GUIDE PRICE: £1,100,000--£1,200,000.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.


A sunny sanctuary set in extensive grounds this iconic 4/5 bedroom detached house is a rare find, designed and built in 1951 for a luxury lifestyle with off street parking and a garage on an exclusive no through road. 10 minutes from central Brighton, 5 from good schools and also a station with direct trains to Gatwick and London, this unique property has been extended and improved in keeping with the glamorous Modernist original, and offers flexible options including a wing for inter-generational living or consulting from home.

Ideal for entertaining, a stunning, split level living/dining room has a parquet floor, sleek Stovax wood burner and walls of glass to bring the outside in. The streamlined, family friendly kitchen has access to the garden via a lobby which leads to the playroom/second reception, where floor to ceiling doors frame the woodland walk at the back. At the end, and not overlooked, a sophisticated home office also embraces the leafy grounds for coffee breaks in the fresh air. In a separate wing and all on one level, four bedrooms are comfortable doubles, the family bathroom is simple but stylish whilst the principal is a dream come true with a luxury en suite and access to a private terrace for breakfast. Outside, tranquil southwest gardens wrap around the house, expertly landscaped to create different ‘rooms’ to explore within this sheltered sun trap, and at the far end beneath an ancient yew tree, a tree house has a slide, a swing set and climbing frame.

Between Gatton and Preston Parks with swift access to the sea, water sports, countryside of the National Park and a five minute walk to the sports facilities of Withdean Stadium, there is something for everyone of any age to experience. For professionals London Road at the bottom of the hill will take you into or out of the city with Preston Park Station five minutes by cab, and investors will like its exclusive location well-connected to both Brighton and Hove, and not far from the Amex Stadium.

Style: Detached house 1951, extended and improved 2013
Type: 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms + WC, 2 reception rooms, 1 home office, kitchen
Location: Withdean
Area: 2082 sq. ft.
Outside: Southwest garden at the back and planting to the front
Parking: Attached garage, off street
Council Tax Band: F

Why you’ll like it:
Introduction:
Enjoy the easy flow of this light-filled home where secluded, elegant spaces for entertaining all open to the grounds and the peaceful family rooms all have leafy, open views. Tucked away on a prestigious cul de sac, inside the spacious interior blends sophisticated living with subtle home comforts including the installation of energy efficient windows and doors during the construction of a sensitive extension 10 years ago, at which time there was also an overhauling of the whole of the roof of this substantial building and its attached garage.

At the front, skilled landscaping screens the house from the no through road and the smart off street parking by the attached garage, which has a car charging point, delivers an impressive approach. Through the front porch, a broad hallway has blonde parquet underfoot to put visitors at ease as it continues into the living/dining room to allow an easy flow through the house to the gardens.

The Living/Dining Room:
With the wow factor as soon as you walk in, sunlight streams through this spacious living and dining room of triple aspect. A joy in all seasons, it opens to a paved terrace and the garden in summer whilst in winter, guests can relax in front of a Stovax wood burning stove in complete seclusion – a rare asset in an area which attracts celebrities and professionals who value their privacy. Split level, there is a soothing flow down into the elegant dining area, which is on the same level as the kitchen – and has a hatch through to it -where calm decoration keeps the attention on the sculptural aspect of this modernist space and the verdant views outside.

The Kitchen:
A gourmet’s vision expertly planned with streamlined units providing so much storage that the space remains fuss free, stylish surfaces including steel provide plenty of family friendly working space. Lined with windows and a skylight overhead it is inviting by day with two levels of lighting at night, and party perfect everything flows from the central Smeg multi-fuel range, which could stay, subject to circumstance. There is plumbing in place for a dishwasher (there is a separate utility area by the bathroom), designated space for a tall fridge freezer and the extra good news is that the vendors are willing to discuss the appliances in situ.

The Second Reception/Playroom and Home Office:
Built 10 years ago, no expense has been spared in this glorious extension which embraces the sun-lit nature of the original building and its open flow. With a solid wood floor, high ceiling with a rooflight and glass panels in two walls it is always bright and at the far end glazed doors slide across to a south facing terrace large enough for a table and chairs looking over the lawns and stepping down to the main dining terrace.

