5 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

GUIDE PRICE; £1,400,000--£1,500,000.

RARELY AVAILABLE 5 BEDROOM SEMI-DETACHED PERIOD FAMILY HOME WITH LARGE SOUTH FACING REAR GARDEN AND FRONT DRIVEWAY.

WORKSHOP/GYM/GARDEN HOME OFFICE.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.


Fusing beautiful Edwardian features with sympathetic contemporary design, this gracious 4 bed semi-detached home with off street parking and a bike store comes with a vast attic beneath a vaulted skylight and a rare, south facing garden where a timber cabin has power. In the exclusive Preston Park area, given a top spot in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide, this once in a lifetime find has unspoilt period proportions, a custom made kitchen, high end utility, 2 luxury bathrooms and a principal bedroom en-suite which opens to a private balcony. Ideal for professionals or families of any age just a 4 min walk from the sports facilities, playgrounds, café and fun runs of Preston Park, 5 from the shops and small Sainsbury’s of Preston Village and 6 from Preston Park’s direct trains to Gatwick and London (with Brighton a good reserve on winter evenings at 9 mins by cab).

Inside, highlights of this Arts and Crafts beauty include stained glass windows and period fireplaces, the one in the living room still open to ensure a warm welcome. All about enjoying friends and family, the private dining room opens to a garden dreams are made of and flows into the high end, custom made kitchen which bathes in sunlight. The separate utility has a door to the side path and garden, whilst a discreet boot room also has a w.c. for visitors. Upstairs, the galleried landing is topped by a leaded skylight. There’s a central shower room with a luxury finish and the 2 family bedrooms are quiet, comfortable doubles. Peaceful at the back, the principal bedroom enjoys glorious garden views from its secluded balcony and a fabulous en-suite/Jack and Jill bathroom in Edwardian style. At the top of the house, the 4th bedroom has stunning views over Preston Valley as well as fitted wardrobes to fill, and the inviting home office/crafts room has access to an inspiring attic area.

Preston Park has open spaces, a playground and café as well as plenty of sports clubs, park runs on Saturday and also hosts events from foodie festivals to Pride. A great location with easy access to good schools from primary to 6th form by car or bus (and within walking distance for older children) the shops, bistro pubs and cafes of Preston Village and Fiveways are also in easy reach. In the golden triangle of countryside, city centre and the sea, homes here don’t come to the market often as London Road runs along the foot of the valley for quick access to the historic centre, the sea or the A23/27 and South Downs National Park.

In brief:
Style Edwardian semi-detached house 1910
Type 4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite/Jack and Jill) + GF w.c., living room, dining room, kitchen, utility, home office/crafts room, attic
Area Preston Park Conservation Area
Floor Area 2304 sq.ft
Outside Space Front garden, south landscaped garden to the rear with garden room.
Parking Off street parking, bike store
Council Tax Band G, Energy C

Why You’ll Like It:
Homes of this quality simply do not appear on the market often. Built in 1910, this gracious house was designed when advancements in glass production allowed for larger panels to be made with more intricate designs – and all of the rooms in this unique property enjoy a free flow of light. Sensitive improvements include a high end kitchen, luxury bathrooms and decorative cast iron radiators, and the Arts and Crafts character of the building has been enhanced with unique touches from its artistic owners which begin with a handmade iron gate to the scented front garden and traditionally tiled path to the stained glass entrance.

The Entrance Hall and Living Room:
Inside, a lobby with original tiling underfoot and historic stained glass in the inner door opens to a stunning hallway, where an enormous leaded rooflight soars above the striking Edwardian staircase.

To the left, the living room is a majestic retreat where guests can relax in comfort and enjoy a roaring fire in a stately fireplace. Four graceful windows almost fill the front bay to bathe the room in light, you can still see the details of the intricate frieze which adorns the ceiling and two, decorated radiators are in keeping with the age of the house.

The Kitchen and Dining Room:
High end, this fabulous custom made kitchen offers plenty of sophisticated storage including a well organised larder with solid wood interiors and power for a coffee station. Integrated appliances include a Miele dishwasher, and the French Lacanche multi-fuel range could stay, subject to circumstance. Lined with windows including skylights above the Butler’s sink, this dream space is a delight to work in with practical preparation surfaces of quartz and wood which also look great, and there’s an easy flow to the elegant dining room at one end – and to the utility room at the other.

An unusually private retreat, the dining room is ideal for family meals or sophisticated entertaining where guests can relax and enjoy a traditional dining experience unseen by any neighbours. There is plenty of space for a large table by the French doors to the garden, a handmade cabinet is next to the beautiful Art Nouveau fireplace and the Aboriginal inspired wallpaper is by a local artisan.

The Utility Room and Boot Room/Guest W.C:
With access to the side gate for the parking and the garden, sports kits can go straight from the car to the utility room. Plumbing is in place for a machine, carefully sourced Victorian style taps are above the large sink, there is plenty of extra storage and a stained glass window is above the door which the family use to come into the house.

There is a secret boot room to discover where the visitor cloakroom doesn’t take itself too seriously featuring a Crapper’s no 814 w.c.

