4 bed semi-detached house for sale

Stanford Avenue, Brighton BN1

Guide price: £750,000--£800,000.

Spacious period home.

Sought after area.

Offered for sale with full vacant possession.

Internal viewings available on request.

With precious period features, glorious proportions and a prime location just a few steps down from Fiveways Village, this Edwardian, 4 bed semi-detached villa is a rare find – perfect as it is but ready to ignite your designer instincts as you spot a few areas where you could still easily add value. Set privately back from a tree lined avenue behind a front garden with a side path for bikes, inside has an easy balance between impressive spaces for entertaining and comfortable rooms for the family. With a broad box bay window and an open fireplace, the elegant living dining room is a classic beauty adorned by friezes, a sociable kitchen breakfast room opens to the westerly, walled garden and there’s a separate utility. There are 2 bright bathrooms, 3 generous double bedrooms and a large attic (which some neighbours have extended into, stnc) whilst the 4th bedroom, once a nursery, leads to the south balcony but it could become a dressing room or study - and we’re told that at one time it was a bathroom with a hand basin but no w.c.. Outside offers sunny gardens front and back, a charming wrought iron balcony with a glimpse of the sea and plentiful permit parking with no waiting list.

Homes in this exclusive ‘golden triangle’ between Fiveways and Preston Park, (both given top spots in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide, ) are within easy reach of the city centre and the sea. This area is ideal for Gatwick, London and university commuters with London Road and Preston Park Stations a 4-5 min drive. At Fiveways, you’ll find every amenity you could wish for alongside several bakeries and popular gastropubs. Blaker’s Park is around the corner, Preston Park’s fun runs, sports, playground and café is at the bottom of the avenue and if you’re a growing family good schools from primary to 6th form are within a 4 min drive – but walkable for older children! Well connected, London Road at the bottom of the hill gives easy access to the city centre and its beaches or the A23/A27, whilst Ditchling Road at the top takes you to the historic heart of Brighton or the South Downs National Park.

In Brief:
Style Edwardian semi-detached house, also with side access
Type 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms each with separate w.c.’s, living dining room, kitchen breakfast room, utility
Area Fiveways
Floor Area 1480 sq.ft
Outside Space Spacious southeast front garden and large westerly back garden open to south
Parking Permit Zone J, no list
Council Tax Band E

Why You’ll Like It:
In one of the most sought after conservation areas of our coastal city, this beautiful home is a 4 min walk from a Montessori and a pre-school, 7 from Downs Junior School (Ofsted rating: Good) and local amenities include a community garden for fresh produce. Set privately back and screened from the road by a verdant front garden, - although next door has sacrificed part of theirs for off street parking, stnc. - this impressive early 1900’s semi-detached house has immediate appeal where unique architectural detail includes intricate plaster flowers on the gables and shells between the windows, and there’s a wrought iron balcony above the majestic, stained glass entrance.

Inside there are beautifully proportioned rooms to explore as well as a big attic, and period features abound even in the tiled entrance lobby where the delicate freezes overhead continue through into a hushed hallway with an inviting flow, wood flooring underfoot and two deep cupboards tucked away for coats and bags.
Calm, quiet and understated, the large living dining room is a joy to return to come rain or shine; the broad, southeast box bay frames the front garden and bathes the room in light, whilst there’s an open fireplace to enjoy in the evenings. The ceiling rises to dizzying heights adorned by a floral frieze, and the big window in the spacious dining area is frosted for privacy.

At the end of the hallway with original French doors to the garden, a decorative frieze and a plaster pediment above the door, the inviting kitchen breakfast room blends old and new. A bridge to the garden, it brings the outside in with wooden flooring for a fuss- free flow. Bright and cheerful with ample space for a big family table, it’s designed to enjoy relaxed family time with friends. Classic shaker units and sleek wall units deliver plenty of storage, whilst quartz working surfaces look fantastic under the 2nd level of lighting. Well planned, there’s an integrated dishwasher in the ‘clearing’ area whilst conveniently opposite, the multi-fuel Rangemaster range could stay, subject to circumstance.

