perfect balance woodland drive, bn3 1,250,000-1,300,000

perfect balance woodland drive, bn3 1,250,000-1,300,000

woodland drive perfect balance With a unique French Revival exterior, and a stunning contemporary rear extension, this substantial family home is a thing of beauty. It resides in the prestigious enclave of the Tongdean and Withdean Estate; skirting the Hove Park border on a sweeping, tree-lined road. Immaculate throughout, it has undergone a full renovation in recent weeks, and the results are exemplary. Spread over three floors, there are four double bedrooms, 1 single bedroom, three bathrooms, and the ground floor has been opened and extended to create a dazzling kitchen and family room. There are further reception areas and a magical rear garden, plus a full width sun terrace facing west. Originally built in 1920, it was the first house on Woodland Drive, and many of its original features have been retained. Blending these with 21st Century design, the current owners have managed to balance home comforts with a luxury lifestyle perfectly. Ideal for both family time and sophisticated entertaining, there is ample space for all, as the generous room proportions mean you never feel on top of one another. Even below the exquisite aesthetic, the very bones of the house have been renewed, to include rewiring and plastering, so you can rest assured the fine finish will last for years to come. This is a superior home which is perfectly located for some of the most sought after schools in the city, and has excellent transport links by train or car for the London commuter. With the countryside and coast nearby, and the quintessential 'Hove Lifestyle' on your doorstep, this home will appeal to many.

why you ll like it... Style: Bedrooms: Living rooms: Detached 1920 s house 5; 4 double, 1 single; 1 en suite 2-3 generous and open plan Area: 2390 sq. ft. 222.0 sq. m. Outside: Parking: Large, west-facing rear garden and sun terrace Garage and hardstanding for up 7 cars

why you ll like it... The original architect built this house in 1920 to be his forever home, and even then, this was an area celebrated for its natural beauty; being tucked away on the cusp of the South Downs National Park. Growing in popularity; much of the land was sold off during the following decades for residential use, but the neighbouring, substantial homes hold the same air of exclusivity which remains here today. Surrounded by greenery, this home sits on a large plot backing on to the three-cornered copse, and mature trees line the road. Secure gates and an immaculate brick drive set it back from the road, and you pass a cherry blossom tree as you approach. Dazzling in white, the facade has undergone recent redecoration, with its woodwork picked out in French-grey, and Indian sandstone steps take you to your door. This opens to a wide and welcoming hallway, where the scale and elegance of the house becomes apparent. Engineered oak flooring and crisp white walls lead into the living room to the left, and to the right you have access to the garage and a downstairs wet room and WC. The Living Room: While this is an open and generous room, it also feels homely with space for sumptuous sofas and a wood burning stove. You are immediately drawn to the easterly wall which follows the curve of building, and feels almost entirely glazed with the original timber framed windows. The natural light flows right through the house from here, where a wide arch leads through to a second reception area, so the rooms have definition while remaining sociably open. This area currently houses a piano and more relaxed seating, yet it would work equally well as a work space or a playroom. Adjoining this room is the kitchen and both are lead directly onto the stunning rear extension where the engineered oak floors make way for gleaming, dove-grey floor tiles; heated from below. Kitchen and rear extension: Immediately impressive, the kitchen forms part of the extension creating a generous room with ample space for everyday living and entertaining. The entire rear wall opens to the garden, and in less clement weather, the folding doors are glazed to frame gorgeous garden views. When open, the outside links seamlessly with the inside being ideal for summer suppers on the generous patio. This has also been formed from Indian sandstone, and has a raised seating area along the white rendered wall, made of solid oak to complement the worktops in the kitchen.

