If you’ve ever had the pleasure of wandering the historic streets and by-ways of downtown Key West, then you know how time seems to stand still. Yet right near the heart of it all, this picturesque house, we call Governor’s Retreat, offers all the modern-day amenities one could desire in an upscale island home. Situated on a quiet residential lane, where downtown meets Bahama Village, the less-traveled scene exudes sought after charm and character. Around the block from the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, the owner designer has made homage to the writer’s life in Key West, through select photographs and books displayed around the house.

While at first glance the 2-story early 1900’s architecture makes it easy to imagine the lifestyle of a simpler time, both the interior and exterior of the 3 BR 2.5BA Governor’s Retreat monthly rental are beautifully redone to an upscale standard. Paying close attention to detail in every interior room and each exterior space, the owner designer created a welcoming home with an artistic island flare.

INTERIOR LAYOUT

A celebration of the tropical Key West style is made imminent throughout the interior of the house with a perfect mixture of coastal and rustic furnishings. Shades of teal blue, seafoam green, and sand tones are used throughout the house as the backdrop for thoughtfully placed art pieces and books. Attention to detail is seen in every corner throughout the house. The feel is rich, cheerful, and relaxing.

First Floor:

Just inside the front door, the entranceway leads to a wide-open and airy great room. Everywhere you look is alluring - filled with Caribbean color, artwork, and pretty furnishings. At the back of the house, double sets of single-pane French doors lead to the gorgeous private back deck with generous size free form pool.

Living Room: Back inside the Governor’s Retreat, we take a minute to admire the great room standing at the back of the house. In the living room area opposite the sofa and loveseat, is an impressive custom built-in wooden cabinet that displays beautiful glass art pieces, select books, and holds the entertainment center. The living room grouping features casual yet elegant soft teal blue sofas, a seagrass and wood armchair, side table for reading, and a rustic coffee table large enough to play cards or a board game. This is the perfect place to relax, read, or stretch out and watch a movie or game on the 50” flat screen TV.

Dining Area: The dining area is just past the living room and adjacent the kitchen. This space is masterfully decorated to feel like a separate dining room. To define the seating area, a pendant light with a wide shade is hung over the natural wood table and four painted chairs. To further create the feeling of a room, the designer hung two large tropical beach paintings on the wall which span the width of the table and chairs.

Kitchen: As we move past the dining room, look to the left to notice the strategically place cabinet, set up to stage a liquor bar. I love how it’s painted with a whimsical tropical beach scene. From here we move into the bold and beautiful L-Shape kitchen. Contemporary teal blue countertops bring in the colors of the Caribbean and look gorgeous paired with traditional cherry tone cabinets and stainless-steel appliances.

Enjoy outdoor views of the charming front yard and pictorial lane through the three sash kitchen windows. A double level countertop, with pendant lights, spatially divides the kitchen from the dining area. This is a perfect place for breakfast, lunch, or cocktails. Take a seat, and make yourself comfortable, at the two counter-height wicker chairs with backs and seat cushions.

Powder Room (Half-Bath):   

To finish our 1^st floor tour, we take-a-peek at the powder room. Even this small space is decorated with a fanciful Caribbean beach-theme. A big splash of color is made by using the same counter found in the kitchen, and bright teal blue walls. Conveniently positioned across from the kitchen, you can see the door handle to the half-bath next to the gray entrance table.

Second Floor:

We now move upstairs, via the switchback stairway found at the back of house, just past the entertainment center. Here we find three artfully decorated and comfortable bedrooms and two bathrooms. A premium feature of all three bedrooms is that they each have access to an outside covered porch with beautiful views below.

Master Suite: The spacious master suite which encompasses the entire back of the 2^nd floor. We affectionately call this the ‘Coco Bedroom’ because of the rich brown color of the walls. With plenty of room, the master bedroom provides a king size bed with seagrass headboard and flanked with dark wooden dressers on each side of the bed. Both are set with reading lamps. A custom floor-to-ceiling wooden cabinet with flat screen TV, is built-in to the wall opposite the bed. Next to the cabinet is a walk-in closet offering ample space for clothes. Sash windows on either side of the bed and the sliding glass door leading to the private closed in porch stream in the daylight.

The private closed-in porch runs the entire width of the house and embodies classic Caribbean living. Hinged wooden shutters painted the iconic green, can be open or closed as you wish. Set with wicker easy chairs and a bistro table for morning coffee or 5 pm cocktails, it could also be the perfect place to set up a laptop. From here you also have the birds eye view of the swimming pool garden below.

Next, we look at the en-suite master bathroom, accessed on the opposite side of the room from the porch. The white tiled shower with glass door, is double-sized, and there is plenty of vanity space for primping. Keeping the décor consistent with the other bathrooms in the house, it’s built with a teal blue vanity top and walls are painted a soft turquoise and trimmed in white.

Returning to the hallway, we head toward the other two bedrooms. Bedroom two is toward the end of the hall to the right. Bedroom three is at the end of the hall straight ahead.  

Bedroom Two: We fondly call bedroom two the ‘Sea Farer Room’ because of the name on the ship wheel art piece that’s hung above the queen size bed. On the opposite wall, a 40” flat screen TV is hung for your viewing pleasure. For clothes storage there is a white dresser placed on the wall as you first walk into the bedroom, and a full-size closet to the right of the bed. Two sash windows invite in the plenty of natural daylight.

