Ballsbridge/€1.6 millionA substantial Edwardian semi at 11 Pembroke Park, Ballsbridge is expected to fetch €1.6 million at auction with Lisney on March 31st.
In walk-in condition, with four/five bedrooms and 240 sq m (2,583 sq ft) of space, this is the kind of house a well-heeled family will move into and stay for a generation. The owners have completely revamped the house and gardens, ending up with a meticulously presented property that couldn't fail to impress.
Among the improvements are new timber windows with brass fittings, salvaged pitch pine flooring, restored marble fireplaces, dipped doors and a specially-designed lighting system.
To the right off the entrance hall is an elegant drawingroom with a bay window to the front and a fine marble chimneypiece with brass surround. Sliding doors open to the formal diningroom, which has a matching Adam-style chimneypiece and French doors to the garden. Ceiling coving throughout the house is particularly fine.
A laundry room with a trendy Belfast sink is off the entrance hall. Down a few steps is a big country-style kitchen with cream-painted units, granite worktops and an island unit.
Linked with the kitchen is a good-sized breakfastroom and family area looking out on the back garden. Facing south-west, this is a bright part of the house.
The family use a double bedroom on the first floor return as a television room. A carved pine fireplace with brass surround has a gas flame-effect fire and a door leads to a bamboo-lined sun deck. Next door is the family bathroom, with bath and step-in shower.
Two double bedrooms on the first floor are bright and spacious, with period fireplaces. Off the main bedroom is a room-sized dressingroom/shower room converted from a single bedroom. Smart cherry wardrobes have damask-lined door panels and obscure glass has been fitted in the dressingroom window, creating privacy without altering the exterior look.
Off the next landing is another double bedroom with a fireplace and roof windows. A staircase climbs to the top of the house, where a terrific teenager's bedroom with lots of nooks and crannies will be hotly competed for.
There is a cast-iron and pine fireplace set into one exposed brick wall, a walk-in wardrobe, en suite shower room and a study alcove. Also off this room is a large under-eaves storage area.
Front and back gardens are beautifully landscaped with low maintenance in mind. Two cars can be parked on the gravelled drive. A Doolin slate pathway has been laid and flower borders are neatly planted.
Although not large, the south-westerly back garden is a veritable oasis of greenery, on two levels, with raised beds, plenty of Zen planting and a pond with fountain. A high wall and trellising provides total seclusion.
