4 bedroom detached house for sale

GUIDE PRICE: £1,100,000--£1,200,000.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

Surrounded by mature trees on a peaceful close in Withdean, this beautiful five-bedroom detached family home feels every inch the country abode, yet it remains well-connected with excellent transport links nearby. It sits on a substantial plot standing proud at the top of Withdean Court Avenue with an open aspect to the east and the south ensuring its generous rooms are filled with natural light. While it is a hugely attractive home bearing many original 1926s features, there remains plenty of scope for modernisation or extension, both up and out, to create a home to suit your needs while adding value in such a prestigious location. The entire house was rewired in 2017, however, so the hard work has already been done.

The garden is large and has been expertly maintained by the current owners with mature beds, original border walls festooned with climbing plants and lawn terraces for children to play or for dining alfresco during spring and summer. To the front there is a drive leading to a double garage and parking is free on the street – a unique quality for Brighton & Hove.

Perfect for families with children of all ages, this house is ideally located within catchment for some of the city’s highest achieving schools, nurseries and colleges, and transport links by train or car are excellent to London or along the South Coast in either direction. There is a genuine sense of community on the close, so this substantial home is ideal for families looking for their ‘forever-home’ in a highly attractive area of the city.

Style: Detached 1926’s family home
Type: 4-5 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms + WC, 1 study/bedroom 6, 2 reception rooms, 1 kitchen/breakfast room
Location: Withdean
Floor Area: 2287 sq.ft.
Outside: Large manicured south/west-facing rear garden
Parking: double garage plus driveway for 2 cars

Why you’ll like it
Originally built in the 1926s, this detached family home bears many features from the period to include stained glass windows, interior wood panelling and wood flooring, so much of the character has been retained. Likewise, externally, the house is quintessential for the period in a Neo-Tudor style, with dark beams on its gable, multi-pane Crittall windows and steps leading up to the original solid oak door.

The architects of the 1926s certainly knew a thing or two about space and light; building homes with family in mind, providing space to grow; to be together in celebration; to work or simply to tuck yourself away in peace. This house has these qualities in abundance, sitting on an attractive tree lined close, predominantly used by residents and visitors, making it incredibly peaceful. The views are green and leafy in every direction making it hard to believe you are so close to the city.

Entrance Hall:
Stepping inside, the scale of the house becomes apparent in the entrance hall which has a high ceiling, solid oak flooring and timber panelling rising partway up the walls. A leaded light lattice window brings natural in from the stairwell, creating a welcoming space to come home to. A deep under stair storage cupboard has space for coats and shoes while also housing the new electrical circuit board and alarm system.

Sitting Room:
Spanning the depth of the property, with a window looking out to the front of the house and a wall of glazing opening to the garden at the rear, this elegant room is both airy and homely. Taking centre stage, a grand decorative fireplace is from an earlier era but brings Medieval character to the room, as do the arched door frame architraves, in keeping with the Tudor style of the house. The fireplace has been fitted with an attractive hammered-brass insert and gas fire, so it warms the space perfectly during the cooler seasons. There is ample space for formal dining, family time, working or entertaining in here, which can spill outside to the glorious garden during summer. The garden views are a joy at any time of the year, and with an east to westerly aspect, the room is naturally light throughout the day.

Dining Room:
Offering a huge amount of flexibility, there is a second reception room which could be purposed in any number of ways. It is currently used as a formal dining room which shares the same wall panelling as the entrance hall. An open fire has the original terracotta tiles with an antique carved mantel which again nods to the original character of the house, and the fire brings warmth and atmosphere to festive and wintery suppers. It would also be ideal as a sixth bedroom or a teenage lounge or snug as it has ample space for sofas and chairs, or a playroom for families with younger children if needed.

Kitchen Breakfast Room:
Another generous space, the kitchen breakfast room is also dual aspect with traditional cabinetry and space for a kitchen table for less formal dining occasions. There is a vast amount of storage in Mid-Century style units and a deep larder which are all in good condition and perfectly functional – yet it is here where value could really be added with modernisation. Due to the size of the garden, it would be possible to link this room with the dining room next door and extend out by a few meters to create an exceptional open plan kitchen, dining and family room leading out to the garden – all food for thought. While the oven, microwave and induction hob are integrated, space has been left for a tall fridge freezer and a dishwasher, while the washing machine and tumble dryer have a separate utility room, alongside a ground floor WC cloakroom.

