Rugby Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1

GUIDE PRICE: £1,000,000--£1,100,000.

RARELY AVAILABLE HOUSE CURRENTLY ARRANGED AS TWO FLATS.

COULD EASILY BEEN CHANGED BACK INTO A FOUR BEDROOM FAMILY HOME.

IDEAL FOR ADAPTABLE LIVING/HOME & INCOME/WORKING FROM HOME.

STUNNING REAR GARDEN.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.



In a great location between Fiveways and Preston Park, both given top spots in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide, this beautiful, 3 bed semi-detached house has a glorious, big garden where the hot tub could stay, a flexible layout and a large attic, which some neighbours have extended into. Although used as one dwelling it is configured as a stylish 1 bed apartment and a spacious 1 bed maisonette ideal for inter-generational living/income, but it could easily revert as the extended bedroom on the ground floor could become a fabulous kitchen/breakfast room and the kitchen upstairs could be a double bedroom, stnc – or you could just leave 2 internal doors open and still have 3 bedrooms! Ideal for professionals or a family with the sports facilities and playgrounds of Preston and Blaker’s Park a walk, there’s an excellent Junior school at one end of the road, senior schools are within walking distance or a 5 min drive, and both Brighton and Hove Station’s direct trains to Gatwick and London are 6 mins by cab.

On the ground floor, the elegant living dining room with French doors has two open fireplaces, one with a wood burning stove, the stylish kitchen with ambient lighting is at the heart of the home and the bright and cheerful bedroom, used as a potters studio, is next to a custom made bathroom and opens to the fabulous oasis at the rear. Upstairs, a sunny kitchen is at the top of the stairs next to a seaside inspired bathroom and separate w.c, the bedroom at the back has wonderful views. At the front, the living dining room is a light -filled retreat currently used as the principal bedroom. Homes in this golden triangle of tranquil terraces do not come onto the market often- and sell fast as this golden triangle appeals to professionals, families and international investors with London Road at the bottom of the hill giving easy access to the city centre or to the National Park and A23/A27.


In Brief:
Style Semi-detached Victorian Villa
Type 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living dining room, 2 kitchens, attic
Area Preston Park
Floor Area 1584 sq.ft.
Outside Space Front and back gardens, covered secure side passage for bikes
Parking Permit Zone J
Council Tax Band GFF and FFF B

Why You’ll Like It:
Quiet but convenient with plentiful permit parking, this is one of the most sought after conservation areas in our coastal city between the playground and sports facilities of Preston Park and the independent shops and cafes at Fiveways where local bus routes take you in or out of the city – or to the secondary schools.

With immense charm even from the kerb, this lovingly refurbished home is shielded from the leafy street behind a scented, country garden and inside, the hallway introduces you to the stylish yet classic interior design – and the house can be used as one dwelling simply by leaving two doors open.

The Ground Floor:
Ideal for entertaining, the gracious proportions of the living dining room provide an inviting space in which to spread your wings. Sunlight streams through the broad bay, swan neck coving adorns the ceiling and floorboards stripped to their original blonde ensure a fuss free flow through French doors to the garden. With ample space for time together or for entertaining in relaxed seclusion in a room with leafy views at each end, and a restful retreat come rain or shine, two fireplaces are both lined, the intricately carved one in the dining area now housing a wood burning stove.

At the heart of this level the custom coloured kitchen is a beauty gleaming beneath ambient, coloured lighting. Skilfully designed to deliver plenty of storage topped by user friendly, double depth wood surfaces, a Cata gas hob and electric oven are integrated beneath a discreet hood and opposite, the original fireplace could possibly be opened for a range.

Central to the apartment, the bathroom is unique, with an Edwardian influence in the roll top bath which has a dual head shower in traditional style above it as well as in the exposed copper pipes, but there is nothing old fashioned about the designer finish which doesn’t take itself too seriously with a surprise beneath your feet.

