Fate that dream home came back on the market at right time

A Haywards Heath home owner explains to Charlotte Harding how owning her home was simply meant to be. All pictures: Move Revolution

Not many people believe in fate, but for Natalie March when the property she missed out on came back on the market she couldn’t see it as anything other than exactly that.

“We saw it when we were looking to move from Hove,” recalls Natalie.

“It was too much though so we moved to Henfield instead. I couldn’t believe it when we were looking again years later and it was for sale.

“The owners the first time took it off the market because they couldn’t find anywhere they preferred but luckily for us decided to put it up again when we were looking to move.”

Natalie and her family moved into the property in 2007 and were instantly taken by the house itself and the location.

“It is on a close so really quiet,” she explains. “There is no through traffic which we liked as it meant the boys could be cycling outside in front of the house and we knew they would be ok.”

Located on Summerhill Close it has a ‘green island’ area which essentially allows cars to drive in one direction.

Moments from Haywards Heath which has its own railway station with direct links to London Victoria.

“My husband works in London and where we were living in Henfield at the time it didn’t have a railway station so when we moved we wanted somewhere with better transport links,” she says.

When they first moved in Natalie explains how the couple didn’t do much to the house other than taking up the carpets and putting in a new kitchen.

“Once we had lived in the home for a few years we opened out the former dining room and kitchen into one space,” she reveals. “My husband wasn’t keen on the idea at first but it is now one kitchen diner, which has made it a great place to entertain guests.”

Other work has seen the family extend the property both on the ground and second floor to add more space and bedrooms making the property a four bedroom semi-detached.

As for her favourite room it depends on what is going on but alongside the kitchen diner, Natalie loves the lounge, which she says in the winter is ‘lovely and cosy’.

On the ground floor the entrance hall leads into the family room, sitting room and kitchen diner.

Bi-fold doors from the sitting room takes you out onto a terrace and with double skylights and a skylights in the entrance hall this home is light and airy in the summer months, but thanks to underfloor heating cosy in the winter.

At the back of the property the terrace and garden is ideal for entertaining.

There is a lawned garden with summerhouse which is currently used as a gym.

Back into the property and upstairs you will find two bedrooms, a WC and bathroom and master bedroom with ensuite. On the second floor the loft has been converted to give another bedroom.

Although not the reason why they were initially interested in the property but something that Natalie says was an ‘added bonus’ is that the home was designed by famous architect Harold Turner.

Turner worked from an office in Haywards Heath and built his homes mainly in the 1930s to 1950s.

“Turner homes are really sought after,” enthuses Natalie. “We didn’t know when we first looked around that it was one but there are little quirks that we just love.

“It was built in the 1930s and in the lounge there are roof tiles around the fireplace just because he wanted to put them there.

“And all his houses have a ship in stained glass, each one is unique to the house but every Turner home has one somewhere.

“There are a few in Sussex including in Hove and Cuckfield.”

His homes also boasted metal windows, interesting detailing on the brickwork and a host of extra features such as tiled window-sills.

On what she will miss most about the property Natalie says it will be the location.

And with Haywards Heath less than a 30-minute walk away you can see why.

For anyone wanting to be near the hustle and bustle coupled with peace and quiet once you shut the front door this home in Summerhill Close has it all.

Summerhill Close, Lindfield, Haywards Heath in on the market for a guide price of £765,000 with Move Revolution, John de Mierre House, Bridge Road, Haywards Heath, 01444 657657, www.moverevolution.com