Sillwood Road, Brighton, BN1

Abundant with original Victorian period detail spread over four generous floors, this beautiful five-bedroom townhouse is immediately impressive. It has previously been used as a luxury holiday let for large parties visiting the city, catering for up to 28 people, but it would also be a stunning family home.

The original floorboards, plasterwork features, leaded light windows, sashes, bannisters and balustrades have been retained and restored to ensure the building’s character shines through. There are four glamorous bathrooms to include a four-person Jacuzzi bath on the lower ground floor, and the bespoke hand-built kitchen is equipped with modern appliances and technologies.

Positioned within minutes of Brighton City Centre, the beach and Hove’s boutique shopping and Michelin Star restaurant scene, it is perfectly positioned for holiday guests, professionals and families alike. Brighton Mainline Station is just 5 minutes in a cab or hop on any number of buses which stop on nearby Western Road where there is a plethora of shops and amenities. The local schools are amongst the best in the city, to include the award-winning Brighton College and Brighton & Hove School for Girls and the state schools are also highly-acclaimed. Easy access to several parks will also ensure this house appeals to families looking to live in the urban heart of the city. This is a fantastic family home in the city centre but has previosuly been a successful holiday let with an income of £75K per annum.

Entirely original, with style and character in abundance, this property offers something different for people looking to make the move from the capital to Brighton & Hove, searching for a safer space to raise children, close to excellent commuter links and with the fresh sea air nearby. Viewing by appointment only.

Style: Victorian townhouse
Type: 4-5 double bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 1 vast open plan kitchen/living/dining room, 1 living room/bed 5
Location: Regency Square Conservation Area
Floor Area: 1943 Sq.Ft
Outside: Decked rear patio
Parking: Zone Z
Tenure: Freehold

Why You’ll like it:
Introduction:
During the early 19th Century, Brighton was transformed from a quiet fishing village into one of the most fashionable and wealthy towns in the country. From the early 1820s, these beautiful townhouses rose up from the seafront along Brighton’s famous coastline to meet the thoroughfare of Western Road which remains to this day a vibrant and exciting part of the city.

These elegant properties have put Brighton on the map as one of the most sought-after places to live outside London - with the fresh sea air and the wonderfully diverse and artistic culture surrounding them, a welcome bonus.

Uniquely this property has remained one dwelling with incredible original features which have been beautifully restored by the current owner who has a deep respect for period properties, to ensure their original character is not lost during renovations.

The exterior bears the architectural plasterwork features of the period, alongside sash canted bay windows and leaded transom window above the front door which adds a pop of colour in pillar box-red. A traditionally tiled path paved the way to the door which opens to a grand entrance hall where the scale and beauty of the house become apparent.

Entrance Hall:
Gloriously high ceilings adorned with original cornicing and corbels sit high above your head, while the original wide floorboards support you from below as you enter this elegant home. The transom window between the vestibule and the hallway bears a traditional tulip design which is echoed throughout the house and muted heritage tones have been used on the walls with the woodwork picked out in white. The original balustrades and mahogany bannister wend their way up through the floors which invite you to explore further.

Ground Floor Receptions/Bedrooms:
There are two beautiful rooms on the entrance floor, each bearing period features, fireplaces and high ceilings. They are currently dressed as bedrooms, but they are versatile spaces ideal as reception rooms, work spaces or play rooms. Their sash windows fill each space with light from east to west and it would be possible to open them up to each other to create one exceptional social space – all food for thought.

Open Plan Kitchen/Living/Dining Room:
Originally created for large parties and gatherings with banquette seating for up to 28-people, the reception room with open plan kitchen has restaurant qualities. Indeed, these spaces were often hosted by private chefs to cater for larger numbers, so it is set up perfectly for entertaining in style. The kitchen is hand built from solid cedar and granite with fully integrated appliances, a black Marmoleum floor, exposed brick features and industrial-style fittings. This is a hugely versatile space which could be reconfigured to include separate seating and dining areas or work spaces. There is currently a built-in seating area for watching TV and French doors open to the front of the house where there is a sweet west-facing patio. This could also be used as a second entrance to the property should you wish to convert the lower ground floor as a separate dwelling.

A second decked patio sits to the rear of the property with tall walls and space for outdoor seating and potted plants. There is also a useful rear gate for bringing in bikes/buggies/water sports equipment rather than traipsing them through the immaculate house.

Bathrooms:
These rooms balance tradition and contemporary perfectly with Victorian mini-chequerboard floor tiles a muted heritage palette and metro brick wall tiles running floor to ceiling. There are bathrooms on every level, three of which have rainfall showers, while the grand bathroom on the lower ground floor has a four-person jacuzzi bath! Every fixture and fitting is of the finest quality and perfectly in keeping with the era of the building.

First Floor Bedrooms:
The upper floors are split-level housing three further bedrooms – all beautifully styled with the original wide floorboards and woodwork features. There are two bedrooms to mirror the reception rooms/bedroom below them, with a third slightly smaller double room sharing access to their own bathroom on the upper level but easily accessible.

Agent’s thoughts:
This is a deceptively spacious and elegant house which has been expertly maintained by those with a keen eye for interiors. The entertaining spaces are exceptional, but equally this building lends itself perfectly to family time and relaxation. The location is also incredible

Owner’s secret:
“As a designer and developer with a passion for period properties, I love nothing more than breathing new life and purpose into older buildings as they offer such a great deal of character and space. This house has been an incredible holiday let for me, but I am moving out of the country so I am reluctantly letting it go.”

Where it is:
Shops: Taj & Waitrose 1 min walk, North Laine 12 min walk
Train Station: Brighton Station 12 min walk
Seafront or Park: St Ann’s Well Gardens 8 min walk, Seafront 2 min walk
Closest Schools:
Primary: Middle Street Primary, Brunswick Primary
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer, Cardinal Newman RC
Sixth Form: BHASVIC, Newman College, MET College
Private: Brighton College, Lancing Prep, Brighton & Hove School for Girls, Montessori

This impressive house is situated in a popular area with lots of local shops and the beach nearby. The city centre shopping districts and bohemian North Laine with its theatres and eateries is also just a short stroll away and the beautiful St Ann’s Well Gardens are very close should you hanker after some green outside space in a glorious setting. This unique home also offers easy access to Brighton Station which has direct and fast links to the universities, airports and London.