This article is from Gulf Shore Life.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
The Housing Game: Aug. 5, 2009
Best of Both Worlds
By Chris Wadsworth
Art deco homes instantly conjure a nostalgic feeling with graceful lines and rounded corners, accented by an abundance of glass and even metal elements. The only problem is that most art deco homes were built in the early part of the 20th century. Even if a home has been wonderfully maintained, there will usually be a few cold, hard realities for modern-day home buyers—namely small closets, a tiny master bath and often no garage.
That’s why a beautiful, 1939 mint green home on Osceola Avenue in Fort Myers—recently reduced to $618,900 by owner Bruce Grady (former mayor of Fort Myers)—caught my eye the other day. Sitting on a corner lot, this large art deco home has the best of both worlds… because it holds a secret. Almost 20 years ago, the owners built an addition that nearly doubled the size of the home to 3,775 feet under air.
They took great care to blend the new and the old together so that from the outside, it’s nearly impossible to tell the two halves were built 50 years apart. “The designer they had did a phenomenal job,” says Tara Molloy of Riverside Realty Group. “You really can’t tell where the old home ends and the addition begins. It’s a seamless transition.”
Inside the older half of the home, many of the original details survive, including hardwood floors, the staircase railing, basket weave tile in the kitchen, a built-in china hutch, built-in book cases and even a quaint built-in telephone nook—something you haven’t seen in homes in decades.
In the newer half, one finds a modern master suite with large windows overlooking the backyard, a huge walk-in closet and a full master bath with a soaking tub, shower and even a bidet. There’s also an office or extra bedroom and a large, three-car garage.
The home could use a few cosmetic updates and a touch-up of the lacquer on the wooden floors. However, those things are fixable, while unique art deco styling and classic accents can’t easily be found elsewhere.