Inside, the white gloss units run full-height along one wall providing a wealth of kitchen storage solutions, and within them the full height fridge, freezer, dishwasher and dual ovens have been integrated, with the Siemens induction hob and sink cut-in to the oak surfaces. An island topped with granite provides both form and function as a surface more suited to hot plates and pans, while also adding some textural contrast to the room. It is also a breakfast bar for less formal social occasions, leaving ample space elsewhere for a dining table and chairs. Gardens and outdoor office space: It is a treat for the senses out here, with well established, scented borders, mature trees attracting wildlife, and the lawn is ideal for children to play while remaining low maintenance. Facing west it catches the last of the summer sun, and being open to the south ensures it shines in from early morning too. For the green-fingered there is ample opportunity for planting in both raised and border flower beds, and at the top of the garden is a greenhouse for your kitchen garden and seedlings. The garden is slightly raised and terraced, yet it is not steep, and it is incredibly private due to the wooded copse at the rear. You have access to this which is ideal for dog owners and walkers as you can take a gentle hike to the hills of the Downs from here too. Next door has built an indoor swimming pool in their garden which shows the amount of space available, and while this garden is a dream as it is, there is plenty of scope for further landscaping should you choose. Bedrooms 1-3 and the family bathroom: Plush carpeted stairs and glass balustrades lead the way to the first floor where you come to a sizable landing. From here there are three generous double bedrooms, a single bedroom and the family bathroom. Engineered oak flooring unifies these rooms, and they are all naturally lit due to wide picture windows and an east/west orientation. Bedrooms three and four are fine sizes with built-in wardrobes to maximise the floor space, and they both have tranquil, verdant views. There are two further doubles; both of which could be considered as 'master', as bedroom two has private access to the full-width, west-facing sun terrace. This has also been glazed, so you can look out to the garden from your bed as you wake, and during the summer it is the perfect spot to take your morning coffee and papers. The decking is composite timber in slate-grey, so it is low maintenance and incredibly hard wearing, and the streamlined skylights to the rooms below are made of strengthened glass so are fine to walk upon. As with the other rooms, there is plenty of built in storage, and the family bathroom sits conveniently across the landing. While this is the only room which has not been renovated in recent months, it remains modern with a quality finish. It has travertine tiles on the floor and walls to complement the white bath suite, which has a Jacuzzi function and a shower above it.

Master bedroom suite and second floor bedroom: Mirroring the living room below; this room also follows the curve of the external turret, and being slightly elevated you gain views across the houses below vast and open skies. With a king-size bed and several pieces of bedroom furniture, the space is not compromised, and it also benefits from an en suite shower room. In here the marbled, urban concrete tiles run along the floor and up the walls, and a tall cubicle houses a rainfall shower to revive you in the morning. Upstairs, bedroom five was built into the loft space with a dormer window to the front, so the views really come into their own, and you can tuck yourself away from the hubbub of family life up here to ensure a truly restful night's sleep. Exceptional family homes of this calibre do not come on the market very often. The combination of period character with contemporary design; in such a sought after location make this property stand out, so it really needs to be seen to be admired. "We have lived here for 18 years, and even prior to the renovations it was a beautiful home. It is wonderfully private and spacious, and a great place to raise children so close to the park and schools. It was a real labour of love to renovate, but we are incredibly happy with the results. It has been a joy to entertain here, and the extra space and light has made it well worth the effort. Our favourite room is the rear bedroom with the terrace, as it is lovely waking up to the garden views, and so peaceful. We hope the next inhabitants enjoy it just as much as we have."

where it is Style: Shops: Train Station: Local 2 min walk, city centre 10 min drive Hove Station 10 min walk Seafront or Park:Hove Park 3 min walk, Seafront 10 min drive Closest Schools:Primary: Secondary: Private: West Hove Primary Hove Park, Blatchington Mill, Cardinal Newman RC Brighton College, Windlesham This stunning home is beautifully situated in a prestigious area with lots of local green spaces and the South Downs on your doorstep. The city centre shopping districts and beach are also within easy reach, and this home also offers easy access to Hove Station and the A27/A23 which have direct and fast access to the airports and London. call: 01273 221102 117-118 Western Road, Hove, BN3 1DB