This seaside home, located in the Middle Keys, is inspired by the Key West vernacular and fashioned with a modern flair. A sophisticated mix of simple shapes and familiar materials create a fresh, bold style.

“The Red House”, circa 1920, is located in the historic Bayview Park neighborhood, and was my personal home from 2004 until 2012. An extensive four year renovation included the stabilization of the structure and the replacement of all electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems.  The front porch was reconstructed to match the historic porch that had been severely altered, historic windows were restored to working order, a new metal roof replaced the asphalt shingle roof, and all surfaces were refreshed by removing decades of paint accumulation and repairing damaged or rotten material.

Inside, historic Dade County pine walls and ceilings were uncovered and restored, the kitchen was relocated, and a second en-suite bathroom was added.  New interior finishes include custom milled wood floors, doors, and trim.

Additionally, the 5,000 gallon concrete cistern was adapted into a swimming pool, chain-link fencing was replaced with a decorative concrete wall, and a new carriage house was constructed at the rear of the property.

This project received an Award of Excellence for Rehabilitation from the Historic Florida Keys Foundation.

The owners of this property are from Sweden, and Key West serves as an escape from the long and dark winter months in Stockholm.  Their primary focus was to embrace the mild, sub-tropical climate by adding a large swimming pool, sun deck, gardens, and a new master suite that would open up to these outdoor elements.  An existing large covered porch located on the back of the historic house was integrated into the new site plan.  Given the restraints of the site, the owners decided to compromise on the square footage of the addition and maximize the outdoor space.  Restricted space can spur some of the most clever and efficient designs, which is consistent with the Scandinavian style. The fusion of cool Nordic minimalism and historic conch style resulted in an award winning design.

A semi-detached poolside master suite was constructed and is accessed through glass doors which fold away, thus eliminating 25 percent of the room’s exterior wall surface and enhancing the experience of indoor outdoor living.  Keen and precise detailing of the interior finishes virtually eliminated the need for trim.  A neutral palette of white marble floors, natural oak walls, and a vaulted beamed ceiling compliment the natural character of the home.

Highly desirable offstreet parking was created along the side of the historic structure, with a new covered side porch and service entry.  A new guest bath was added just inside the new entrance, with a quaint sleeping loft above that is accessed by a sleek and modern stainless steel spiral staircase.  For this project, big ideas and small spaces were conquered by distilling the best and most efficient ideas into one compact, complete package.

This project received a Certificate of Excellence for Preservation and New Construction, and a Ceramic Star Award from the Historic Florida Keys Foundation.