To complete the nautical bedroom theme, the designer painted the walls an ocean blue, and placed playful ship-anchor bedside lamps on white coastal bedside tables. A finishing touch is a handmade seashell framed mirror placed near the door to leading to the covered 2^nd floor covered porch, which is shared with bedroom three.

Bedroom Three:  Again, the designer’s choice of upbeat art and Caribbean color has created a cheerfully creative bedroom. We nicknamed it ‘The Beach Room’ because of the playful sign above the headboard. Walls painted seafoam green, a headboard crafted of color washed weathered wood, white bedside tables and a round mirror framed with rope all capture the essence of the beach – which is not very far from this house. Opposite the queen size bed, a 40” flat screen TV is mounted on the wall for easy viewing. A small bureau and standard clothes closet provide hanging and more shelf storage.  An abstract painting of the ocean is placed near the door leading to the 2^nd floor covered porch.

Second Floor Covered Front Porch: This porch commands one of the best views in the home, since it spans the entire width of the front of the house. Bedroom two and three, both have exterior doors that lead to the 2^nd floor porch. From here you have a fabulous look-down view of the front yard and the picturesque lane below. Nearly all houses on the lane have been renovated or restored, creating a unique opportunity to expand a love and appreciation for Key West historic architecture.

EXTERIOR LAYOUT AND GROUNDS

Outdoor living is an important part of the Key West lifestyle. The Governor’s Retreat, monthly rental, provides many special private outdoor amenities to enjoy - including a swimming pool, sun deck, covered sitting porches with beautiful views, a covered outdoor dining area, and bricked off-street parking for 2 cars. Once you’re settled in, you may just find yourself spending most of your time right here.

Front of the House: Porch sitting is a big part of island culture, and the front porch is an essential feature of Key West vernacular architecture. In a way, it makes the space an outdoor front room, and a great place to retreat to and while away the hours.

The house is nicely nestled, back off the lane, with a large red bricked front yard, offering some privacy from the lane.  A beautiful old Spanish Lime tree is planted to one side adding historic ambience without obstructing porch views. A quintessential white picket fence with capital posts surrounds the house, plus there is off-street parking for two cars. 

Back of the House: The focal point of the back yard, is the free-form swimming pool and expansive deck. The 2^nd floor closed in porch provides a roof over part of the deck, creating a sun protected space for the dining table and lounge chairs.  A manicured display of tropical foliage surrounds the parameter of the back yard and makes the pool scene feel like an island paradise. When I first walked into this idyllic back courtyard, I felt like I was in a little private oasis and couldn't believe I was a ½ block from Whitehead St., close to the Hemingway Home and Museum.

Bedding Summary:

• Master Bedroom – King size bed
• Bedroom Two – Queen size bed
• Bedroom Three – Queen Size bed

Amenities: Private free-form swimming pool. Completely fenced in tropical garden. Large composite poolside deck with chaises for sunning plus a roof covered porch with dining table and easy chair seating. Front covered sitting porches on the 1^st and 2^nd floor. Fully equipped kitchen, central a/c, flat screen TVs in living room and each bedroom, washer / dryer, BBQ grill on the back deck. Linens and towels are provided. Catering can be arranged. Maid service can be scheduled.

Activities: There are an amazing number of things to see and do in this little Key West urban neighborhood. Less than a block away are the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, and a plethora of famous Duval Street bars and restaurants. It’s close to Mallory Square Sunset Celebration, Bahama Village, and beaches and the Southernmost Point of the United States are a short walk away. Short walk to the Historic Seaport for sailing, boating, diving, and more restaurants, bars, and night life.

 Area: Situated on a quiet less traveled lane where the Key West downtown and Bahama Village neighborhoods meet. Sandwiched in island urban heart of  Key West, where we find many famous Key West museums and landmarks are located, including the Ernest Hemingway Home Museum, the Key West Light House, the historic Key West Courthouse, and the ‘End of the Road’ photo opt at Mile Marker Zero at U.S. Highway 1, and the offices of VHKW – Vacation Homes of Key West. This tiny section of Key West has many blocks of beautiful historic houses and bungalows. The original Key West City infrastructure was built in the 1800’s to create a diverse array of homes, shopping, entertainment, offices, restaurants, and churches. The 800 block of Duval Street is right around the corner. For the Beach - The Truman Annex entrance to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park and Beach is a 15-minute walk away.

Notes: This property is offered as a monthly or seasonal rental for persons who want to settle into the neighborhood for a month or more. This property is staged for professionals and executives who have discerning tastes looking for an upscale accommodation downtown Key West that provides luxury home amenities.

Parking: There is off-street parking for two cars in the bricked driveway - you could fit a compact and a large car. However, at this location you will not need a car unless you want to drive to New Town to buy groceries or drive up the Florida Keys. You can have groceries delivered, and you can easily get an Uber or a Cab. Enjoy walking or bicycling around Key West. It’s a tiny island, and this neighborhood was built for pedestrians.

Restrictions: Smoke free house. Smoking permitted outside only.  No pets please. We do not accept guests less than 25 years of age unless accompanied by a family group or guardian.