Harbord Road, Oxford, OX2

An immensely appealing detached family house set within a delightful plot on a quiet side road. In the same ownership for many years, the house would benefit from light modernisation although it is offered in impeccable order throughout and has been continuously maintained. There are few this lovely, be quick. NO CHAIN.

If you were to choose the suburb of Oxford in which to live, the Cutteslowe area of North Oxford would be competing for top slot. Within a mile of your front door is a diverse selection of parkland, schools, shops, eateries and bars, a mainline London station and a popular golf course, and trunk roads to reach each compass point. And yet unlike many urban areas the plots are larger, there's little passing traffic, and the houses have a feeling of good space around them. As a place to raise a family while enjoying all these amenities, there are few rivals.

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Number 9 has been in the same family ownership for many years. During that time it has been beautifully cared for, with continuous improvements ensuring that while it could benefit from some modernisation, it appears to be in excellent condition throughout. Originally starting life as a proud, double-fronted pre-war house of conventional but elegant design, it has been extended to provide really quite significant living space, not least the huge family room and nigh-on square kitchen/breakfast room. In doing so the owners have created rooms that are unusually light and bright, with a peaceful outlook to front and rear through double glazed windows that continue the look of the originals. The garden space has been gently landscaped to provide a wonderful mix of seating areas, flowering borders, vegetable gardens and lawn. Solar panels have also been added, significantly reducing the carbon footprint as well as reducing running costs. We have known of, and coveted, this house for many years and we are genuinely delighted to have the privilege of finding the next family to enjoy it as much as the current one has.

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The porch is entered via a pair of elegant double doors. Here the thick internal door flanked by leaded glass all around is a real visual treat, but it's also practical - a clever design that very effectively maximises the light flow into both hall and porch. Ahead the gently patinated timberwork of the stair furniture speaks of craftsmanship rarely found today. Even the landing window, placed at the top of the stairs, is both an appealing design and an effective way to light the link spaces on both floors. On the right of the hall, the living room is bright and neutral. The first feature you see is the fireplace, currently housing a gas fire but behind which is the chimney ripe for a wood burning stove. At the rear, the space suddenly opens up into an extension that has provided a characterful extra dimension to this room, with a part-vaulted ceiling above glazed double doors that connect to the garden. The width of this room is a great surprise, and a clever touch is the array of discreet cupboards providing significant storage space for those frequently-used everyday family items. On the right a further hall accesses what was the garage but more recently became a valuable downstairs bedroom complete with en-suite wet room. For a teenager, elderly relative, or a lodger this is particularly well-designed as it features an external door out to the driveway, allowing real independence.

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To the left of the main hall, the first door opens into a dining room that is brightly lit by two large windows. It's spacious enough for family Christmases and the dimensions are generous for dressers and chests with room to spare. Behind it, the utility room provides a handy area in which to house all the white goods and other items one does not want to lose space to in the kitchen. And in consequence the kitchen beyond, with its extension, is the perfect daytime family space. Wooden units round three sides provide all the storage and work space you could need. Behind it the light from glazing on three sides is exceptional, with an area designed to provide a family with a table area perfect for everything from dining to homework. And the door out to the garden ensures that on sunny days taking a glass of something pleasant out to the garden is a moment's task!

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Upstairs, it would be difficult not to be charmed further. The wide landing includes an appealing corner window, a design we found delightful. It flows well to four bedrooms that are all well proportioned and, like the rest of the house, enjoy great natural light. The master is a good size and has been equipped with a large bank of storage cupboards and wardrobes to one wall. It has also been fitted in recent times with an en-suite that includes a modern white suite including shower. All the other bedrooms also have generous fitted storage, with the rearmost - which overlooks the garden - also featuring a vanity unit. The bathroom is still separated from the wc, a design that has been redundant for many years but is now becoming valued once again - parents tells us it can reduce sibling arguments. In addition, the landing loft access ladder reaches up to a roof void that, while probably not practical for full conversion, is boarded with few crossing timbers hence provides significant storage space that is also easy to use.

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Turning to the outside, the facade is appealing. The house sits well back from the pavement behind a wide frontage that includes an in-out driveway ample for several cars off the street. Various shrubs and flowers occupy borders, with some exceptional climbing roses running the full height. A door to the left provides secure access down a path to the rear garden. Here the plot opens up to a wonderful space that is generous enough to provide different areas for different purposes. Behind the living room is a terrace. To the left a greenhouse is placed next to various planter areas. On the opposite side a paved area has been set up to enjoy sun throughout the day. At the rear, more planter beds feature a wide array of plants, and next to them is a shed/ summer house. The whole area feels exceptionally peaceful, ideal for entertaining, industrious cultivation, enthusiastic children - or just a quiet read with a glass of wine!