Sunday, July 25, 2010

By BARBARA BOWERS Special to The Citizen

If the garden gate is open at 827 Eisenhower Drive, guests are welcome. If it's not, David Dresie and Tommy Ratini are taking "time out" from friends, family and neighbors, who frequently "just show up."

Of course, the property that Dresie and Ratini have owned since 2000 is arguably the most hidden address in Key West: Its waterfront location at Garrison Bight is tucked behind some two- and-three-story buildings. Its 6-foot-high concrete fence ensures maximum privacy.

That is, unless the gate is open. Then once inside the garden, there is any number of doors to choose from, including private entrances to each of the two bedrooms in the guest wing, which is separated from the couple's primary residence by Dresie's in-house office.

"Our guests can party all night without needing me or Tommy," said Dresie, an interior designer who has lived and worked in Key West for 28 years.

"We encourage the company, though, and entertain a lot," said Ratini, who is also Dresie's design assistant.

The split-wing redesign of the structure built in 1970 clearly affords party options: The 2,900-square-foot, single-family house shares nearby pool and boat slips with Harbor Lodge, located streetside.

A very private 20-by-50-foot waterfront deck is attached to the house and accessible only from the water, or from within the walled garden walkways.

The deck's proximity to the interior, cypress bar and casual seating area is conducive to small or large group entertainment. Separated only by four huge picture windows, indoors or out, the view of Garrison Bight, its expansive bridge and bobbing boats is spectacular.

Equally spectacular are the mirrored interior walls that splash water scenes and light about the L-shaped living, dining and bar space.

To showcase the waterfront, Dresie used earth tones in the upholstered furniture, which, "My vendors custom-made for me after the Hurricane Wilma flood," he said.

His understatement of uncluttered, contemporary design throughout the house is accented with big walls featuring big artwork. For instance, a George Rodriguez "Blue Dog" in the formal living room is balanced by giant ceramic pears on the coffee table.

A wall in the dining area features a Roberta Marks abstract, and while there are many entries to the house from secluded gardens, the designated, formal entry space has a narrow wall with Dresie's favorite piece: a small Michael Palmer painting of a Bahamian girl.

At this particular front door, Dresie's office and the guest wing is to the left, the dining room and waterfront is to the right, while the kitchen is straight ahead. Its cobalt tile island and glass-door cabinets -- suspended from the ceiling -- set the kitchen apart from the open floor plan of the rest of the couple's residence.

The kitchen tile, with occasional sea horse and fish insets, is original to the house, as is the white floor tile throughout, and the "house of mirrors bathroom." If guests choose door No. 1 leading from the kitchen, mirrors hung on mirrored walls ensure light and visuals from any angle in this extraordinary bathroom.

Door No. 2 is to the master suite. Here, a mirrored wall is hung with a huge Beth Nablo painting, and across the room a Tiffany Cant painting enriches the sitting area, where it is divided from the sleeping space with one of the few antiques found in the house -- a long, lovely pine desk.

French doors to a private garden, and a fairly tame bathroom tiled with Travertine complete the master suite.

"I could live here for a week without ever leaving," said Dresie.

Over the years, Dresie said he's owned 35 different houses in Key West, including properties on Catholic Lane, Von Phister Street and Seminary Street. Naturally, he has designed his own interiors, but those of many other Keys homes, too. Currently, he is redoing 35 rooms at the Santa Maria Suites development, and ever since his first design studio across from Fast Buck Freddie's in 1983, "I've never had to advertise; one job leads to another, often to another house in another part of the country owned by my client in Key West," he said.

"Usually we spend our summers entertaining at David's house in Asheville, N.C., but because he's recuperating from back surgery, we're staying in Key West," Ratini said. "It's the first summer in eight years that we've been here."

And bets are on that friends, family and neighbors will find the garden gate open.

Barbara Bowers is a writer and member of the Key West Historic Architectural Review Commission. To suggest a home feature, send an e-mail to Barbara@bbowers.com. Homes listed for sale will not be considered.