Lovely Victorian property for sale in De Freville Avenue, Cambridge
De Freville Avenue is one of the most sought-after addresses in Cambridge, with its cosy suburban feel and close proximity to the city centre, Midsummer Common, the River Cam and the railway station.
The house in question is a unique and well-proportioned three-storey Victorian terraced residence and is home to Robert and Sarah Morris, who purchased the property in March 2015 after previously renting in the city.
Asked what she has enjoyed most about living in the area, Mrs Morris replies: “I think being so close to the river. There’s always rowing or some sort of activity going on, so we take the kids quite often just for fresh air. Then beyond, we’ve got the lovely Fort St George pub and then into town. We hardly use the car – that’s what I like most about living here. It’s also leafy and green and quiet.”
Mrs Morris is a born and bred Londoner and is returning with her husband – who is a consultant at Addenbrooke’s – and three children to the first home they ever bought, a Victorian property in North London that the couple have rented out for the last couple of years.
“We put in a really stunning, massive wood burning stove in the back lounge,” explained Mrs Morris, outlining what they’ve done to their Cambridge abode, “which heats up the whole house, so we don’t use the heating so much – and we injected a bit of colour with paint and wallpaper. The whole house was plain white.”
Mrs Morris would describe her taste as “traditional with a modern twist” and the Scandi-style chairs in her kitchen came courtesy of the owner of Stir, a local cafe on Chesterton Road. “I loved the chairs there so much, she got them for me,” she confirmed. “Traditional with a twist because these houses are quite traditional, with fireplaces and period features, so you can’t go too modern.
“Having the through lounge means that if the kids are in the front room, me and my husband will read the papers in the back half of the lounge, so we’re all together but in separate spaces,” continued Mrs Morris, commenting on other standout features. “There’s enough space for a family of five to relax.”
As mentioned, the house is arranged over three floors and if Mrs Morris were staying longer, the third floor is where she would make changes. “I would definitely add a shower room on the top floor, where there are two bedrooms, which the next door neighbours have done.”
Mrs Morris concluded: “I think the local neighbourhood’s really changed, in a good way. We’ve got Thirsty, which is a nice local wine bar, and Stir – it’s really brought the community together. We really needed it. When we moved here, we were like: ‘Where do you go for a coffee?’ and then that came along.”
Contact:
cheffins.co.uk
01223 214214
