Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Key West Traditions: Blue Porch Ceilings

There's a lot of blue in Key West... the sea, the sky, the ... porch ceilings?

 

This KW Golf Club home's blue porch ceiling provides the perfect backdrop for starfish accents


When I moved to Key West and began searching for my dream home, one of the first things I noticed was the propensity for homeowners to paint the porch ceilings blue. In my neighborhood, the Key West Golf Club, it is actually a requirement that porch ceilings are painted a soft custom-mixed hue, called Shipyard Blue. I love the charming effect, but I have been curious about the origin of this practice. My quest led me to discover several possible answers, ranging from ghostly superstitious to aesthetic to practical...

Both upper and lower porch ceilings are painted blue in this Old Town Key West home, providing dramatic contrast (and maybe even protection from ghosts!)

1. Haint Blue -- The tradition seems to have begun in South Carolina with a custom passed on by African descendants. African legend states that ghosts, or haints, cannot cross water; therefore, they are fooled by the blue ceiling color and will not pass into your home. The superstition caught on throughout the South, and eventually so many people practiced the custom that any shade of blue used for porch ceilings became known as Haint Blue. In Key West, it's theorized that the tradition evolved in the same way from African descendents who migrated from the West Indies. This Southern tradition remains alive and well in the Southernmost City. Perhaps because Key West is one of the most haunted cities in America, people have been more inclined to continue the custom, or maybe it just caught on and became "the norm" for more practical reasons...

 
The porches of the Banyan Tree Resort in Old Town Key West have blue floors and ceilings -- aesthetically pleasing and double the ghost protection!

2. The Birds and the Bees (and the spiders and the wasps) -- Ghosts aren't the only ones being fooled by the blue porch ceilings. Apparently the color trick also works for flying creatures, who see the blue and think it's the sky. This prevents them from building nests or spinning webs. Some people claim that this "sky effect" even works as an insect repellant, keeping flies and mosquitoes up toward the ceiling.

Surrounded by tropical foliage, the blue porch ceiling of this Old Town bungalow may keep the bugs away

3. Why Not? -- After all, blue is one of the few colors that is universally well-liked. Blue is calming, much like Key West itself. With such beautiful weather year round, locals spend a lot of time relaxing on their porches, and blue ceilings can enhance the feelings of relaxation. A blue porch ceiling can even extend the feeling of daylight as the sun sets and basks Key West in vibrant colors...

Key West Sunset: 8/26/13
Whatever the reason behind the tradition, the blue porch ceilings are just another one of Key West's many charms. And I sleep soundly at night, knowing that the four porches of my Conch house are painted blue, working while I sleep to keep ghosts and spiders at bay!

Blue porch ceilings warding off spirits and spiders at my KW Golf Club townhouse

Please visit us at KW Royal Palms Realty for more information about properties for sale or rent in Key West...
Come home to paradise today and turn your dreams of tropical living into a reality!

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Social Media Connections





KW Royal Palms Realty has new Social Media Connections!


You can connect with us through a variety of social media platforms:

 
Like us on Facebook to get live updates in your News Feed. Never miss a newly listed property, a featured listing, or a blog post! You can even search the Key West MLS in 13 languages directly from our Facebook page.



 
Follow us on Twitter to get updates when new properties come on the market, when new blog posts are added, and when new videos are posted to our YouTube channel.


Follow us on Pinterest to keep up with photos of properties for sale or rent and interesting photos around town and from daily life in Key West.


 
Join our networks on LinkedIn to learn more about the professional experience of our luxury real estate specialists:

 
 
Subscribe to our YouTube channel to check out our videos of featured properties, virtual tours, and Scott's video blog about buying and selling Key West luxury realty (coming soon!). 



We believe strongly in Key West's One Human Family motto, and we are proud to introduce our new profile on Gay2Day. We look forward to building this social network presence in order to better serve Key West's LGBT community. #LGBTkeywest


Key West has a vibrant Russian community, and we are pleased to connect with our Russian visitors and residents with our new profile on Одноклассники. Join our Group to follow our blog!



We have several hash tags registered on Tagboard. Connect with us by using: 
 #keywestluxury   


Of course, you can always visit KW Royal Palms Realty for more information about buying or listing a home in Key West. Simply fill out our Contact form and let us know how we can help you to find your dream home or list and market your property. We are here to serve you and we look forward to connecting with you in Cyberspace and in Key West!


Come home to paradise today and turn your dreams of tropical living into reality!

Monday, August 12, 2013

Featured Luxury Listing: Key West Elegance


Featured Luxury Listing: 1327 White Street

  Sold 4/29: $1,240,000

Update 4/4: Sale Pending!

