming. It has an en-suite bath. There is a second full bath off the hallway. The bathrooms are pure luxury.
The pool is longer than the daytime photo suggests. The night photo does not do the space justice. There is a full outdoor kitchen - that trend is picking up here. More money for the appliance dealers and more things for the cleaning people to attend to when the owner or guests go back up north. See the door at the end of the pool? That is the garage which is entered off Angela Street. For all its loveliness, this house has clutter too. It is stored inside the garage. It will go away when the house is sold.
This is a big house on a bit lot. The house has 2,851 Sq Ft of interior living space and sits on a 6,030 Sq Ft corner lot. Thee are two one bedroom apartments for income. I did not tour. There off street parking on both White and Angela Street.
CLICK HERE to view the Key West MLS datasheet and professional photos of this beautiful Key West landmark home offered for sale at $3,425,000. Then please call me, Gary Thomas, 305-766-2642, to schedule a private showing. Showings are tough as this home is actively rented as a monthly vacation rental. I am a buyers agent and a full time Realtor at Preferred Properties Key West.
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