Outside, the sociable walled garden is lit, paved and designed for easy maintenance so you’ll have more time for fun in the sun. An oasis of calm larger than many this close to the heart of the city, parks and good schools, it is child and pet secure with a locked side gate to the front garden path. There’s plenty of space for al fresco entertaining and a spot in the southwest corner where guests can dine and enjoy Brighton’s unique holiday feel beneath a waving palm.

Returning inside, central to the ground floor the utility room has light and character with extra storage built in, and a door to the side path ensures that wet paws, sandy beach towels and supermarket deliveries don’t go through the main house. Tucked away, the ground floor bathroom has all you need including a shower above the bath and natural light, and by it there’s a separate w.c. For visitors.

Upstairs, this charming home spreads its wings with a butterfly landing. Heading towards the back of the house, the first of the double bedrooms has garden views – and with lower homes at an angle behind gardens of their own, it is not directly overlooked. Light and airy, it’s a good size for a teenager, visitors or an au-pair - and the bonus is that it is next to the second bathroom. Large enough for both a corner bath with a seat and a shower attachment as well as a separate, walk in shower with dual heads, this bathroom blends practicality with luxury touches including a large airing cupboard and warming rails for towels.

As you go to the front landing, the second double bedroom is a quiet haven with great floorspace to play with even with a double bed in situ. At the front of the house, the principal bedroom is a majestic double with a box bay almost filling the wall to fill the room with light. With the restful proportions only period properties deliver, it is a fuss free sanctuary with elegant coving high overhead and simple decoration.

Next door, a quiet bedroom enjoys the birdsong from the tree-lined avenue, and a floor to ceiling window slides up to a pretty, wrought iron balcony with open views. Once a nursery, it has gentle character of its own and offers versatile options from dressing room to study – or even a shower room as we are told by the vendor that this room was once a bathroom without a w.c..
And don’t forget the large attics overhead....

Agent says:
“These prestigious homes in this exclusive area within easy reach of the city, the sea, Lewes and the airports do not come on the market often- and this house offers a chance to extend, stnc, or just to add value. There is an interesting history of this lovely building by the vendor, available on request.”

Owner’s Secret:
“We have loved this house which has responded to our every need as the family grew – and then grew up! We think now might be the time to hand over the baton so you can enjoy making this beautiful Edwardian treasure your own dream home. All the rooms are elegant, light and spacious and all feel restful and homely. The location is perfect with Blaker’s Park around the corner and local shops, cafes and schools a short stroll, and our part of the avenue is up from the London Road’s one way turn, which takes traffic up along Beaconsfield Road for the city centre, so it is quieter than you may think and we have a lovely community here.”

Where it is:
Shops: Fiveways 1 mins walk, 1 by car, Preston Village and Sainsbury’s 5 mins drive
Train Station: Brighton Station 8-10 mins by cab, 25-30 on foot, London Road (for universities and Lewes) 4 mins by car, 10-12 on foot, Preston Park Station 5 by cab, 25-30 by bus, 25 walk
Seafront or Park: Blaker’s Park 4 mins walk, 1 by car, Preston Park10-15 mins walk, 2 by car (both same zone), Hollingbury 8 mins walk, 3 by car, sea 10-15 mins by car

Closest schools:
Primary: Downs Infant, Downs Junior, Balfour
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: Varndean 6th Form, bhasvic, Newman 6th Form College
Private: Montessori. Brighton College, Brighton Girls, Roedean, Lancing – all with school buses

Ideal for those needing access to the airports and London as Brighton and Preston Park Stations are within a 5-8 min radius and London Road Station is just 4 mins by cab, Fiveways is a favourite location known for its independent friendly shops, cafés, small supermarkets and gastro pubs. Convenient for the city centre’s vibrant arts venues, international restaurants and cosmopolitan shopping it has plentiful permit parking which reaches from Preston Park to Fiveways Village as well as to one side of The Level at the foot of the North Laine. Between family friendly Blakers Park and the expansive leafy acreage and sports facilities of Hollingbury and Preston Park’s -which host events during our legendary festivals, - local schools are good and within easy reach, and the National Park bordered by beaches is just a short drive. For those who need a car, there’s swift access to the coast, the A23/A27 and National Park, and Zone J has no waiting list.