One of the largest modern homes in the city, The Willows, on fashionable Cross Avenue in Blackrock has a kitchen that's bigger than most apartments, writes Eoin Lyons
THERE ARE very few private houses built on such a scale as The Willows on Cross Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin, a modern house in a superb location overlooking the grounds of Willow Park school.
The seven-bedroom detached house, which has been virtually rebuilt over the last nine years, has a vast 1,114sq m (12,000sq ft) of living space spread over three levels. It sits on three-quarters of an acre with views over the grounds of Willow Park school and Dublin Bay beyond.
It is for sale by private treaty at €16.5 million, through joint agents Sherry FitzGerald and Billy O'Sullivan Associates.
Walking through the double walnut entrance doors, it's hard to deny how wonderful suburban sprawl can be, provided, of course, that it's confined within a single structure.
But for all the long hallways, multiple terraces, big windows and expansive rooms, the house is neither intimidating nor difficult to live in. It's open and informal, a place that works for entertaining and everyday family life.
From the front, Pascal Mahoney Architects' design is broken into several façades and from the back, is reminiscent of a gracious American country club. Part of the exterior wall is attractively clad in narrow strips of stone. Inside, instead of modern architecture with the warmth of a corporate lobby, the rooms are nicely proportioned with a luxurious, comfortable atmosphere.
This pleasant feeling is partly due to the extensive joinery carried out by Delgrey and Paul Maguire, under the direction of interior designer Clodagh Barry. The entrance hall has gleaming painted panelling and cental a staircase rising to the first floor.
Throughout the house, the perfect finish of the clean-lined elegant woodwork is perhaps a little inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. There is a place for everything and every need has been considered.
The rooms at entrance level flow around the wide hall (which has a fireplace), each opening onto the next.
There's a drawingroom to one side, with a wall of glass that slides back to a terrace at the front of the house. This connects to the diningroom at the rear, also with an L-shaped terrace and drinks serving area with sink and fridge.
The large hospitable kitchen has oak panelled walls, walnut units and an island with stone top. This very long room runs across the rear of the house and is the main family area, with a lounge section and breakfast area. A large family room opens from here to the front of the house.
What's nice about the interiors is the way not too many materials have been used: each room flows continuously into the next but is not visually monotonous.
Almost all the rooms have very large windows and the kitchen in particular has amazing views over the garden, designed by Diarmuid Gavin. The garden has lawn areas, patios, decks and planting that is mature. On one side is a children's play area with faux drumlins separating it from the house.
The hall staircase rises to a central lobby from which five bedrooms open. This space is open to the eaves and has spectacular double height windows taking advantage of the views, with a seating area beneath. All of the bedrooms have en suites and walk-in wardrobes.
The main bedroom has his and hers bathrooms and dressingrooms, most full room size and fitted with very fine sanitary ware, walnut panelling and units. At the lower level, beneath the main living floor, there is an office, a nanny's quarters and a separate apartment that could also be used for live-in staff or an elderly relative. There is a gym here too and across the back of the house a games room with full kitchen in an American diner style. This room is linked to the kitchen directly above via a walnut and glass staircase.
Every possible luxury has been included: underfloor heating, fully integrated music and entertainment systems and, as you might expect, a top security system.
