Best features forward in Ballsbridge

Number 1 Sydney Parade Avenue has glorious front-of-house period features. Built in 1905, it retains much of its original grandeur. The large hall is impressive, even though it has been subdivided, presumably to keep the heat within. Although it bisects the large, arched stained glass panel to the front, you still get a sense of drama.

The lofty 10ft ceiling heights continue in the property’s two very fine interconnecting reception rooms, divided by proper fold-back doors. These rooms were made for entertaining. Huge windows stream light in and the picture rails, original cornices, coving and centre roses in each set a high tone. Each of the room’s original fireplaces has a warm mahogany surround that chimes well with the amber-coloured tiled insets and art nouveau decorated brass hoods.

At this point househunters with mortgage approval will want to sign on the dotted line. But by contrast the kitchen is disappointing. Situated to the rear, it has 1980s units and very much feels like the back room it would have been in the Edwardian era.

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Room to extend

There is room to extend as the house next door has already done, but unless you build out across the width of the house and thereby compromise the beautiful reception rooms, you won’t have a kitchen that replicates the scale of the good rooms. An alternative would be to break into the large shower room that adjoins the kitchen.

Alternatively, buyers could think contemporary and instal the kitchen in the large interconnecting rooms and turn what is now the kitchen into a second study or den.

The garden, easterly in aspect, is an okay size but has already been subdivided to accommodate number 1a Sydney Parade Avenue, a detached house that has been built on what was once the side garden of number one.

The house has five bedrooms. There are three good-sized rooms on the first floor where the family bathroom and separate wc are also located. On the return is a small double with painted white floorboards. This would make a lovely study or a smart utility room. An attic room, original to the house, is at the top of the house.

The property, which measures 200sq m (2153sq ft), has an F Ber rating and is asking €1.5 million through agents DNG. It is an executor sale and has been staged for viewings by Cormac Rowell of Rowell Interiors. According to the Property Price Register, Number 23 sold for €2.225 million in June 2013 and Number 75 sold for €1.24 million in April 2014. There is off-street parking for one car.