Travels: Nibblin' on spongecake in Key West: Part 2 (the houses)

Wherever I travel, it is always about houses.

 

They are what give an area personality.  They are shaped by their history and the people who live in them.

 

During this visit, like all others to Key West, I spend hours biking and walking and exploring Key West neighborhoods. One of my favorite decorating books is Key West:  A Tropical Lifestyleby Leslie Linsley with gorgeous photography of Key West homes by Terry Pommett.  It is a great guide to Key West decorating and design.

 

The architecture in Key West is a mixture of pure charm, southern hospitality and the Key West lifestyle.  There is a certain attitude.  Timeless. Accepting and individual.  Offbeat and filled with history.  Each little winding lane offers an adventure to the island's past.  This area offers an escape to a wonderful tropical paradise.  Even for those of us who live on the coast of Florida and have access to the island lifestyle, Key West is totally something and someplace else.

 

Everywhere I go, I look for ideas that I can bring back to my clients.  Even those with the most traditional and contemporary of homes want a little feel of the coastal lifestyle.  There are some tips from these beautiful Conch houses that can be incorporated into your Florida home.  Here is my list:

 

Colorful bougainvillea*lattice wall on a deck or lanai*an orchid in every room*indoor rooms that flow seamlessly into the outdoors*eclectic art collections*tablescapes collections*lanai and porch ceilings painted turquoise*painted furniture blended with antiques and wicker*sea glass and shells*classic but laid back elegance (this is Key West!)*outdoor verandas*whimsical garden art and lots of it*outdoor dining areas*porches decorated with flea market finds*shells and fountains*something turquoise in every room*collages and arrangements of items found at the beach*a garden filled with bromeliads*local art*rooms painted in colors from nature*windows open to living art*pots of tropical plants*colorful mosaic tiles*driftwood*shell mirrors*white picket fence*Adirondack chairs

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