1518 VonPhister

The Island Elegance monthly rental is strikingly set in the oft-missed Key West mid-town neighborhood. Prominently built on a corner lot, this 3BR 3BA home makes a classical curbside statement with a contemporary twist. Timeless craftsman architecture displays a covered front porch with capital posts and a triple-set of dormer windows. In the Fall of 2021, a beautiful swimming pool with spacious sun deck was added. White picket fencing ties it all together and creates a quintessential Key West ambiance.

Island Elegance is situated on a quiet street lined with a charming assortment of island architecture ranging from Caribbean cabanas to vernacular Victorians.  The setting of this home is perfect for persons who are searching for a Key West hideaway for a month or more. This home is well away from the hubbub, yet near well-loved destinations including, Higgs Beach, Salute on the Beach Restaurant, the White Street Pier, and the extraordinary gardens of the West Martello Pre-Civil War Fort.  As this Key West map shows, the mid-town neighborhood home is still close enough to Old Town that you can easily get around Key West by walking and bicycling. 

Living Room / Kitchen / Dining Room:

We begin our tour of Island Elegance at the front yard. Walk through the gate to the spacious front porch. A double set of varnished wooden French doors, with leaded glass windows, welcome you inside. Step into the spacious great room and notice how grand it feels with its sloping open-beamed ceilings.

Tropical color, texture, and light play an important part in the décor of the house, and the effect is both relaxing and stimulating. One of the first things you'll notice is how the home is filled with light. Skylights in the kitchen and roof dormer windows invite in the natural daylight. When the sun goes down, recessed ceiling lights and fashionably hung pendants keep the room bright. Colors are topical and fun. Contemporary tropical furnishings are mixed with traditional classic design. White ceilings are in perfect contrast to Key West lime green walls. Furniture fabrics echo the bright flora you see in the island landscape outside.  A large flat-screen TV is prominently mounted for indoor entertainment.

Directly opposite the front doors, French doors in the dining area lead to the back deck. But first take notice of the ample space in the great room and the elegant glass topped dining table lit with a contemporary chandelier. The handsome spacious U-shaped kitchen has mahogany cabinets that run the length of the two kitchen walls. The dark cabinets are in harmony with black appliances and granite counter tops. On the living room side of the great room, the countertop extends to a counter height L-shape. This forms a perfect place for coffee and a nice place to set up a laptop. At the far end of the kitchen, a door leads out to a covered porch with a comfortable seating group.

Bedrooms and Bathrooms:

Island Elegance offers a split-bedroom floor plan. The great room is at the center of the house. The master suite adjoins it on one end of the living room, with the other two bedrooms and 2nd bathroom on the opposite side. This layout offers additional privacy for whomever claims the master bedroom suite. 

The master bedroom and en-suite bath feel spacious and uplifting with soaring ceilings finished up to the roof  to reveal the dormer windows.  Bedroom walls are painted sunshine yellow - a nice contrast with the dark wood furniture. Also featured in the master suite are the glass sliding doors overlooking the furnished covered porch outside.

The master bedroom offers a king size bed, a dresser with mirror and side tables with reading lamps. The tiled en-suite bathroom provides a double sink vanity, upscale bath fixtures, and an oversized shower with frameless French glass doors. A swath of tropical wallpaper adds a nice touch.

Our slide show now leaves the master suite and moves to the 2nd and 3rd bedrooms on the opposite side of the great room. Both the 2nd and 3rd bedroom  provide a queen size bed. However, each bedroom has a unique island theme décor. The bedroom toward the back of the house  is painted off-white and furnished with honey colored wicker and wood furnishings. With the bed made up in cheerful tropical colors, the room takes on an exotic island feeling. In contrast, the front bedroom features white wicker furniture with a pastel palette of green, blue and yellow. Hand faux painted leaf-green wainscoting topped with two adorable blue sea-horse wall plaques creates a playful island style.

