Listed for £1,100,000
June 10, 2024
Sold for £630,000
2013
Sold for £419,500
2004
Sold for £71,000
1997
GUIDE PRICE: £1,100,000--£1,200,000.
ANOTHER SALE AGREED BY BRAND VAUGHAN PRESTON PARK OFFICE.
INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
Set within the renowned ‘Golden Triangle’ district of the city, this beautifully renovated and generous Edwardian house offers style and space in abundance to create the ideal family home. Having been extended in recent years it now boasts three generous and versatile reception rooms, four double bedrooms and a home study over three substantial floors providing ample space for any growing family. It also benefits from a private and attractive walled rear garden, and unique to the area, it also boasts a private garage with space for a large car. It is clear the current owners have a refined eye for contemporary interiors while retaining a respect for the character of the house. All period details have been restored so the finish is immaculate throughout, offering a fine example for how these period homes can be brought shining into the 21st Century. Even below the immaculate aesthetic, the very workings of the house have been renewed to include a part rewire, new heating and plumbing and new plasterwork. Generous room proportions, high ceilings and wide bay windows also feature, so this house is ideal for both family time and sophisticated entertaining.
The local schools, nurseries and colleges are amongst the best in the city, while Preston Park Station, London Road Station and Brighton Station are just a stroll away making it perfect for commuters to London or the Universities. Transport links are excellent with nearby buses and cycle lanes taking you throughout the city and beyond and there are two beautiful parks with play areas, fewer than five-minutes away. In addition, the South Downs National Park and the beach are equidistant by car and you’ll find every amenity you could wish for alongside several family friendly gastropubs at nearby Fiveways and on Preston Drove itself. Being so favourably located and with a fine quality finish, this home is sure to be coveted by many.
Style: End of Terrace Edwardian villa
Type: 4 double bedrooms, 1 single bedroom, 3 reception rooms inc. kitchen/dining/family room, 2 bathrooms (1 en suite) + 1 WC
Location: Golden Triangle/Preston Park
Floor Area: 2541 sq.ft.
Outside: walled rear garden, front garden
Parking: detached garage & permit zone J
Why you’ll like it:
It is no wonder this area has retained its popularity year on year. The architecture is stunning, characterised by substantial period homes on tree-lined avenues surrounded by a palpable sense of community. Situated between Preston and Blakers Parks, this family home has easy access to the shops on Preston Drove and at Fiveways and is within five minutes of some of the best schools in the city.
This house is particularly attractive and unique within the road. Having been completely renovated both inside and out, to include a new roof, it has plenty of kerb appeal as it sits elevated on the hill behind a neat hedgerow and border walls. The exterior is classically Edwardian in red brick and immaculate white render with a cast-iron gate and a traditionally tiled path paving the way to the door. The original 1903 crest adorns the exterior wall and flowering clematis sweeps down forming attractive scene to come home to each day. Stepping first into a useful vestibule with stained glass windows and space for hanging coats, a secondary door then opens to the main entrance hall where the scale and the beauty of the house becomes apparent.
Entrance hall:
Light streams in down the turning staircase to a welcoming entrance hall with slate grey walls and woodwork picked out in white. The original floorboards are sanded and varnished in honeyed tones and there is useful entryway seat for the taking on and off of shoes. Below the stairs, a deep cupboard has room for household items so the home can remain clutter free.
Sitting room:
Unusually, this house has retained its original layout with two reception rooms to the front of the house, making it hugely versatile and ideal for families with older or younger children who may wish to entertain independently on occasion or require a play room of their own. The sitting room is large and bright with restored windows forming a wide bay on the south westerly wall which brings a beautiful light into the room during the afternoon. The original floorboards continue from the hall and there is ample space for the whole family to cosy up together on sumptuous furnishings. Taking centre stage, a grand marble mantelpiece surrounds a cast iron insert which may be opened with some professional investigation. While the room is private from the street, the window is dressed in stylish plantation shutters so light can be filtered out when needed.
Second reception room:
Mirroring the first reception room, although sitting side by side, this room could have any number of uses to include a formal dining room, a fifth double bedroom, or as it is currently used; a playroom. Again, the decoration is smart and contemporary using mid-grey for the walls with the original plasterwork cornicing, deep skirtings and woodwork in white to complement the built-in cabinetry within the alcoves. In here, the gas fire has a beautiful limestone surround, and again, the windows are dressed in white plantation shutters bringing both form and function to the space.
