Def Leppard star sells Vico Road home

Rock star Rick Savage's Dalkey home is now on the market through Lisney who will be auctioning the hillside house on June 14th…

Rock star Rick Savage's Dalkey home is now on the market through Lisney who will be auctioning the hillside house on June 14th . Called Strawberry Hill house, it has been the subject of High Court proceedings in recent weeks and during the case a value of £3.5 million (€4.45m) was put on it - considerably more than the auction guide price of £2.75 million (€3.5 million). The judge has ruled that the sale of the house may now go ahead.

Strawberry Hill house is on the sea-side of the Vico Road and enjoys spectacular uninterrupted views of the sea from all rear and side windows. Its road frontage is deceptive - just a double-fronted apparently modest-sized period house - but the real drama is at the rear and side where Strawberry Hill's three storeys and three-quarter acre garden can be seen.

The musician and member of Def Leppard has lived in Strawberry Hill since 1989. At that time it was divided vertically into three separate units of varying sizes. He subsequently bought the second unit and in 1991 joined what were the two largest units together so that the rambling four-bedroom house now has all the expected rock star accommodation - a recording studio, bar, gym, and a snooker room. The main living areas are at hall level. This includes two square-shaped airy living rooms decorated with impeccable style; a formal dining room with a French limestone floor; and a study with fitted shelves and stained glass windows.

In the eat-in kitchen the units made of salvaged oak driftwood have a rough look which brings a touch of designer contrast to the formality of the rest of the house's decoration. One of the reception rooms opens out onto a large wooden deck. A large spiral staircase dominates the bright inner hall and leads down to the two lower floors. The master bedroom suite is most impressive. A large bay window maximises the view and off the bedroom is a study area, a dressing room and a bathroom which has decorative antique French fittings as well as a Jacuzzi bath. Elsewhere on these levels are the other bedrooms, and the snooker room, gym, bar and studio. There is also the usual collection of utility rooms, en suites and cloakrooms - all fitted out to a high standard.

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The house is on the southerly slopes of Killiney Hill and its tiered gardens with balconies, covered-in walkways, pergolas, and hot tub have a Mediterranean feel.

Security around the house is substantial with TV monitors and a sophisticated alarm system. Two car park spaces on the Vico Road come with the house and there is also a garage.

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison

Bernice Harrison is an Irish Times journalist and cohost of In the News podcast