On the market for only the third time since it was built in the 1930’s, this big, bright house has three generous floors providing versatile accommodation, four comfortable bedrooms with the master en suite and a large sunny garden. Child and pet friendly with double glazing throughout, stripped doors and wood floors combine with restful colours to make it a welcoming refuge and Deco features include open fireplaces. Set well back from a local high street with a variety of amenities including a friendly convenience store just a few steps away and a choice of schools and large park around the corner, houses sell quickly here as you are also close to the Marina and the beach. With local bus routes running past the County Hospital to the station, or to the universities, this area attracts professionals, families and investors, particularly as there are plans under discussion to develop the neighbouring Black Rock.

Why you’ll like it:

Outside, this substantial house set back behind a scented front garden has plenty of kerb appeal with curved bays, Sussex hung tiles and original stain glass in the front door. Inside, the hallway is inviting with a gleaming parquet floor and high ceiling which continue into the elegant living room at the front of the house. Once the show home, this room has a handsome, Art Deco fireplace so a roaring fire can welcome you home, and another interesting period feature, usual at the time it was built, is that the intricate – and expensive- parquet doesn’t run beneath the rug! With grace and space in which to relax or enjoy with friends, next door a formal dining room has French doors to the garden, although many people have combined the two rooms to create a more open plan lifestyle.

Past deep under stair cupboards which keep this floor clutter free, the bright and cheerful kitchen is user friendly with original quarry tiles underfoot and sturdy wood working surfaces. Well planned and galley in style, everything is easy to reach from the central gas hob and oven, both beneath a hood, plumbing is in place for a washing machine and there’s still space for a fridge freezer. With its own access to the dining terrace by the house, the al fresco lifestyle our city is known for is made easy and it steps up to the east facing lawn, raised to catch the sunshine and open to the south. Large and level for play – a feature hard to find in a city built on the South Downs -a vegetable patch provides food for the table and there’s a shed at the far end for storing the bbq.

Returning inside, at the top of the stairs, the spacious bathroom is simple but stylish with all you need including a shower above the bath and an airing cupboard nearby. Next door, the first of the double bedrooms has a mellow nature with open views over the garden, natural wood floor and fitted wardrobe, whilst the silver fireplace adds a little 1930’s glamour.

At the front of the house, the second double bedroom is not overlooked as the curved bay looks over a wide street opposite, and the pretty fireplace has a cupboard and shelving to one side. Also at the front, the nursery is currently used as a comfortable and quiet place from which to work from home and has charm with an oriel window. Private and peaceful at the top, the principle bedroom is a vaulted sanctuary to return to after a busy day, stretching from front to back of the building with windows at each end to bring in plenty of light, and with ingenious storage solutions and chic en suite shower room, it is ready for your move.

Agent says:

“This well connected area has been recently discovered by those wanting plenty of space inside and a big garden so the few homes which come on the market are selling quickly, especially since plans are under discussion to develop neighbouring Black Rock.”

Owner’s Secret:

“Four minutes from the sea and the Downs, neighbours have become friends and with the local shops there is a real sense of community here. We are only the second people to have lived here and we fell in love with it the moment we walked in as it had that lovely, elusive feeling of home - the large Italian family from whom we bought it had four of the then new built houses in a row for their parents and children and the house still has that joyful energy.”

What’s around you

Shops: Local 1 minute, Lanes about 5 minutes by cab
Station: Brighton 20 minutes by bus
Seafront or Park: Park 3 minutes’ walk, seafront 8 minutes on foot

Closest schools

Primary: St Mark’s
Secondary: Varndean or Dorothy Stringer
Private: The Brighton Waldorf, Roedean, Brighton College

Ideal for commuters, city lovers and water babies this stylish home is in a sought- after location with friendly local shops and just minutes from the international shopping, restaurants and cinemas of the Marina- and the beach. Conveniently located for the hospitals and university campus it is close to a 60 acre park, golf course and the South Downs National Park. The commercial districts, cultural heart and the whole of Brighton & Hove, including the station serving Gatwick and London, are easy to reach on foot, by bus or cab and access to the A23/A27 is swift.