Up a short flight of stairs, the home office is bathed in light with windows above a custom made desk and to each side effectively forming a bay to frame the glory of the gardens – and south facing there are sunshades built over them outside. A door in the west wall takes you to the garden and the side path, so visitors do not have to disturb the main house. This separate access also raises the possibility of creating a consulting room with a waiting area if you work from home, or a fifth bedroom with adjoining reception if you are seeking inter-generational living.

Three Family Bedrooms and Bathroom:
An arch separates the tranquil bedrooms from the living spaces in a wing where all three family bedrooms face east for the morning sun. All are double bedrooms, and two inter-connect, ideal if you have a nanny and small child, and the dual aspect room at the end of the passageway has plenty of custom made storage. The first of the bedrooms also has a door to a Jack and Jill bathroom which is bright and cheerful with everything you need from natural light to a Mira Sport electric shower above the tub.

The Principal Suite:
A private paradise with exotic views and a large footprint to play with, this restful principal bedroom is all about recharging your batteries in a beautiful setting. Simply decorated with a wall of organised wardrobes the proportions instantly soothe, and there is access to the terrace for breakfast. Ideal for sharing, the en-suite bathroom is a classic black and white with a designer finish and it is large enough for both a full size bath and separate, walk in shower.

The Garden:
Sunny and secure, the garden is a secret retreat lovingly landscaped to create a series of outside ‘rooms’ to explore which are extensive but easy to tend. Central to the design, the house wraps around two paved terraces by lawns, ideal for the al fresco entertaining our coastal city is famous for, and they have lights and power for parties! Tiered, broad lawns provide level space for play and tucked away at the back, a play area with a timber tree house with a slide and attached swing/climbing set is gently shaded by a magnificent yew. Although the children won’t feel watched, it is within view of the rest of the garden – although the adjacent little woodland is perfect for hide and seek! Surrounded by gardens all you can hear is birdsong, and pathways wend their way around the entire property for seamless enjoyment.

Agent’s Thoughts:
“With a design led interior and fabulous, landscaped garden, this stunning home is in an exclusive location within a 5 minute radius of schools, parks, shops and a station to London, and it is the perfect, secluded setting for those who want to enjoy the sociable lifestyle of our vibrant and inclusive coastal city.”

Owner’s secret:
“Beautifully light and airy in the summer, during winter it transforms into a warm, private haven. The easy flow of the ground floor to the garden is perfect for family time, entertaining and personal time on the terrace for us as a couple when everyone else is in bed! Ideal if you have children as there’s a choice of good schools nearby it’s easy to meet other local families either at the school gate or in the local parks. The area is safe and quiet with friendly and considerate neighbours and it is also close to bus routes, so older children have a degree of independence. Convenient for nights out either locally, in Brighton, Hove or the West End, as Preston Park Station has direct trains to Gatwick and London, we shall miss our happy, sunny home and garden, (and easy parking!) but hope that you will love it as much as we have.”

Where it is:
Shops: Local 2 minutes
Station: Preston Park 5 minutes, Brighton or Hove Stations about 10
Seafront or Park: Withdean, Gatton and Preston Park all under 5 minutes, Seafront 15
Closest schools:
Primary: Westdene, Bilingual, Lancing Prep
Secondary: Varndean or Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: BHASVIC, Varndean, MET, BIM
Private: Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High, Lancing, Roedean

Nicknamed Brighton’s Hollywood Hills, Withdean is an exclusive area of the city between the sea and the South Downs National Park. Although the thriving city centre’s just minutes away, this prestigious no through road is quiet with plenty of amenities nearby, local schools are good and there’s access to some of the best private schools in the country, including Brighton College. Withdean Sports Stadium has a range of leisure facilities including a gym, tennis courts and athletic track, and by it, Withdean Woods Nature Reserve has its own community of joggers and dog walkers. Hove & Preston Parks are all a short drive each with playgrounds and cafés full of local parents, and Gatton Park is a well-kept neighbourhood secret! For those who need swift access to Gatwick or London, Brighton, Preston Park and Hove Stations are all easy to reach by foot, bus or cab and access to the A23/ A27 is quick.