Just out the bedroom doors is the full bathroom to be shared with the 2^nd and 3^rd bedrooms. Handsome as it is functional, the bathroom is nicely tiled, and provides a single dark wood vanity with black granite counter and a single sink. If you like to soak, this bathroom provides a bathtub along with an in-tub shower. And to remind you that you are in Key West, one wall features creative underwater tropical theme wallpaper. 

Pool Bath and Laundry Room:

The pool bath and laundry room are located off the outside back deck, just off the kitchen. Step out the kitchen door and it's straight ahead. Enjoy the beautifully designed combination laundry room with a pool bathroom.

The pool bath / laundry room is complete with a full-size tiled shower, toilet, full-size laundry sink, and a folding table. Since you’re not very far from the beach, this bathroom becomes the perfect place to rinse off the sand, and drop off your suit, beach towels, and dive gear.

Grounds:

The focal point of the Island Elegance grounds is the swimming pool garden in the side yard. Added as a luxury feature in 2021, the swimming pool and deck is easily accessed from both the back and front of the house. French doors off the great room lead onto the deck and pool. You can also get to the pool garden from the front yard. As you step off the front porch, a flagstone pathway takes you to the pool and deck on the side.

The pool provides an in-ground stairway on one end and a lounge bench on the other. It is large enough to do a few laps. The surrounding deck is staged with a modern outdoor sectional sofa and ottoman, plus comfortable chaise lounges for sunbathing. Native and tropical landscaping line the pool deck.

One more thing: Before we finish our tour, walk back around to the front garden of the property. The front porch and garden of the home is a beautiful feature in and of itself. Two rocking chairs are placed on the porch. From here it's delightful to relax and take in the outdoor scene. You may even find yourself making a new daily island ritual of  taking morning coffee and reading the local news. 

Bedding Summary:

• Master Bedroom - King Size bed
• Front Bedroom - Queen Size bed
• Back Bedroom  - Queen Size Bed

Parking:

This property offers plenty of parking. Take your choice of the brick paved private driveway or pull up in front along the street to park if you need it. A parking pass is not required.

Amenities: Swimming pool, sun deck, tropical gardens and landscaping, fully equipped kitchen, and two beautifully furnished outdoor seating/lounging areas. Central air conditioning, laundry room with shower has outdoor access. Linens and towels are provided. Maid service can be scheduled. Large flat Screen TV’s, Wi-Fi.

Area: Mid-town with easy access to the beach on the south shore of the island. Easy bike ride to Duval St., about a 25-minute walk to Old Town. Close to the White Street Gallery neighborhood where you find Fausto’s Fine Food Palace, shopping, galleries, and more restaurants. All Old Town Key West features including museums, sailing, boating, snorkeling, diving, theatre, night life and family activities are an easy bike ride away.

Activities: So, what’s to do now?  In this place, you’ll feel like you are part of the local neighborhood. You’ll feel the light ocean breezes. It's not unusual to see people walking or biking to the beach in bathing suits, a towel and cooler under arm. Just a few blocks away, you can walk or bike to Smathers and Higgs Beaches. In 15 minutes you can walk to marvelous landmarks. These include the stunning Pre-Civil War Fort West Martello Towers (home of the tranquil Key West Garden Club), the never crowded White Street Pier where you can stroll several hundred yards out over the Atlantic Ocean, Salute on the Beach Restaurant, Rest Beach, bocce ball courts, tennis and pickleball courts, secure and enclosed small children’s park with cabana tables.

Restrictions:  Smoke free house. This property is ideal for professionals and families. It is conveniently located to all Key West has to offer but understand that it is not suitable for loud partying. We do not accept guests less than 25 years of age unless accompanied by a family group or guardian. 

Pets: Pets may be possible with prior approval and additional pet fee- and then you can meet up with locals, visitors and oodles of pooches at the Higgs Beach Dog Park https://www.bringfido.com/attraction/1060 only a few blocks away!