The South Facing Garden with Garden Room:
Sociable, south facing and secure, this magnificent garden is a leafy oasis thoughtfully landscaped for a child and pet friendly al fresco lifestyle where there is always a spot to sit in the sunshine or retreat from the heat of the day. A large, lit terrace by the house has waving palms and scented climbers for a holiday feel you don’t need to travel for and it looks over a big, level lawn for play – a feature not easy to find in a city built on the South Downs. Surrounded by beds expertly planted for seasonal flowers with mature shrubs, trees and ingenious ground cover it’s a private paradise to enjoy all year round – and it doesn’t demand too much maintenance, so you’ll have more time to enjoy it.

Tucked quietly away, a timber garden room with a covered porch area for seating is a welcoming refuge offering versatile use from playroom to home office/workshop.

Two 1st Floor Family Rooms and Luxury Shower Room:
At the top of the sweeping staircase, a broad, galleried landing spreads its wings around this substantial building beneath a fine example of an Edwardian rooflight.

At the front of the house, the first of the double bedrooms is simple but stylish with a period fireplace and views across the leafy avenue. Next door, the second bedroom is a calm and comfortable double also ready to move into with fitted wardrobes to fill. Close by, the luxury shower room has high end Burlington fittings – and the airing cupboard next to it conceals a useful hot water pressure system.

The Principal Bedroom En-Suite with Balcony, 1st Floor:
A serene sanctuary which opens to a private sunny balcony, the principal bedroom is tastefully decorated in authentic, historic tones with ample floorspace, a wall of built in wardrobes, period swan neck cornice high overhead and a handsome fireplace. The meticulous preservation of the character of this home continues in the en-suite which has an Edwardian influence in the Albion roll top slipper bath, traditional fittings and painted panelling – although there is nothing old fashioned about the designer finish -and a stained glass door leads to the landing.

The Top Floor Bedroom 4, Craft Room/Study and Attic:
Private and peaceful at the top of the house, the fourth, restful double bedroom is a generous retreat with built in storage as well as under eave access, and a large picture window frames a glorious cityscape which sweeps over the city to the coast by day and which glitters at night. Across the landing, a bright and cheerful crafts room is the perfect studio or home office, and the door at the far end opens to an inspiring attic beneath a vaulted skylight, ripe for development.

Agent Says:
“Enjoy an effortlessly elegant lifestyle and a restful pace of life in this beautiful Edwardian home where you can enjoy the easy flow of the rooms and countryside feel of the garden - whilst in one of the most exclusive areas of the city where everything you could possibly need is on the doorstep, including the National Park, the sea and station to London.”

Owner’s Secret:
“We were looking for a future proof family house with period features and a big south facing garden, but also wanted easy parking and to walk to the station and the shops. We were not expecting to achieve the dream – but here it was, complete with a fantastic, sociable park within a stroll! We fell instantly in love with this charming, quiet house and have enjoyed bringing it back to life without spoiling its character. The bright, well-proportioned rooms are easy to live in as well as for entertaining and there is plenty of space to enjoy inside or out, with the garden safely enclosed for pets as well as children. Great for a couple, it’s also brilliant if you want a family with primary, secondary and 6th form schools all within a 3-7 min drive or 10-25 min walk for older children. Inside, we wanted the house to be stylish but practical, and the attic has both inspired us and allowed us to store the materials we need to pursue our creative endeavours – although we did consider putting in dormer access as some neighbours have done, stnc. This is a great place to live with lovely neighbours and literally everything need on your doorstep, whilst the sea and countryside of the National Park are both about 10 mins away.”

Where it is:
Shops: Preston Village (with local Sainsbury’s) 5 mins walk, 2 by car, Fiveways 3 mins by car, city centre at the Level/ foot of North Laine approx. 7-10 mins
Train Station: Preston Park Station 6 mins walk, 2 by car. London Road or Brighton Station 7-10 mins drive
Seafront or Park: Preston Park 4 mins walk, 1 min by car, Blakers Park 10-15 mins on foot, 2 by car, sea about 10
Closest schools:
Primary: St Bernadette’s R.C., Balfour, Downs Junior, Downs Infant
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: Varndean 6th Form, BHASVIC, BIMM
Private: Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High, Lancing

Ideal for those needing access to the airports and London as the station to Gatwick and London is a 2 min drive, (6 on foot) Preston Park is a favourite destination known for its friendly cafés, bistro pubs and small shops which include little supermarkets, including a local Sainsbury’s! Surrounded by parks (Preston Park, Blakers Park and Hollingbury Park) which have playgrounds, cafes and sports facilities it will be easy to meet people – and parks here host events during our famous festivals, too. Local schools from primary to 6th form are good and within easy distance and the National Park, bordered by beaches, is just a short drive. Vibrant arts venues, restaurants, shopping of the city and the sea are all quick to get to by bus or by cab and for those with a car, there’s swift access to the A23/A27. This property comes with off street parking, but if you have lots of visitors you can purchase visitor parking permits from Brighton & Hove council.