Lined with windows, a skylight to bring in the sky and tall French doors to frame the beautiful garden, what was the bedroom is currently used as a potters studio -and the bones are there if you wanted to use the building as one home for a glamorous family kitchen breakfast room.

The Garden:
Absolutely stunning, this glorious garden is a private paradise ingeniously designed to embrace both sun and shade. Sweeping out from the bedroom, a paved, lit terrace is level with the house with broad stone steps curling around a raised deck for a hot tub, surrounded by exotic, scented and rockery planting for a holiday feel. At the top, a large lawn has space for dining in rare seclusion as you are not directly overlooked.

Heading back towards the house beneath a honeysuckle arbour, the side return is unusually broad. Surrounded by flowering climbers and raised beds for fruit and vegetables it is a tranquil, shaded spot for reading or working outside where you can avoid the heat of the mid-summer sun which skims across the top of the building to circle the garden from east to west – and there is also the covered return for bikes and boards tucked away.

The First Floor:
At the top of a staircase with a door at its foot, a bright and cheerful kitchen has garden views, generous proportions and an historic fireplace. With an integrated gas hob and electric oven beneath a hood and plumbing for a washing machine there’s a practical layout and it looks over the flat roof of the room below, raising interesting possibilities of a terrace, stnc, (NB no 35 and 37 have them).

This space would also make a great double bedroom as next door a contemporary bathroom has a seaside theme, a Bette Bath with a Triton T80 shower above it and a separate w.c. in the room by it – always useful in a busy home.

Upstairs, the light and airy double bedroom is quiet and comfortable at the back with restful, verdant views. At the front, the living dining room (used as the principal) is a dream come true with both a box bay and tall sash to bathe the room in light, a handsome fireplace, where the chimney is lined, and plenty of character of its own.

Agent Says:
“This beautiful, bright home with a fantastic garden offers great options, stnc. Quiet but convenient for the city, the station, shops, schools and parks, these semi-detached houses in this tranquil lattice of exclusive Victorian terraces sell fast.”

Owner’s secret:
“We have loved this big, quiet house which we chose as it’s in a really convenient location if you want to get into or out of town in minutes by bus, car or train. All of the rooms are light and spacious, and we love the good energy here. You can use the house however you want to – it has always easily adapted to our changing needs. We are very sociable – and have made good use of the garden, which is always an inviting retreat with plenty of space which we can use all year round. We shall miss it and are only moving as the house and garden have become too big for us! This is a special road to live on with a friendly mix of couples and families. We all meet on the street for drinks at Christmas and in the summer there is a street party, so you can meet everyone easily if you want to. Blakers Park which has a café and a playground has lots of locals walking the dog or jogging, Preston Park is lovely and close, and has fun runs and football on Saturday. The sea is very easy to get to and you’re a very short drive from Stamner Park and Ditchling Beacon and their fantastic countryside walks.”

Where it is:
Shops: Local on Havelock Road 2 drive, 5 walk, Beaconsfield Rd 2mins drive, Sainsbury’s 4 by car
Train Station: Preston Park & Brighton Stations 6 mins drive, 25-30 on foot.
Seafront or Park: Preston and Blakers Parks both 5-8 minutes’ walk, 2 by car – same zones, sea about 10 by car
Closest schools:
Primary: The Downs Infant School, The Downs Junior, Balfour
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: Varndean 6th Form, BHASVIC, Newman 6th Form College
Private: Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High, Lancing

Ideal for those needing access to the airports and London as the station is a 6 minute drive, Preston Park is a favourite location known for its friendly shops, cafés and small Sainsbury’s. Between family friendly Blakers Park and the expansive leafy acreage and sports facilities of Preston Park -which both 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– so a healthy lifestyle beckons! The vibrant arts venues, international restaurants and cosmopolitan shopping of the city are all quick to get to by bus or by cab and for those who need a car, there’s swift access to the A23/A27 and Zone J has no waiting list.