Quilted Giraffe - Charming 2 Bedroom House with Pool in Key West

Your space. Your vacation lifestyle. The Quilted Giraffe provides both. This two-bedroom, two full bath home welcomes you from its quiet neighborly front porch facing tree-lined Elizabeth street to its private deck and heated pool in the rear. The location called Solares Hill is a part of Old Town Key West that brags about being the highest elevation on the island, all of eighteen feet above sea level. Whatever the altitude, this Hill location is central to everything from the Historic Seaport to Duval Street, yet it's removed enough to be your get-away-from-it-all haven.

The inviting rectangular pool on the back half of the property sparkles topaz in the midday sun or is equally inviting in shimmering moonlight. A pristine wooden deck and luxuriant tropical foliage surround it. The backdrop to all this natural beauty is a ten-foot wood fence that creates privacy and adds to the ambience. The deck extends up to the back of the house-some of it open to the sky with ample room to lounge in the sun, some roofed for when you prefer the shade. The covered area also features a convenient outdoor shower, and table with chairs. A Casablanca ceiling fan above circulates delightful tropical air tinged with the sweet smell of jasmine and gardenia.

From the deck, you enter the house through classic French doors. This light-filled room is an informal den featuring deep arm chairs, an ottoman, and an L-shaped couch configuration perfect for conversation, watching TV, or gazing through the doors and the floor-to-ceiling windows to the deck and pool. The wall opposite the windows and doors features a long maple cabinet that holds the TV, framed pictures of local scenes, and art objects with drawers below. A sisal area rug brings the room together visually and creates a cushiony surface for bare feet.

Ascending up a carpeted staircase from the den, you'll find the second story master bedroom and full bath with a double sink and ample ambient light. The walls are white pine; white louvered doors cover generous closet spaces. Above the king bed, which offers an inviting stage for a great night's sleep, are two rectangular windows showcasing palm fronds waving in outside breezes. As in all the rooms in the Quilted Giraffe, the outside and inside seem to be intentionally intertwined.

Back downstairs, next to the den, there's a second bedroom with twin beds steps from the second full bath. Down a short hall way, past a colorful painting called La Bodeguita Del Medio, is the kitchen featuring every appliance you could need and a handy pass-through to the dining table and chairs. Above the counters and cabinets is a shelf and window where colorful glass pieces glisten in the sunlight, lending elegance and interest to the predominately white kitchen.

A wall-mounted spirit mask with full bark dress guards the living room, imparting a sense of calm and spiritual empowerment to all who enter the Quilted Giraffe. The unusual hanging looks great and sets the tone for other African and Cuban art throughout the house. Colorful pillows in tropical hues decorate the couch and echo the art work thoughtfully arranged on the walls. This home is Pet (Dog) Friendly**(please see below or our FAQ page for rules and restrictions).

Once you've changed into shorts and flip-flops and are ready to leave the Quilted Giraffe for a little while, there's still the rest of Key West to explore. Turn left at the white picket fence and walk toward the Historic Seaport on the Gulf of Mexico to find a dozen or so restaurants of varying levels of informality located right at water's edge. Or check out the impressive tall ships like the Western Union, most offering daytime and sunset sails. Maybe sign up for other water sports like snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, and kayaking. Or walk a few blocks to Duval to check out tours, museums, shopping, bars, and still more restaurants. As Mr. Chapman who rides his lighted bike playing Motown music down Duval nightly says, "Key West is like no other place on earth." You'll discover the truth behind this statement as you explore the southernmost city for yourself.

To know what's going on from day to day, check out Historic Hideaways' informative Events page on our website. Other information on the current music scene, movies, plays, gallery openings, and charitable events include milezerokeywest.com and Paradise, which comes out every Thursday.

**For Pet Friendly (dog) homes there are restrictions that include, but may not be limited to, the following: pet friendly means dogs, no other animal is permitted. Dogs are restricted to one (1) large dog or two (2) small dogs per stay. Due to Homeowner Insurance restrictions we are unable to accommodate the following breeds: Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Presa Canarios, Chows Chows, Doberman Pinschers, Akitas, Wolf-hybrids, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Great Danes, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies nor any mixed breed that contain one of the preceding as part of that mix. Guest is responsible for an additional pet fee of $200.