Kitchen and dining room:
Forming part of the rear extension and spanning the rear of the house, the kitchen and dining room gleams in white with streamlined, handle-free units and a central, stone topped island. Below your feet, large-scale porcelain floor tiles are heated from below and natural light streams in through skylights and ample glazing. This is a space which invites entertaining, but it is equally ideal for family time with plenty of space and a wall of bi-folding doors leading out to the walled garden, effectively doubling the space during the warmer weather.
The units run along three walls to provide a wealth of storage. Within these, the dishwasher, refuse drawer, dual ovens with plate warming drawer and induction hob have been integrated, leaving space for an American fridge freezer plus a concealed washing machine and tumble dryer. The Valliant boiler is also concealed and there is a useful ground floor cloakroom/WC – an essential in any shared space. Alongside the kitchen island is space for a large dining table which can easily be moved outside for dining alfresco during summer.
Garden:
Well designed for the busy lifestyle, the garden is low-maintenance with high-quality faux grass being soft underfoot and ideal for children’s playtime without the risk of muddy footprints in the house. Sleeper beds run along the white wall perimeter with evergreen bamboos and a graceful palm tree bringing shape and colour throughout the year. It feels private for a city garden as it is not overlooked by neighbouring homes and there is a perfect amount of space for summer gatherings. You can access the garage from here plus further storage for garden furniture and tools. Access through the detached garage make it ideal for bringing muddy paws and bikes through to the garden without traipsing them through the immaculate kitchen.
1st Floor Bedroom 2, study & family bathroom:
Returning inside, a wide-striped stair runner leads you up the turning staircase which rises double-height through the upper floors of the house passing two original bay windows which bring natural light onto the landing. Bedroom two is a sizable double room with tall shuttered windows and varnished wooden floors. While it is dressed as a child’s room, it has ample space for a king size bed alongside several pieces of freestanding bedroom furniture. Bedroom five is a roomy single which is currently being utilised as a home office for which it is perfect. It holds a peaceful position to the rear of the building looking out to the garden and it is a fine size for a large desk and shelving. It would also be ideal as a nursery or child’s bedroom if required.
The epitome of luxury and style, the family bathroom offers complete relaxation in a contemporary curved freestanding bathtub with floor mounted taps, or you can revive each morning before work in a separate rainfall shower. A double width basin sits above a streamlined vanity unit and below a wall mounted mirror with LED lighting and there is further storage for towels in traditional built-in cabinetry.
The principal bedroom suite:
Also on the first floor, the principal bedroom suite is the largest of the four bedrooms with walls in pale dove-grey and a pewter feature fireplace on the chimney breast. Either side, full height wardrobes offer clothes storage for two and the wide box bay is shuttered for privacy. Even with a king size bed and freestanding furnishings, the floor space is not compromised, and a door reveals a chic en suite shower room. Large-scale porcelain floor and wall tiles provide a luxurious finish with recessed alcoves for toiletries and candles. The shower has a rainfall head a tall heated rail warms both you and your towels during winter.
Second floor bedrooms 3 & 4:
From the second-floor landing there are two further double bedrooms, both with wood flooring and block colour on the walls. From their shuttered dormer windows, the views look out over the local leafy landscape, yet being elevated within the property they both feel peaceful. While this house has always had a second floor and was not a conversion, these rooms form part of the loft space, so they have storage within the eaves to include clever built-in drawers making them ideal as bedrooms.
Agent’s thoughts:
This is an outstanding family home which has been lovingly and tastefully renovated. It is a harmonious and well-designed house which needs to be seen to be admired.
Owner’s secret
“When we bought the house in 2013 it required complete renovation which was a labour of love but so worthwhile – particularly once we started a family. We have so much space here and it’s been great for entertaining, particularly in summer when the garden becomes the perfect extension of the home. There is a fantastic sense of community to these streets and having two beautiful parks nearby has been a real blessing with small children. We are moving to be closer to family, but it will be a wrench to leave.”
Where it is
Shops: Local opposite, North Laines 15-20 min walk
Station: London Road 8-10 min walk Preston Park Station 10 min walk
Seafront or Park: Preston or Blakers Park 3-5 min walk each, seafront 10 min drive
Closest Schools:
Primary: Balfour Primary
Secondary: Varndean and Dorothy Stringer, Cardinal Newman RC
Sixth form: BHASVIC, Newman College, Varndean Sixth Form
Private: Brighton College
This is a stunning family home in a popular location which is well served for shops, parks and schools. There are plenty of local green spaces, and great transport links, but you are also only a short walk from everything this vibrant coastal city has to offer. The A27/A23 and stations are also within easy reach, for those requiring fast links to the universities, Gatwick or London on a daily or weekly basis.
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