Study/Bedroom 6:
Formed within the southerly wing, steps lead down to the study which feels nicely tucked away from the rest of the house. New Crittall-style windows frame calming green views and the entire space has been damp proofed, so it is warm and homely. It is perfect for anyone needing to work from home, yet it would also work well as a double bedroom if need be.

The Garden:
Bordered by a small copse of mature trees, the generous walled garden is surrounded by lush greenery which changes beautifully with the seasons. These trees offer some welcome, dappled shade into the sun filled space as the weather hots up, while well-established borders add colour, texture and scent. There is a Rowan tree to give some screening from the only house with an overlooking window, while two crab apple trees and a Virginia creeper add colour along the rear wall during autumn. Expertly designed, the garden has colour all year round from the cherry blossom in spring, through to verbena, foxgloves and dahlias. On the upper terrace sits a fish pond with speckled goldfish which feed on the natural habitat. A feature water fall is on a timer to oxygenate the pond while also bringing the sensory sound of running water to the garden during the day and there are flowering lily pads to invite wildlife. It really is a treat for all the senses out here and being open to the south, it is a suntrap for eating outside and for summer gatherings. Looking back on the house, all the guttering and downpipes have been replaced in solid aluminium, so they will last for decades to come. Close to the house there is open and secure garden storage and at the far end, double gates open to the twitten which runs through the copse behind the house, directly to Preston Park Station, cutting several minutes off the commute!

First Floor Bedrooms & Bathrooms:
Up on the first floor, there are four/five double bedrooms with a unique layout. The largest room spans the depth of the house, so it is incredibly spacious with built-in wardrobes and woodland views to wake up to. A door leads out to the flat roof of the sitting room below, so it would be possible to add a balcony running the full width of the house looking out over the garden (architectural drawings have been created and may be available by separate negotiation). Bedroom one next door has been recently renovated to include a contemporary en suite shower room lined in grey marbled stone, while bedroom five is currently set up as another home office. These rooms share use of the family bathroom which has a walk-in shower at present but could easily be extended to include the separate WC next door and modernised.

There are two further linked double bedrooms which are currently dressed as a young person’s bedroom and games room. The games room echoes the study below it as it has steps leading down to it from a galleried landing which also has a door leading out to a flat roof. This room has a very high vaulted ceiling and far-reaching views over Preston Valley, so it would work well as the principal bedroom with the upper room as a dressing room, or en suite. The loft is also vast and ripe for conversion – so the possibilities are endless.

Agent’s thoughts:
This is a very generous and characterful family home which is brimming with potential to add value. Below the scenes, work has been done on the wiring, the garden and the guttering which saves valuable time and money, and the double garage is an incredible feature as an extra work space if needed.

Owner’s secret:
‘We have lived here for six-years and have loved having so much space. The house is wonderful for entertaining and it is incredibly peaceful for working from home. The convenience of the location also means we can drive in and out of the city with ease for work and the schools are amazing. The garden has been a labour of love, but it makes for such an incredible backdrop to many of the rooms it is worth it. We simply no longer need the space, but it will be a wrench to leave.”

Where it is
Shops: Local 10 min walk, North Laines 10 min drive
Station: Preston Park Station 10 min walk
Seafront or Park: Withdean Park 5 min walk, seafront 10 min drive, Withdean Stadium & gym complex 3 min drive, Preston Park Velodrome (the UK’s oldest) 5 min drive.

Closest Schools:
Primary: Balfour Primary, Westdene Primary, St Bernadette’s RC
Secondary: Varndean and Dorothy Stringer, Cardinal Newman RC,
Sixth Form: Varndean 6th Form, BHASVIC, Newman College
Private: Brighton College, Windlesham Prep.

This unique home sits in a popular location which is well served for parks and schools. There are plenty of local green spaces, and great transport links, but you are also only a short walk or drive from everything this vibrant coastal city has to offer. Preston Park Station and the A27/A23 are also within easy reach, for those requiring fast links to Gatwick or London on a daily or weekly basis.