Dream Home: Buckingham Palace
Spacious family living in the city centre in a stunning period property from Mishon Mackay
Houses have history and this stunning property has a full one. Once a large family house, it had been subdivided into bedsits and then into flats over the years. Happily, all is now one again and to delightful effect.
Built over three floors, with half landings, this early Victorian town house is beautifully proportioned and has not been messed with. The rooms are mostly of their original size, and the addition of two en-suite shower rooms has merely made the house more comfortable for modern family living.
On the ground floor the entrance opens onto a wide hall and a large staircase that rises to the upper floors. On one feature wall in the hallway, black and white wallpaper depicts a leafless silvan glade with the sapling trees towering to the full height of the building. It’s a dramatic effect but one that seems perfectly natural.
The large living area is divided into sitting and dining, and huge windows fill the room with light. Being a corner property, there is ample natural light with windows to three sides of the building.
At the rear is a modern kitchen that has been designed to look totally in keeping with the rest of the building. The current owners have plans and permissions to extend but have not done so as the need for even more space became apparent when their budding musician daughter’s need for a larger piano became obvious.
They are sad to leave too, having found the area just west of Brighton Station to be extremely welcoming with a great sense of community that is centred on a local shop and its very motivated and community-spirited proprietor.
Outside, the house has a small walled front garden and to the rear a side area with steps that lead up to a decked terrace surrounded by elderflowers that will soon be full of deep red berries.
On the upper floors there are five bedrooms, one of which is currently used as a home office. All of them are doubles with the exception of the office which, although large enough for a double bed, would make a fine single or guest room.
The family bathroom once again is modern but with a classic look. A freestanding bathtub is contemporary with a Victorian feel and the tiled splash-backs are reminiscent of Brighton’s geometric brickwork. What is so delightful is that this house is currenty designed along modern lines, with contemporary furnishing and 20th century design classics, all sitting well against the cornicing and ornate fireplaces. But by simply replacing the modern with antiques, one could make this house a perfect period gem.
Ideally located for a family with a need to commute, this is a warm and friendly family home in the heart of the city with the station less than five minutes away. Local amenities and schools are among the best the city has to offer, and it’s just a short walk to the seafront.
Outside the streets are wide and treelined, and parking, although permit based, is not the worst in the city by a long chalk.
This stylish period home has much to offer, either to a family or to those who simply love to entertain. The décor, currently eclectic, is furnishing based, leaving the walls and floors simple in tone and character. In other words, you could simply move in with your own things and stamp your own style on this lovely property.
Buckingham Road, Mission Mackay, £699,950 freehold, 99 – 101 Dyke Road, Brighton. BN1 3JE, Telephone: 01273 775 588
www.mishonmackay.com
