Actor and writer Jeananne Crowley is moving to Connemara and selling her four bedroom Victorian house off Appian Way in Dublin 6. Agent Bergins is expecting £1.85 million (€2.35m) for the handsome Victorian redbrick semi on Winton Road, which is to be auctioned on May 16th.
Ms Crowley, who bought the 3,200 sq ft house at 9 Winton Road, Dublin 6, in poor condition in 1988, has restored it to its former elegance. With the assistance of architect David Sheehan, sash windows were restored, authentic tiles and marble fireplaces sourced and the original floorboards were stripped and polished.
Planning permission has been obtained to build a 1,025 sq ft two-bedroom house in the substantial gardens. The house next door, identical in proportions to number 9 but needing a revamp, was sold after auction for over £1 million last November. When she moved into number 9, Jeananne Crowley opened out the garden level, creating a marvellous country kitchen and informal sittingroom, large laundry room and a pretty Italian-style tiled conservatory straight out of Country Living magazine. While the rest of the accommodation is equally impressive, this part of the house has immense charm.
There is an Aga in the kitchen and a period cast-iron fireplace in the adjoining sittingroom, with sash windows looking out on the side and front gardens. Because the ground floor is above garden level, this area is exceptionally bright and cheerful. A large room decorated in soft Georgian green on the lower floor return is used as a study. The two interconnecting reception rooms off the main entrance hallway are spacious and ideal for large-scale entertaining. Tall windows in each room are on different walls, providing both morning and afternoon sun, and there are matching white marble fireplaces. Ceiling plasterwork is in perfect condition.
On the first floor return there is a smart lilac bathroom with a separate shower, grey wall tiles and timber accessories. Next door is a pretty guest bedroom with sloping ceilings and a cast-iron fireplace. The top floor originally accommodated three bedrooms. One double room has been left intact, while the other two were opened out to create a main bedroom and a huge en suite bathroom of indulgent proportions. There are "his and hers" wash-hand basins, deep carpeting and concealed lighting. Between bedroom and bathroom, there are two dressingrooms and there is a good range of fitted wardrobes in the bedroom.
The garden is very large, well-planted and secluded in summer by a spreading sycamore. There is a herb garden, a sunken sun terrace, a roof-high wisteria on the front wall and a wonderful orange blossom arch over the shared front gate.
