Foxrock/€4.95m: With gardens in full, leafy bloom and an interior shining with mellowed hardwood, 12 The Birches, Foxrock, Dublin 18 gives a sense of being in its prime.
Built 20 years ago on 0.27 acres close to Foxrock village, the owners' design was based on the practical decision to have one side of the house used for family living, the other for entertaining.
The 418sq m (4,500sq ft) of floor space thus divided has worked well and makes for a relaxed environment. There are six bedrooms (two en suite and two in use as studies), four reception rooms and a large kitchen/breakfastroom.
An attic room, with sun bed and off which there is a sauna, is not included in the floor measurement. Detached, part of an enclave of similar houses, number 12 comes to the market with an AMV of €4.95 million prior to auction on June 13th through HOK Residential.
The division of space was arranged by having the wide and quite wonderful entrance hallway at the centre of things. The family and entertaining sides of the house are to the left and right of its sweep of staircase while the stairs climb to a half landing from where two lots of steps lead to a minstrel-style gallery which has bedrooms on either side.
Box bay windows with window seating are a feature in several rooms, as are dado rails and marble fireplaces. The gardens are a feature too, trees and shrubs and climbers on view from most windows. The reception hallway leads in seamless style to a long, golden-hued drawingroom where an impressive, 19th century marble fireplace has been installed. Curtains and carpeting here and elsewhere will remain. Double doors lead to the diningroom where there is a marble and timber floor; another set of glass double doors leadto the rear decking.
The fully-equipped kitchen is in shades of blue, white and grey. Flooring here and in the adjoining playroom/TV room and front-facing family room are by Antico. Walls in the family room are a hand-painted terracotta. Three of the bedrooms have window seating, all are painted in comforting, subdued shades. The main bedroom is en suite with separate dressingroom and the family bathroom has a corner bath and interesting, church-style window.
