Red brick luxury on exclusive cul-de-sac

DUBLIN 4 €1.5 millionWhen the owners bought this Victorian red brick they added a two-storey extension, greatly enlarging the overall living space

IT’S NOT surprising that some of the houses on Herbert Avenue have been converted into medical consultants’ rooms. The road is off Merrion Road, beside the St Vincent’s hospital campus and there used to be an entrance to St Vincent’s Private hospital on this road.

Now that it has been redeveloped, the entrance has been blocked and Herbert Avenue is effectively a cul-de-sac. Number 12 is a semi-detached Victorian red brick over 278sq m (2,990sq ft) that’s a comfortable and roomy family home refurbished by its present owners who bought 20 year ago.

It’s now for sale by Beirne & Wise for €1,500,000

When the owners bought the house it was in need of complete refurbishment and they also extended 12 years ago, adding a sympathetically designed, two-storey extension at the back, greatly enlarging the overall living space. There are now three reception rooms and four bedrooms.

The two living rooms interconnect and have been decorated in traditional style. A family room is at the back and it opens into the bright eat-in kitchen.

A glazed sunroom links the reception rooms at the front with the kitchen at the back. The well laid-out eat-in kitchen has had a smart modern makeover with white units topped with black granite plus an island unit that doubles as a breakfast bar, and off it is a utility room. It’s all very family-friendly.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, the largest by far being the main bedroom which is in the extension at the back, mirroring the footprint of the kitchen downstairs. It has an en suite and a balcony. There are two more doubles – one with en suite – and a single.

The family bathroom is in the first floor return. The large attic has been converted into a gamesroom for the children, though it would make a bright and airy home office.

The surprise is the back garden – it’s 43m long – and it’s laid out in a lawn and lined with a patio area just outside the kitchen. There’s a three-metre side passage which might give new owners ideas about extending although this is already a large house.

At present the passage, which has an electric gate, provides off-street parking

12 Herbert Avenue, Dublin 4

Description: Semi-detached Victorian red brick

Agent: Beirne & Wise