Builder did all the work on Belgrave

Belgrave Road: €1.6m: A builder bought 32 Belgrave Road in Rathmines two years ago when it was in the sort of condition that attracts few buyers other than those in the business of renovating houses.

Since then he's renovated and extended the corner house so that it is now in walk-in condition with little if anything for new owners to do.

The two-storey over basement house is for auction by Colliers Jackson-Stops on April 27th with a guide of €1.6 million. A big attraction here is that, being a corner house with a long garden, there is drive-in car-parking for two cars behind a wooden gate at the side of garden.

A big improvement to the house has been the rebuilding of the return on all levels to make it larger: it now provides two additional rooms and a spacious bathroom.

This style of house always has good reception rooms and this one features an interconnecting pair with original marble fireplaces and ornate plasterwork. There is another room on this level, down in the sales details as a potential double bedroom, but new owners might prefer to use it as a well- positioned home office or study.

Downstairs, the semi-basement has been opened up and floored throughout with Portuguese sandstone with underfloor heating. To the front is a well-designed country-style kitchen, opening through to a large, bright family living area and then into to a small sunroom area presently set out as a dining area. Double doors open out to a paved patio area. Also at this level is a utility area, a guest toilet and another room, described in the sales details as a bedroom.

The large bathroom on the first floor return has been fitted out to a high standard and in keeping with the trend towards natural materials and simple fittings. There is a Portuguese sandstone tiled floor and underfloor heating, as well as custom-built wash-stand with granite worktop and a separate shower stall lined with sandstone tiles.

There are two bedrooms at the top of the house, both large doubles. The main bedroom to the front has an attractive open aspect with views up Palmerston Road from its two sash windows. This room has been partitioned to make space for a very small en suite shower room and a small walk-in wardrobe. The back bedroom with its original proportions is the more pleasing of the two rooms.

The long back garden has been landscaped with outdoor lighting, a gravel path and a lawn.