DOWNTOWN ST AUGUSTINE

Sitting tall, this circa 1900 downtown residence has great presence with a stately exterior and deep front porch. A major renovation in 2010 restored the bloom back to this rose and it’s a pleasure to step across the threshold and take in the restored original detail. A large sunny foyer offers ample space for entry furniture. The generous living and dining rooms each have a fireplace set on the diagonal and enjoy 10′ ceilings. Be sure to check out the stamped tin detail in the dining room.  A large tiled sun room wraps around the south side of the house with a bank of antique windows – shaped like a T, you can create two separate sitting areas or a terrific office. The kitchen spans the back of the house and overlooks the deep backyard. The traditional floor plan notwithstanding, the flow is easy and works well for gatherings of any size. The utility room and a 3/4 bath round out the main floor.

Take a moment to admire the graceful stairway in the middle of the foyer. Upstairs the gallery is wide and full of diffused sunlight. Three large bedrooms line up on the south side and the smaller bedroom in the northeast corner would make a great master bath and closet. There are abundant windows in each room and the center bedroom has a rectangular alcove looking over the drive. A full bath is located in the hallway. The house exudes a graciousness and warmth throughout – each room is inviting.

A small patio at the back of the house is easily expanded since the property is 177′ deep. In the southwest corner of the backyard there’s a two car garage plus storage bay with a one bedroom, one bath guest house above. This building has reached the end of its life and must be taken down and rebuilt. The advantage is that its grandfathered status allows it to be rebuilt in the same location. Having a large garage and guest house is a highly coveted thing downtown so it’s a project well worth taking on. Thanks to the size of the lot, there’s still plenty of room for gardens, a pool, an outdoor screened dining room and a private courtyard for the guest house.

Surrounded by some of the city’s most admired architecture, it’s a pleasant stroll down the tree-lined street to all of the cultural, culinary and retail offerings that downtown is known for.

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