House For Sale £550,000
Warleigh Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1

GUIDE PRICE: £550,000. - £600,000.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

A sun-lit haven with a fabulous, Mediterranean style walled garden and rare, off street parking spaces for 2 cars, this iconic three bedroom, end of terrace modernist house is quietly tucked away in a great area which has something for everyone. Just a 5 minute walk from the leafy Level at the foot of the legendary bars and restaurants in North Laine- and a good infant school- London Road Station (for the universities) is around the corner and Brighton Station’s direct trains to Gatwick and London are 5 minutes by cab or 10-15 on foot. Good to go as a chic home or cool investment, the layout offers options if you work from home, are interested in B&B, or looking for inter-generational living as spanning from front to back, the ground floor guest room, which is en-suite, has its own entrance through the garden as well as from the house, and space for a kitchen. Upstairs, the streamlined living/dining room is ideal for sophisticated entertaining with a bright, cheerful and well planned eat-in kitchen for informal breakfasts just next door. Private at the top, two more double bedrooms are quiet, comfortable doubles with fitted wardrobes, and the chic shower room has a designer finish.

Once in this tree-lined street it is hard to believe it is just a few minutes’ walk from the beating heart of the vibrant London Road /Preston Circus shopping districts, its eclectic mix of exotic street food from around the globe, independent boutiques, fresh produce and famous cinema a magnet for locals, and the world famous shops, restaurants and bars of the North Laine are also just a stroll.

Style: End of terrace house circa 1970
Type: 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living dining room, eat-in kitchen
Location: Preston Circus
Area: 1171 sq. ft.
Outside: Landscaped walled garden
Parking: 2 off street spaces
Council Tax Band: C

Why you’ll like it:
Far more tranquil than its fashionable location may suggest, this tree-lined street is in a great area with an unpretentious vibe and a real sense of community, as once discovered people tend to stay. A rare find in this historic quarter of the city, this property is one of three luxury 1970 homes designed for a sociable lifestyle. As the prime end of terrace, light streams through this house from three sides, and it also has the unique benefit of not one but two off street parking spaces - and a side path to the garden and back door. With weather boarding and double glazing the property has immediate appeal, and set behind a public bike store, your light will not be blocked by a parked van!

Inside has an impressive 108.8m2 (1171 sq.ft.) over three storeys to deliver plenty of options in which to work, rest or play which begin in an inviting lobby on the ground floor with ample space for coats and bags. To the left, the guest suite spans 8.34m x 3.62m (27’4 x 11’11) with broad windows at each end to bring in the Sussex sunshine, and there’s also a glazed door in the far wall which opens to the exotic, landscaped garden. Simple but stylish with solid wood underfoot, walls in subtle vintage hues and space for a kitchen if you are looking for a self- contained annexe for family, it could also be a welcoming reception/consulting room/home office, and as there is an en-suite bathroom which has a shower above the bath, any visitors would not need to disturb the main house.

Upstairs and full of light, the spacious living dining room has the wow factor as soon as you walk in. Fuss free, it is airy in summer with large windows to the south and east, whilst in winter guests can relax in warm seclusion thanks to good mid-20th century insulation and energy efficient windows, and calm decoration keeps the attention on the sculptural aspect of this modernist space- and the remarkably open views outside which sweep across the curved period terrace opposite.

Skilfully planned for every day but also great for parties, the adjacent kitchen is a classic which won’t date, and the layout flows well with everything to hand from the central gas hob, oven and lit hood. A big window brings in holiday views of waving palm trees, and this space is bright and cheerful with a breakfast bar for morning coffee and informal meals. There is plumbing in place for a washing machine, and plenty of space for a family sized fridge freezer.
Outside, in high summer the raised garden is a fabulous sun trap which gets the sun for most of the day from the morning until about 5 in the afternoon, and the current owners’ loungers are placed to catch the last rays where if you look up, all you can see is the green of the trees and blue sky. Expertly landscaped for ease of maintenance, it could easily be made child and pet secure by putting a gate across the side path, and it is a treat for the senses with raised beds along the brick and flint walls planted for scent and for all year interest.

Returning inside, past a large side window on the stairs, the landing a chic shower room is a beauty with a high end shower, custom made storage beneath the hand basin, a warming rail for towels and an on trend, designer finish. Next door, the first of the double bedrooms has plenty of sleek vintage charm with fitted wardrobes already in place, and looking over the garden, it is currently used as a comfortable home office.

Spanning the whole width of the house, the principal bedroom is a dream come true with a south window almost filling the front wall to bring in the broad sweep of the leafy street, so you don’t feel hemmed in despite the amazing, central location. With Zebra paper in classic 70’s ochre and a restful 4.32m x 3.76m (11’7 x 8’8) in which to unwind, it is a welcoming refuge with a double wardrobe built in but there is plenty of space for more – even with a double bed in situ.

Agent’s Thoughts:
“This is a great area full of professionals and families where you are never far from fresh coffee and a croissant -or a bistro pub. Tucked away from tourists the Level, which hosts events in the arts festivals, fashionable open air market and legendary North Laine are a short walk, the sports facilities and fun runs of Preston Park is a 10-15 minute stroll, or a few mins by car, and local buses take you straight into or out of the city.”

Owner’s Secret:
“The first draw of this house was its proximity to both the sea and the countryside with London Road Station a 5 minute walk and Brighton Station under 15 making the commute easy. When we turned into this first of the leafy tree lined streets of this secret enclave, we fell for the quiet, green surrounds outside, and the big, bright rooms and easy flow inside. My brother came to stay on the ground floor, which we had used as a living room, but the layout worked well as we had some privacy from each other. We didn’t realise until we moved in how sunny the garden is in summer, and when you’re sunbathing looking up only at trees it’s easy to relax – and forget you’re not on holiday but in the middle of the city! If you’re a couple, The Level is great for picnics and Preston Park’s dog walking, running community and Saturday football clubs are just a short drive (and in the same permit zone). We have loved being able to stroll to London Road for fresh local produce, nights out in the North Laine or at the fabulous Duke of York’s Cinema and have often met friends at the quieter cafés at Fiveways for breakfast on Sundays. With lots of local buses, we were not always dependant on a car and if you’re a family, life is also easy with playgrounds and The Downs Infant and Junior Schools all within walking distance.”

Where it is
Shops: London Road & North Laine 5 mins walk, 2 by car
Station: London Road 4 mins walk, Brighton under 15 or 4 by cab
Seafront or Park: The Level 5 mins walk, Preston Park 4 by car, seafront 10 min drive
Closest Schools:
Primary: St Bartholomew’s C of E, The Downs Infant School, The Downs Junior School
Secondary: Varndean and Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: Varndean 6th Form, BHASVIC, Newman 6th Form College
Private: Brighton College, Brighton Girls, Waldorf, Roedean

In a sought after location with friendly local amenities including good schools and within walking distance of great shopping, restaurants, and bars, this stylish house offers easy access to the Brighton lifestyle – and to train stations if you commute. Convenient for the art colleges and universities it is well served for parks and gardens which provide cool green spaces, cafés and playgrounds, and also host events in our famous city festivals. Close to the commercial districts and the international cultural heart of the city, the whole of Brighton and Hove is easy to reach on foot, by bus, rental bike or by car. Nearby but out of hearing, London Road takes you to the sea or to the A23/ A27 whilst Ditchling Road sweeps up from The Level to Fiveways Village and The South Downs National Park.