Withdean Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1

GUIDE PRICE: £1,850.000.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.



A quiet, detached haven set in unusually spacious grounds, this beautiful Arts and Crafts 5 bedroom house has glorious period features and a ground floor where each room has been designed in keeping with the character of the house by experts in their field. An easy family home, it also has large twin garages, plentiful off street parking and a vast attic to inspire ideas stnc. Just an 8 minute walk to Preston Park Station and its direct trains to Gatwick and London, (or 10 by cab from Brighton) Withdean is Brighton’s own Hollywood Hills, and this exclusive property has good primary schools, a choice of parks and playgrounds and a local store, café and pharmacy within a 5 minute drive.

Sensitively modernised, including double glazing, inside grand proportions remain unspoilt - and even the hallway impresses with its parquet flooring, wood panelling and stain glass windows. A refined reception designed by David Tetley features lemon and orange ‘trees’ by Opus on each side of a working fireplace. Next door, the gracious dining room is styled by Jezebel in original Art Deco pieces which include a mirrored fireplace – and the vendors are willing to discuss the items which could stay. Tucked quietly away with a door to the woodland garden, the study, lined with hand crafted storage, was designed by Peter Morris of Morris & Murray. Skilfully planned with a timeless finish, the kitchen breakfast room has a high end, bespoke Crown Imperial kitchen and opens to a conservatory to bring the outside in. Upstairs, all five bedrooms are large, peaceful doubles ready for your move. The family bathroom is light and spacious and both the guest room and the principal are en-suite.

The good school catchment both state and private attracts families, and with Hove Park, Dyke Road Park and Preston Park’s cafés and playgrounds close by, family outings are easy. For people of any age, Withdean Sports Stadium’s gym and running track is close by whilst around the corner Dyke Road, with bus routes, will take you to the vibrant 7 Dials, city centre and the sea, or to the National Park and A23/A27 in minutes.

Style: 1930’s Arts & Crafts detached house
Type: 5 double bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (2 en-suite) + 2 extra w.c’s., reception, dining room, study, kitchen/breakfast room, conservatory, attic
Area: Withdean
Floor Area: 3214 sq.ft.
Outside Space: Front and large back gardens
Parking: Twin garages, plentiful off street space
Council Tax Band: G

Quiet and convenient with friendly shops and cafés around the corner, this is one of the most sought after areas of the city with local bus routes into or out of Brighton along Dyke Road around the corner, London Road at the bottom of the hill or Shirley Drive for Hove giving older children some independence. Picture perfect with a sheltering porch and original door with coloured, leaded windows, this beautiful 1930’s house soars above a prestigious leafy street behind a mature front garden, ample off street parking and the twin garages.

The Entrance Hall:
Inside the house, the hushed hallway proclaims its Arts & Crafts heritage with the gleaming parquet underfoot, glossy wood panelled walls and stained glass windows. Discreetly hidden away a spacious guest w.c has an Art Deco influence with Villeroy & Boch wall/floor tiles and a Heritage hand basin, and there is separate, secure access to the garage area.

The Reception, Dining Room and Study:
Completely private – a rare asset this close to the city centre- the elegant reception is a classic beauty with plenty of space for a sociable lifestyle and the sweeping bay at the far end of the room opens to the garden which becomes an extension of the house in summer. Designed by architect David Tetley the space invites the outside in and Opus designed the orange and lemon tree windows, lit from behind, their trunks of the same wood as that surrounding the fireplace which houses a gas fire.

Next door, friends and family can enjoy a traditional dining experience in another elegantly proportioned room where a hand laid floor has inlaid detail and the ceiling is high enough for a chandelier. Styled by Jezebel, the 1930’s tortoiseshell wood dining set and mirrored fireplace could stay, subject to circumstance.

At the centre of the ground floor, the study is a peaceful retreat with a door to the garden when work is done and lined with expertly organised storage designed by Peter Morris.

The Kitchen Breakfast Room, Conservatory and Garden:
Flowing around a sociable breakfast island, the kitchen breakfast room is perfect for parties but also for everyday with a family- friendly focus, a practical layout, and a fabulous finish. Designed by Crown Imperial Kitchens and fitted only about a year ago, bespoke custom coloured and copper units deliver sophisticated storage and the fabulous, wood surfaces look great but are also very hardy. Well-planned with a utility area tucked out of sight, high end appliances include a Bosch 5 ring gas hob beneath a hood, a Miele oven at eye level and a Bosch dishwasher.

There’s an open flow to the spacious, vaulted conservatory which frames the garden where French doors in the south wall lead to the dining terrace whilst the door opposite opens to the path to the second, secret garden.

Outside, the tranquil, sunny grounds are a private paradise which are child and pet secure. By the house a large, paved terrace with water and power is ideal for entertaining and it looks over a large lawn surrounded by mature shrubs and trees including a magnificent cedar. Level with the lawn and the house – a feature hard to find in a city built on hills, there is plenty of space for al fresco summers, but there is more to explore as there is a second, even larger expanse of green behind. A very rare find to enjoy.

The Family Bathroom and Bedrooms, and Guest Bedroom En-Suite
At the top of the stairs, this house spreads its wings with a bright, spacious landing lined with storage and with access to the attic high overhead. The family bathroom has a subtle Deco influence with space for both a bath and a shower, and luxury fittings but is also practical for a growing family with a separate w.c. Opposite, the first of the bright double bedrooms is a serene nursery or good bedroom for an au-pair. At the heart of the landing, the second family bedroom is very generous in size and also very quiet as it looks across the verdant garden. At the front, the third, charming family room has restful open views over the verdant valley and a useful hand basin. Convenient for visitors, the fourth spacious room is perfect for guests as light and spacious it enjoys the garden - and a chic shower room.

The Principal Bedroom, En-Suite:
A calm, peaceful refuge to return to the principal bedroom has the soothing proportions only an Arts & Crafts period home can deliver. The broad west window has a window seat covered in Osbourne & Little fabric, and embraces an open view over this home’s private grounds and there is ample, built in storage. Zoffany wallpaper brings a glamorous Deco finish and the en -suite areas are well thought through with a separate w.c. and a glamorous, airy bathroom.

Agent Says:
“With a design led interior and fabulous gardens, this stunning home is in an exclusive location. Within a short drive of schools, parks, shops and a station to London, this luxury property is also unusually private.”

Owner’s Secret:
“Beautifully light, airy and sociable this is a home we have lived and loved in. Far bigger than it looks from the street it is a quiet, spacious sanctuary. We have enjoyed all the space inside, even the bathrooms are large although the house is always warm and welcoming with a lovely ambience. We have enjoyed the peace, privacy and parking – although some neighbours are converted their garage space into a gym or a pool. The easy flow of the ground floor to the garden is perfect for a growing family or entertaining and the road is quiet and friendly.”

Where it is:
Shops: Local Matlock Road 2 mins drive, 7 Dials 5 mins by car, Queen’s Road 8 mins
Train Station: Preston Park is a 5-8 minute walk, Brighton 8-10 by cab
Seafront or Park: Dyke Road Park, Hove Park, Preston Park 5 mins drive, seafront 10-15
Closest Schools:
Primary: St Bernadette’s RC, Stanford, Cottesmore St Mary, Bilingual School
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer, Cardinal Newman
Sixth Form: Varndean, BHASVIC, Cardinal Newman BIMM
Private: Windlesham Prep, Lancing Prep, Brighton College, Brighton Girls

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 area 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 too, 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. Dyke Road, Hove & Preston Parks are all a short drive each with playgrounds and cafés full of local parents. 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.