Upper Glen Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex

Immaculately renovated in recent years, this three-bedroom house lies in the charming seaside town of St Leonards-on-Sea. Positioned atop a hill a short distance from the beach, the home has been lovingly reimagined in keeping with its original late 1960s design to create a series of warm, welcoming spaces with a fantastic quality of soft light. Behind the house is a 100 ft-long garden, thoughtfully planted to provide year-round greenery. St Leonards is a town with a rich architectural history, a much-loved shingle beach, and an increasing array of restaurants, galleries and antique shops.

The Tour

The house was built in 1969 and stands detached from its neighbours. A front garden provides a welcoming entrance, planted with exotic plants and cacti. Inside, a full renovation including rewiring and replumbing has been undertaken.

The living/dining room and kitchen are located on the lower ground floor, cut into the hillside with a rooted feeling of privacy; access to these spaces is via an original staircase.

The original wood panelling with teak veneer has been retained downstairs, along with museum parquet flooring. Here, a wall of glazing opens to the garden and creates a seamless transition between indoors and out. There is also a wood-burning stove that ensures cosiness throughout the colder months.

The ground floor is home to both bedrooms, an office and a family bathroom, connected by a smart hallway where intricate plywood pieces have been cut into triangles that form a textured, angular floor. The office to one side is a quiet, peaceful space that would work equally well as a bedroom. The family bathroom has been finished with a combination of green tiles that sit against a painted mural inspired by Brazilian artist Roberto Burle Marx.

The two bedrooms make excellent use of colour. The main room has deep red walls, contrasting beautifully with the green garden views framed by a large window. The space is south-west-facing and so receives a wonderful light throughout the day. There is a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite bathroom with a red terrazzo floor. The second bedroom utilises a palette of yellow walls and wool carpet to create a soft, serene space.

Planning permission has been granted for a further rear extension; details and drawings are available upon request.

Outdoor Space 

Extending from the house is a 100 ft-long garden, which has been beautifully planted with a combination of mature trees, specimen plants and flowers. Immediately in front of the house is a paved area, where irregular tiered steps descend to an expanse of lawn, bordered by raised beds and vegetable patches. Receiving all-day sunshine, the space is wonderful for al fresco dining and entertaining, or quiet morning coffees.

The Area

St. Leonards-on-Sea is an increasingly popular seaside town, partly due to its proximity to London but also because of its beautiful Regency architecture. Developer-architect James Burton and his son Decimus developed the resort in the early 19th century with echoes of London’s Marylebone and Belgravia, where they had previously practised.

The house is a short drive from Norman Road and King’s Road, home to a growing number of independent delicatessens, bars, pubs, and restaurants. Highlights include Kino-Teatr, which combines an independent cinema with exhibition space and a wonderful café, Graze on Grand, and The Royal, which has a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide. A scattering of 20th-century furniture shops and independent galleries feature a handful of budding local artists.

Hastings is close by, as is Bexhill-on-Sea, home to the De La Warr Pavilion. The area’s rejuvenation is perhaps best demonstrated by the additions of Hastings Contemporary by HAT Projects, which opened in 2012 as Jerwood Gallery, and a new pier by dRMM which opened in 2016 and was awarded the 2017 Stirling Prize for architecture.

The house is a 10-minute drive from the shingle beach at St Leonards and within easy reach of Hastings, beyond the RIBA Stirling Prize-winning pier.

Direct train services from stations at St. Leonards (a 10-minute drive) and Hastings (also a 10-minute drive) reach London’s Charing Cross and London Bridge in approximately an hour and a half, and Brighton in around an hour.

Tenure: Freehold
Council Tax Band: D