Gladstone Road, Deal, Kent

Natural materials and neutral hues adorn this 19th-century terraced house in Deal, Kent. Its picture-pretty frontage gives way to a home dressed with colours and textures redolent of the beach, a five-minute walk away. Gardens bookend the house, creating a sustained connection between inside and out. Known for its beautiful architecture and artistic appeal, Deal has, in recent years, become home to a roster of exceptional places to dine out and to shop. The area is wonderfully connected, with services from Deal running direct to London St Pancras in 90-minutes.

The Tour

Sweet brickwork defines the street-facing profile of this house, set back behind a smart front garden. A hallway with space for coats and jackets unfolds on entry, with the living spaces set on the left-hand side.

Here, an open-plan design allows light to ripple throughout, entering from a window at the front and bifold doors to the garden in the rear. Sable-coloured pinewood floorboards traverse underfoot here and throughout, white-painted walls exaggerate the room's already generous proportions.

The space has been designed to be wonderfully flexible; a dining area is arranged at the fore, and a living room at the back, though the order could be reversed if desired. Both have cleverly carved-out storage and unobtrusive yet convenient fitted benches. Throughout the house, ironmongery, switches and sockets are all from Corston Architectural Detail.

In the middle lies the kitchen, with handsome bespoke units, Dekton countertops and appliances by AEG, Zannussi and Beko. Reeded-glass cabinets provide texture and are conveniently placed above a deep sink with a matt black Quooker tap and built-in waste disposal. Opposite lies a pantry cupboard - ideal for spices and dried goods.

White-painted stairs ascend to the first floor, with a custom-built wrought iron handrail. At the front is an additional living space, beautifully lit care of its elevated position. A cupboard and open shelving lie on either side of a wood-burning stove, a brilliant addition on brisk coastal evenings. This room could also be used as a peaceful study.

Stairs ascend from this room to the primary suite, an immaculately finished room with a wide glazed door that opens to a glass Juliet balcony. A walnut fluted headboard runs along one wall, and a smart en suite with a walk-in shower lies opposite with sanitaryware from 34 St John and tiles from Claybrook Studio.

Both the principal and the second bedroom, which sits on the first floor, have an abundance of built-in storage. Similarly generous, the second bedroom sits next to a large bathroom finished with a bath and a curated selection of creamy coloured tiles.

Outdoor Space

A deftly delineated garden unfolds at the rear. Closest to the house is a large raised patio area with plenty of room for a large dining table and barbecue. Steps descend to the garden, divided between pathways and resplendent beds full with established planting. A mature wisteria runs along one fence and several trees mark the far boundary and provide plenty of privacy. There is also a handy shed for garden tool storage.

There is also a neat front garden, with paved walkway to the front door.

The Area

The centre of Deal is a short walk away from Gladstone Road. The town is well known for its excellent culinary scene: The Rose Hotel is a recent opening, offering stylish rooms and an award-winning restaurant, while bistro-style Frog and Scot and its sister wine-bar, Le Pinardier, are just down the road. Merchant of Relish, The Black Pig and Jenkins and Sons are the go-to for groceries, meat and fish respectively, but for local produce, there is also a fantastic Saturday farmers’ market. Dunlin and Diver sells beautiful gifts and accessories, while Old Coves and Mileage are great for furniture.

Even closer to home are some brilliant seaside spots: local favourite Hut 55 is conveniently close for a weekend's stroll along the beach with a coffee in hand. Deal's seafront is known for its mid-century pier, which has a wonderful Niall McLaughlin-designed glass-clad café with uninterrupted views out over the channel at its furthest end.

There is plenty to explore along this part of the Kentish coast, including Dover’s White Cliffs and a National Trust-managed lighthouse. Plenty of walks are to be found in and around the Kent Downs National Landscape (AONB), which lies to the west of the house.

Trains connect from Deal station, an 11-minute walk, to London St Pancras in around an hour and 20 minutes. Services also run to Kent’s other popular seaside towns, including Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. The A2 is easily reached for car travel into the capital.

Council Tax Band: B