Price Reduced 3/14: $1,299,000

This historic gem is located on a quiet stretch of White Street in Midtown West, neighboring the fashionable Casa Marina District of Old Town Key West. This Victorian style home was built in the 1880s and has been beautifully preserved and lovingly restored. This home offers a perfect combination of classical 19th century architecture and every modern luxury a discerning buyer would expect.





Tropical landscaping and covered off-street parking













Late 19th Century Architecture












This 4 bedroom 4 bathroom home offers 2,800 square feet of living space. The property features restored Dade County Pine throughout, as well as Heart Pine floors. Crown molding and cathedral ceilings add dramatic effect to the spacious interior. Numerous windows and French doors let in plenty of natural light.








French doors along the great room open up to the pool and jacuzzi.






The family room showcases the beautifully restored Dade County Pine.





Crown molding accents the dining room and foyer.





Restored Heart Palm flooring throughout the house.







The kitchen features granite counter tops and modern appliances.








The large master bedroom suite with a walk in closet is just one more feature you will fall in love with. There are also three other bedrooms, so there's plenty of room for guests, an office, or a growing family. 

 

    

    
        Master Bedroom











    
        Master Bedroom













   
      Master Bathroom









        Guest bedroom





    


         Guest bedroom









       Guest bedroom loft












The backyard has a deck, tiled patio, swimming pool, and jacuzzi, surrounded by brightly colored flowers and swaying palm trees. There is also a 350 sq ft treetop deck off the third floor with stunning views of the tropical foliage. Both features are perfect for entertaining your guests and family. 






Swimming pool and jacuzzi





Back patio, tiled deck, and rooftop terrace overlooking the property











Enjoy the view from the rooftop sundeck

 









Catch some rays as you gaze out over the treetops








$1,400,000       MLS# 117945


Would you like to set up a showing or learn more about this home? Please complete the "Contact Us" form on the right, or visit us at Royal Palms Realty for more information about this property and other homes for sale in Key West.
 
Come home to paradise and turn your dreams of tropical living into reality!

Friday, August 9, 2013

Neighborhood Spotlight -- Truman Annex



The first of a new series: Neighborhood Spotlight

Spotlight on...          Truman Annex



This new series will highlight the history and unique features of the various Key West neighborhoods. For listings of properties currently for sale or rent in this neighborhood, just click on any of the hyperlinked words throughout the text!

Truman Annex is an upscale gated community in Old Town Key West, a tropical oasis that belies the area's humble beginnings and varied military history. Present day Truman Annex got its start as Fort Zachary Taylor Army Base in 1845, and it was utilized heavily throughout the US Civil War and Spanish-American War. 

Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park Fort and Museum

Over the next century, the area was also used as a US Navy Submarine base, the Fort Zachary Taylor Annex. The base was mostly decommissioned in 1974, but the US Navy retains a small presence at the southern end, known as NAS Key West Truman Annex. The remains of the fort are now part of Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park, also home to one of the best beaches in Key West! "Ft. Zach" State Park, as it's known to locals, is just a short walk from the Truman Annex community.

The historic fort and beach are only a quick stroll away

The northern portion of the base once contained the officers' quarters. The most famous building here housed the base commandant, and has hosted several presidents and dignitaries over the years. President Taft was the first president to stay on the site, arriving by Flagler's Overseas Railroad in 1912. President Truman spent the most time here, spending a total of 174 days of his presidency in Key West. This led to the renaming of the building as the Harry S. Truman Little White House, and the changing of the area's name to Truman Annex. The Little White House is now a Florida Heritage Landmark and museum where visitors can learn about the people who stayed here and the events that took place within the building.

The Harry S. Truman Little White House


Much of the surrounding land was sold to developers, and modern day Truman Annex has a variety of properties for sale or rent. The architecture is quintessential Key West Conch and Bahamian style. The neighborhood has everything from the Shipyard Condos to Caribbean colored townhouses, stately single family homes and gorgeous sprawling mansions. Many of the homes and condos here have transient rental licenses, meaning they can be rented daily or weekly, and produce consistent cash flow income for owners. 

 
Brightly colored townhouses on Southard Street

Spacious single family homes on Emma Street


A private security force patrols the neighborhood 24 hours a day, and onsite property management ensures that the grounds of Truman Annex are always beautifully maintained. Walking along the quiet palm-lined streets, you would never know that you’re only two blocks from bustling Duval Street.

Palm trees and lush tropical foliage provide beauty and privacy

Truman Annex is within walking distance of Old Town Key West's restaurants, shops, and attractions, and the Truman Annex Marina is perfect for those who want to keep a boat nearby and have easy access to the open water. If you’re seeking a peaceful haven in the heart of Old Town Key West, “The Annex” may have just what you’re looking for!

A graceful banyan stands sentry on Caroline Street

Visit us at Royal Palms Realty for more information about properties for sale or rent in Key West...


Come home to paradise today and turn your dreams of tropical living into a reality!