Established in the 1920s during the land boom in Florida,
Coral Gables has a claim to fame of being one of the first planned communities
in Florida. The city covered almost
10,000 acres with the architectural design being Mediterranean Revival
throughout the city. Following the boom,
the market went bust (sound familiar?) and its founder, George Merrick, lost
everything but the ancestral home.
Over the course of several decades, the home, called Merrick
Manor, went through several hands and was occupied by different types of
occupants. Since about 1976, it has been
in the hands of the City of Coral Gables which restored it to its 1925 style
with décor, fixtures and finishes because it “best represented the Merrick family,”
according to a recently featured article in Curbed
Miami and is open twice a week for tours.
This got us thinking about Coral Gables real estate and how
it has changed over the years. While
there are many new construction homes that have replaced some of the original
homes built in the 1920s, there are still those that stand out as original
Coral Gables properties with the unique characteristics of the architectural
design. Here are five Coral Gables homes listed for sale and built in the early
to mid-1920s that reflect the design of properties during that era while
featuring modernized upgrades on the interiors that make these homes
spectacular and ideal for those who love the uniqueness to original “old
Florida” style.
920 Coral Way, List Price: $2,495,000
This gorgeous home located just very short distance from the
Coral Gables Merrick House consists of the best of the old with truly modern
updates. Built by George Merrick in
1922, this historically designated house is constructed with coral rock and
still has the original hardwood floors, terracotta tile floors and other
classic details along with newer, remodeled upgrades like a fabulous walk-in
closet, new kitchen with updated stainless steel appliances and so much
more. A screened-in porch that runs the
across the rear of the house features exposed coral rock walls and posts with
the terracotta tile floor and the original tongue and groove plank ceiling. On
top of this, in addition to four bedrooms and four baths includes a library
with a wet bar, large living and dining rooms, and a Florida room just off the
kitchen and family room. One really nice
attribute is the pool house (with bath) that accommodates guests. The entire
property encompasses three lots and is filled with tropical landscaping and
fruit trees.
1046 Almeria Avenue, List Price: $999,000
This
Spanish-style villa, built in 1923, features the epitome of “classic Florida”
with a two-bedroom, two-bath main house and a one-bedroom, one-bath guest
residence above the garage. Situated on
a 10,000+ square foot corner lot, the home was designed by renowned architect,
Walter DeGarmo and features the original Dade County pine and terracotta floors
throughout the house as well as modern upgrades and remodels to bring the house
to its updated state. These updates
include a fabulous chef style kitchen, a large master bedroom with unbelievable
closet space and a master bath, and impact-resistant windows and doors. In the back is a wonderfully large
brick-paver patio perfect for entertaining.
The location is just one block to Salvadore Park and only a short walk
(or drive) to the Biltmore Hotel.
1248
Aguila Avenue, List Price: $568,000
Located in
one of Coral Gables most established neighborhoods, this Gables Granada house
was built in 1924 and features the best of both worlds in terms of old and new. The home recently went through a huge remodel
to update while still keeping the unique charm of this original Gables
home. It offers two bedrooms, one bath
and an artist studio with a wall of arched windows as well as beautiful wood
floors, a living room with a wood-burning fireplace, and a family/sunroom. The kitchen and bath have been totally
remodeled with contemporary fixtures and cabinets and stainless steel
appliances. A loggia opens up to a
beautiful courtyard and patio. This is a
truly spectacular home. Real estate
listings in Gables Granada feature list prices starting as low as the mid-$400s
and climbing into the millions. This is
a fantastic neighborhood for families.
1232
Palermo Avenue, List Price: $1,499,000
This is a
3,600+ square foot home built in 1924 and located in the Coral Gables Country
Club neighborhood. It showcases a
Spanish-style architectural design with lots of room to house the five bedrooms
and four baths. The main floor has a
split floor plan with two master bedrooms one featuring a spa-style master bath
with marble walls and floors and a large walk-in closet. Original hardwood floors have been refinished
and other rooms have been modernized and updated. The rear of the home opens to a beautiful
pool area with brick paver deck and lots of lush landscaping that spreads over
the entire 12,000+ square foot lot.
1416
Medina Avenue, List Price: $689,000
This home
screams history as it is one of the original homes built by George Merrick in
1925. It offer three bedrooms and two
baths under almost 2,000 square feet as well as a detached garage that easily
be transformed into a perfect in-law’s suite or pool house. Inside, there are travertine and tigerwood
floors throughout and a large recently remodeled gourmet kitchen with stainless
steel appliances, custom cabinets and granite counter tops not to mention new
contemporary baths – the master bath has marble, and a Jacuzzi tub. The master bedroom includes a walk-in closet
and pool access. On top of that, there is new central A/C and a new garage
roof.
Everything
Under One Roof
There is
nothing like history kept in its original state even when you want to remodel
or update property. In the neighborhoods
within a short radius of The Merrick House showcase so many homes like this
that feature everything under one roof.
When considering a home in Coral Gables, be sure to consider the older
homes as they have the character of classic Florida combined with newer
upgrades in terms of appliances and all the conveniences of modern day.
