Westbourne Gardens, Hove, BN3

Sitting in a hugely popular location in Hove, this deceptively spacious and beautifully maintained house is both peaceful and well connected to the city. Renowned as a family friendly and fashionable location, the residents here have easy access to some of the cleanest beaches on the coast, as well as some of the best schools and there are many amenities and foodie pubs to enjoy within walking distance. Hove, Aldrington and Portslade commuter stations are also equidistant, so you get the best of all worlds here.

Having been expertly renovated throughout by the current owners, this house impresses at every turn. The exterior has recently been redecorated, so is fresh in white bearing the architectural features of the late Victorian era. Sash windows have been replaced, like for like, with timber framed double glazing, an authentic chequerboard path has been relaid, leading past a shingle front garden with a scented border. There is parking for two cars on the drive with an integrated storage unit to the side of the house for bikes or water sports equipment, with doors picked out in sage to complement decorative railings and the front door.

Stepping inside, it is immediately clear this home has been carefully curated and styled by those with an eye for interiors and a respect for period properties. A heritage Farrow & Ball and Atelier Ellis palette has been used throughout to highlight the many original features which include floorboards, deep skirtings, ornate cornicing, architraves, ceiling roses, corbels, picture rails and a beautiful banister curving up to the first floor. From the entrance vestibule, with stained glass panels, your line of sight takes you right through the depth of the house to the glorious garden beyond. This is an incredibly spacious home to balance family time with entertaining, offering spaces which feel homely and comfortable, but also luxurious, where form and functionality have been carefully considered.

Facing west to receive warming afternoon light through a wide bay window, the sitting room offers a space for relaxation in the evening, particularly in winter for cosying up alongside the open fire. The limestone fireplace mantel takes centre stage with an Art Nouveau cast iron insert pairing perfectly with dark painted wood floorboards and green walls. Passing a ground floor WC, the extended kitchen, dining and living space spans the rear of the house, opening seamlessly to the garden during the warmer seasons. This magnificent room provides almost 60 sq. m. of clearly defined spaces, ideal for entertaining in style, relaxing after a long day or cooking beautiful meals in the kitchen.

Well-appointed with navy cabinetry topped with white quartz worktops, there is a vast array of kitchen storage solutions which includes a larder and an integrated wine fridge. The central island forms another social space below pendant lighting, so guests and family can sit and chat to you as you cook on the Elica induction hob with downdraft extractor fan. Dual Neff ovens are placed at mid-level for easy access and cleaning, while the Miele dishwasher is also integrated, and space has been left for an American fridge freezer. A boiling water tap ensures the worktops are not cluttered up with appliances, while the utility room is nicely tucked away with space for two machines. Throughout the property, reclaimed radiators warm each space, while this open plan area has zoned underfloor heating to warm the toes on wintery mornings.

The dining area is recessed giving flexibility as a living space depending on the need of new owners. For families with young children, this would be ideal as a play area or as a TV snug, while formal dining can take place below alongside the bi-fold doors, to spill outside in warmer weather for drinks and dining alfresco below the pagoda festooned with grapevines.Facing east but with a southerly aspect, the garden is bathed in sunlight and is a fantastic size for somewhere so close to the city centre. The original flint and brick walls are retained, providing the perfect base for climbing florals, while the border flower beds are well-established with a variety of plants which give scent, shape and dappled shade throughout the year while welcoming wildlife. Completely self-contained, it is safe for children and pets to play, and there remains scope for further landscaping if desired.

Returning inside, striped stair carpet rises to the first-floor galleried landing where a transom window brings natural light in from the east. Directly ahead, the bathroom is an exquisite sanctuary with a freestanding contemporary bath and floor mounted taps by Crosswater in brass adding a pop of metallic warmth. This tone is repeated in the shower fittings which include a rainfall shower head, complemented perfectly by smooth, micro-cement walls and flooring. Twinned marble hand basins sit inlaid to the vanity unit by Tikamoon to complete the stylish scheme.

There are three double bedrooms and one single bedroom on the first floor, with one enjoying dual aspect views over the garden. The principal room faces west with a charming bay window looking out over the peaceful, treelined road, with glamorous black floorboards and wall panelling. Bedroom two has plush carpet underfoot, and all rooms have been styled and dressed to complement the original heritage of the house. Bedroom four is currently used as a workspace and art studio, yet it would work equally well as a child s room or transformed into an en suite to the principal bedroom. The large loft space is ripe for further renovation as neighbours have shown, potentially adding two further bedrooms and a bathroom, subject to planning consents.

Vendors Comments: We bought the house eight years ago and loved its natural light and space from the word go. We have enjoyed making the space our own and have made many happy memories here entertaining friends in the house and garden particularly during summer when the garden becomes a natural extension of the home. It is the location and the position of the house we will miss; having the beach on our doorstep is a joy at any time of year for suppers on Hove Lawns or barbecues on the beach. There is so much to entertain you within a five-minute walk and there is every amenity you could wish for on Portland Road. We are moving out of the city to the countryside now, but it will be a wrench to leave.

Education:Primary: West Hove Primary, St. Andrew s CofESecondary: Hove Park, Blatchington Mill, Cardinal Newman RCSixth Form Colleges: BHASVIC, Newman College, Varndean CollegePrivate: Brighton College, St Christopher s School, Brighton Girls, Lancing College

Good to Know: Sitting in West Hove with Hove Lawns and Beach nearby, this incredible period home is perfectly located for families and professionals alike. There are several award-winning restaurants, gastropubs and wine bars nearby on Church Road and many more in Poets Corner and Central Brighton with its theatres, museums and North Laine Shopping District is only 20 minutes on foot (10 mins by bus) along the coast. The local schools, both private and state, are amongst the best in the city and transport links are excellent with Hove s commuter station just 10-minutes away and buses to whisk you throughout the city and beyond, stopping close by. Hove Lagoon is home to many water sport activities and there are beach saunas dotted along the coastline, plus sea swimming has become the favoured past time with locals much like it was in the 19th Century when sea bathing put Brighton on the map as the place to visit for its health benefits. Brighton & Hove continues to offer some of the most prime housing in the country outside London, so this house will be appeal to those looking to move away from the Big Smoke to live a peaceful yet luxurious life, close to the countryside and the coast.