House For Sale £1,300,000
Built in 1955, this beautiful four-bedroom house is ideally located on the edge of St Albans. Working sensitively within the parameters of the original design, the current owner, an architect, has remodelled and extended the house to create a series of light-filled, sociable living spaces spanning 2,166 sq ft, with wonderful views over the richly planted garden through large glazed doors. The house is less than a 10-minute drive from St Albans station, which runs trains to London St Pancras in 21 minutes.
The Tour
The entrance is flanked by projecting wings and opens to a stair hall. This is a fantastically bright space, care of a double-height picture window that frames views over the pretty forecourt. An inner hall lined with a run of cupboards leads to the kitchen, where a large window allows in copious amounts of sunshine and frames verdant garden views. The kitchen has excellent amounts of storage in the pale wooden cabinetry and a generous work area. The sloping ceiling enhances the voluminous atmosphere and a large roof light overhead illuminates the wooden and stainless steel worktops.
The dual aspect living and dining room combine to create a wonderful open-plan sociable space, accessed from both the entrance hall and the kitchen. A recessed wood-burning stove with a black slate hearth is a cosy focal point around which to gather, relax and read, while large glazed sliding doors in the dining area open to the garden beyond. The snug, which lies off the kitchen, is a versatile space; currently used as a playroom, it would work equally well as an office. It has a lofty ceiling, a roof light and glazed doors with views to the inviting green backdrop.
The main bedroom lies off the stair hall. This brilliantly bright space, with its dramatic pitched ceiling and roof light, displays the carefully considered attention to detail and refined material palette that epitomises the design of this house. Beyond lies a utility room and an immaculately detailed shower room, its built-in storage a jigsaw of plywood panelling.
An open-tread, mid-century cherry timber staircase rises to the bright first-floor landing where three further bedrooms can be found. Each is an exercise in quiet and calm and has beautiful views of the garden beyond. A striking salmon-red door leads to the family bathroom, which has grey rubber flooring underfoot and plenty of built-in storage.
Outdoor Space
The rear garden is wrapped in extensive and wonderfully fragrant roses, honeysuckle and climbers, with a large lawned area at its centre. Bushes and shrubs emerge from the beautifully positioned beds, while hornbeam hedging conceals a productive kitchen garden.
Also awash with greenery and planting is the large front forecourt, where there is room to park several cars and access to both the garage and rear garden.
The Area
St Albans is a highly sought-after Hertfordshire city renowned for its excellent private and state schooling. It is characterised by its historic architecture and many listed buildings, as well as St Albans Cathedral, Roman Verulamium Park and Musem and the River Ver. The house is very close to The Quadrant, a thriving local shopping hub, and is also near the sociable Community Centre and Library.
A short walk from Marshalswick Lane is The Wick Nature Reserve, a playing field and woodland area. A little further is Jersey Farm Woodland Park, an area of woodland and meadows, bridleways and footpaths. These are ideal for ramblers and dogwalkers seeking to enjoy peaceful atmospheres and countryside views. Two miles away in the village of Sandridge is Heartwood, the site of England’s largest new native forest.
Proximity to London enables easy commuting from St Albans mainline station, with regular and direct services from here to St Pancras International in around 21 minutes. The motorway network is also within easy reach, with Junction 6A on the M1 just over five miles away. Luton Airport is a little over 11 miles away and London Heathrow Airport is 27.5 miles.
The Tour
The entrance is flanked by projecting wings and opens to a stair hall. This is a fantastically bright space, care of a double-height picture window that frames views over the pretty forecourt. An inner hall lined with a run of cupboards leads to the kitchen, where a large window allows in copious amounts of sunshine and frames verdant garden views. The kitchen has excellent amounts of storage in the pale wooden cabinetry and a generous work area. The sloping ceiling enhances the voluminous atmosphere and a large roof light overhead illuminates the wooden and stainless steel worktops.
The dual aspect living and dining room combine to create a wonderful open-plan sociable space, accessed from both the entrance hall and the kitchen. A recessed wood-burning stove with a black slate hearth is a cosy focal point around which to gather, relax and read, while large glazed sliding doors in the dining area open to the garden beyond. The snug, which lies off the kitchen, is a versatile space; currently used as a playroom, it would work equally well as an office. It has a lofty ceiling, a roof light and glazed doors with views to the inviting green backdrop.
The main bedroom lies off the stair hall. This brilliantly bright space, with its dramatic pitched ceiling and roof light, displays the carefully considered attention to detail and refined material palette that epitomises the design of this house. Beyond lies a utility room and an immaculately detailed shower room, its built-in storage a jigsaw of plywood panelling.
An open-tread, mid-century cherry timber staircase rises to the bright first-floor landing where three further bedrooms can be found. Each is an exercise in quiet and calm and has beautiful views of the garden beyond. A striking salmon-red door leads to the family bathroom, which has grey rubber flooring underfoot and plenty of built-in storage.
Outdoor Space
The rear garden is wrapped in extensive and wonderfully fragrant roses, honeysuckle and climbers, with a large lawned area at its centre. Bushes and shrubs emerge from the beautifully positioned beds, while hornbeam hedging conceals a productive kitchen garden.
Also awash with greenery and planting is the large front forecourt, where there is room to park several cars and access to both the garage and rear garden.
The Area
St Albans is a highly sought-after Hertfordshire city renowned for its excellent private and state schooling. It is characterised by its historic architecture and many listed buildings, as well as St Albans Cathedral, Roman Verulamium Park and Musem and the River Ver. The house is very close to The Quadrant, a thriving local shopping hub, and is also near the sociable Community Centre and Library.
A short walk from Marshalswick Lane is The Wick Nature Reserve, a playing field and woodland area. A little further is Jersey Farm Woodland Park, an area of woodland and meadows, bridleways and footpaths. These are ideal for ramblers and dogwalkers seeking to enjoy peaceful atmospheres and countryside views. Two miles away in the village of Sandridge is Heartwood, the site of England’s largest new native forest.
Proximity to London enables easy commuting from St Albans mainline station, with regular and direct services from here to St Pancras International in around 21 minutes. The motorway network is also within easy reach, with Junction 6A on the M1 just over five miles away. Luton Airport is a little over 11 miles away and London Heathrow Airport is 27.5 miles.
