Citadel Road, Plymouth, Devon

The Property
Set within a Grade II listed Victorian terrace dating to the 1870s, this home is a short walk from the open lawns of Plymouth Hoe and the waterfront beyond. From the street, iron railings and tall windows framed in white give the grey stucco façade its distinctive character. Beyond the recessed entrance, a stained-glass door opens into the hall, where a French-polished handrail curves above the turned spindles of the staircase. The refurbishment has preserved the fine joinery and decorative plasterwork while bringing a more contemporary finish to the kitchen and bathrooms.

The entrance floor is at its most inviting when the kitchen table is full. There is room for a long table beside the rear window, and a broad opening keeps those preparing supper within easy conversation of friends in the sitting room. Honey-coloured floorboards run the length of both spaces. From the table, the view carries through to the southerly front window, where timber shutters fold back into deep reveals. An ornate ceiling rose and finely worked cornicing give the sitting room its own sense of occasion.

In the kitchen, long runs of white quartz sit above deep blue Shaker-style cabinetry, with brass-toned cup handles picking up the warmth of the timber floor. The cabinets follow opposite walls, leaving generous working space on either side of the dining table. Black-framed glazed doors offer a view through to the staircase. The same finishes carry through to the separate utility room on this level, with matching cabinetry and quartz surfaces, a Belfast-style sink and a glazed door to the rear steps.

Southerly light falls across the pale timber boards of the principal bedroom, which spans the full width of the first floor. There is room for a chaise longue beside the two tall windows overlooking the street. A white marble surround frames the arched cast-iron fireplace, and an elaborate plaster rose sets off the high ceiling. Fitted wardrobes extend along one wall, their flush doors and small brass-toned handles a simple complement to the period detail. To the rear, a second double bedroom looks out across the rooftops. A dedicated study gives those working from home a room of their own, while the shower room pairs warm stone-toned tiles with a black-framed enclosure and brass-toned fittings.

The second-floor sitting room is particularly inviting in the evening. Recessed bookshelves and panelled cupboards are painted the same soft sage green as the walls. Between them, ochre and green patterned tiles frame the fireplace grate. The room takes in the full width of the frontage, with space to draw the sofas together or settle down with a book away from the activity of the kitchen.

A further double bedroom shares this floor with the family bathroom. A deep freestanding bath sits beneath the window, with a view across the rooftops and a floor-mounted tap following the curve of the bath. Twin basins sit against a backdrop of pale, vertically fluted tiles, with matt black taps set into the wall above. The fluted finish continues behind the glass screen of the walk-in rainfall shower, where a softly lit recess keeps toiletries within reach.

Beneath the roofline, the two top-floor double bedrooms each have space for a desk and somewhere comfortable to sit. With a cloakroom off the landing, it is a floor that works especially well for older children or overnight guests. One bedroom retains a small period fireplace. From the front bedroom, there is a glimpse of the sea.

Courtyard and Parking
The gravelled courtyard provides off-road parking at the rear, with space for planted pots and a small table for coffee outdoors. External steps lead straight to the utility room, a convenient way in with shopping. Additional on-street parking is available under the residents’ permit scheme, subject to eligibility.

The Location
A morning walk can begin on the open lawns of Plymouth Hoe, watching the boats out on Plymouth Sound, and continue around the waterfront to the cobbled streets of the Barbican. Sutton Harbour offers a choice of quayside restaurants for lunch or an evening beside the water. In the other direction, the city-centre shops and Theatre Royal are within walking distance, with the pleasure of being able to walk home after a performance.