If you're going to live near a sea view then having a house that can offer you multiple places and ways to fully enjoy it, is a very big bonus especially when you're looking to buy by the coast.
And the view of Barry harbour and the coast towards Sully isn't the only thing big at this property - it's a huge, handsome home that is detached, double-fronted, three-storey and has seven bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Spacious family home is a description that does not do this red brick and stone Victorian villa enough justice - outside it is undoubtedly a looker, but inside the home can be called a bit of a beauty too.
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Obviously the first thing that grabs you about this house perched high on the cliff-top in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, is its elevated position that ensures the view across the harbour to Sully and the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm is sweeping, expansive and forever mesmerising.
As the house is the last property before the bend in the coastal road begins it can also extend that magnificent view out into the Bristol Channel to England where, on a clear day, the Avon and Somerset coastline is so clear you could almost be tempted to think it was just a few miles away, not at least 12 miles across the water.
High above Jackson Bay below and the busy roads of Barry Island behind, the house is one of a collection of period properties that ooze character on the street, and this home can certainly claim its status as a Victorian gem. A facade that has four bay windows and a first floor balcony with period railings is an exciting start to a visit and raises the anticipation that this home is going to be as good inside as the outside suggests.
But before exploring the period charm of the house, a tour around the outside space and the front garden is calling, and the first place to offer you a spot to admire the panoramic view is a well placed bench on the front terrace.
Round to the side and rear of the house, the garden expands to offer an Indian sandstone patio as well as a corner seating area on the elevated lawn section. It's here that you will also find, rather surprisingly, a cat hotel. And some cat owners might say it's the perfect place for their much-loved moggy to stay for a while, with interesting coastal views to look out on, and refreshing sea breezes to tickle their whiskers.
The business operates from a converted garage but the agent states that if a cattery is not on your new home wish-list but a garage is, then this building could easily be converted back to its original purpose.
Arrive at the front door and the house instantly welcomes you with a porch that packs a period punch - gorgeous Victorian wall tiles that complement the inner and original front door's stunning stained glass colours and design.
Push this pretty door open and the original features keep coming - Minton floor tiles and the beautifully carved stair newel post are immediate highlights but take a moment to also notice the cornicing, deep skirtings and picture rails, delightfully still in place after over a century of existence.
Either side of the character-packed hall is a grand reception room, both with a substantial bay window that is an instant draw, enticing you to wander over and drink in that sea view again. Both bays offer the perfect place on this level of the house to pull up a chair and watch the coastal world go by.
There's plenty to see in both rooms apart from the view too, from the ceiling roses, cornicing and picture rails above to the stripped wooden flooring below. But arguably the best feature in both reception spaces is the very fancy and intricate cornice design that flows onto the ceiling and that is so gorgeous it can almost compete with the water and sky views at the window for your attention.
Although both rooms only have the robust mantel still standing at the fireplace, one room can boast a log burner nestled within the chimney breast so surely this is the winter room, with its neighbouring sitting room a summer destination.
Both spaces have been given an interior design scheme that mixes classic and timeless furniture pieces with strong, statement heritage colours that these spacious rooms can easily accommodate. Softness comes into the spaces via tactile fabrics for sofas, cushions and rugs and a range of plants.
With such seaside inspiration out of the window, it's not a surprise to see seascape artwork taking a central position in the green room, where a statement light also ensures the ceiling is not forgotten as a talking point and a section of the space that should be regularly admired.
Wandering further down the grand entrance hall gets you to the rear hall, a quarry tiled central space giving access to under stair storage, the dining room, kitchen, utility room and a cloakroom.
The separate dining room is a welcoming space as it has French doors out to the garden. It also offers the chance to create a cosy snug that involves access to the garden if formal dining was moved into one of the grand reception rooms at the front of the house; this property is so versatile, spaces can be allocated any function a new owner desires.
One room that a new owner surely won't want to mess about with is the kitchen, a pretty pink and sage green interior combination, finessed with fancy tiles and dramatic black granite worktops that creates a space that surely promotes cooking creativity.
The kitchen looks out over the garden but if you were desperate for a kitchen garden connection some work could be done in here to create that, but maybe most people would be happy to not mess with the lovely space.
Who would want to disrupt the bespoke, designer kitchen by Roundhouse Design, that includes a double sink, integrated dishwasher, space for an American style fridge freezer and a five ring hob range cooker, tucked into a chimney breast.
The utility room is next door and it's a good sized space, with the handy cloakroom next door also a room that has been given a pretty interior, with contemporary grey wall panels topped with funky fox wallpaper.
The handsome house that stands proudly above the water should also be proud that it can offer an owner seven bedrooms and three bathrooms that span the two upper floors, and includes two outside spaces via a duo of bonus balconies.
The first balcony is the obvious one, straddling the front of the house above the central entrance and between the two main bay-fronted bedrooms. This balcony is accessed via a room that is sandwiched between the two bay window bedrooms and it is a yummy filling.
Surely this room is the perfect place for a home office that will make every colleague jealous on a zoom call or google hangout, with French doors out to the balcony that will surely tempt even the most strong-willed worker away from their laptop on a regular basis.
Or this smaller room between the two largest bedrooms could become an ensuite to one of them, subject to planning permission, and it would surely be one of the best in the area.
Imagine placing a statement, free-standing bath in the centre of the room for the best sea views from the bubbles, and even opening the doors on a clear night to invite the stars to join you. But there's more outside space to find at this amazing home.
There's a hidden balcony that can offer a second place for a bistro table and a view, this time over the patchwork of Barry rooftops . This extra outside space at the rear of this dream home is accessed via the landing on the top floor, and it adds to the growing list of places to tempt you and your mug of coffee to come out and stay out.
Back to the first floor and there are four double bedrooms, plus the single room that should surely be an office with a balcony. The two stand out spaces are obviously the bedrooms with the bay windows at the front of the house, both offering absorbing coast and water views directly from the pillow.
It's not hard to imagine gazing out at this very special view in the morning, the vista a welcome introduction to the day, whatever the time and whatever the weather.
On the first floor is also a family bathroom with space as well as character thanks to the choice of a claw-foot, roll-top bath and traditional style suite against a backdrop of classic metro tiles.
The remaining two bedrooms on this floor have a view too, one from a side window that includes glimpses of the sea, and one from the rear window that looks out over the town below. Up to the top floor, there are three more bedrooms and a further characterful bathroom on this floor, again with a statement, roll-top bath.
But it's up here, at the top, that is arguably the prime spot, out of all the contenders found at this home, for the best view out to sea. From the highest vantage point comes the biggest reward, and maybe this is why arguably the master is occupying this spot.
This potential master bedroom has a front-facing window and although it is not an impressive bay, the view can still be enjoyed from the bed. And this top of the house spot can also boast an ensuite shower room and a dedicated dressing room - so, now knowing this, which bedroom would you decide to call the principal sleeping space?
If a house with versatile space, plenty of period character, views to continually mesmerise, plus a business already running in the garden - if you like cats - is your ideal combination, then this Victorian villa might just be the property that will get you purring with delight.
The handsome house on the hill is on the market for £695,000 with Chris Davies Estate Agents, Barry, call them on 01446 700007 to find out more. And don't miss the best dream homes in Wales, auction properties, renovation stories, and interiors - join the Amazing Welsh Homes newsletter , sent to your inbox twice a week.
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