Dublin 8/€950,000: Artisan cottages near the city centre can be turned into completely contemporary homes, reports Emma Cullinan
The conversion of a terraced brick cottage at 11 Greenville Terrace, Dublin 8, which had previously been empty for five years, shows just what can be done with a period property.
This house is going for auction on 21st June, through Douglas Newman Good, with an AMV of €950,000.
We are used to seeing period buildings that have retained their classic exteriors while having the interiors remodelled to increase the amount of natural light, and to suit the way many people currently live. Now there is a trend to not only knock down walls but at the same time create very comfortable homes that match what people have seen in new-build apartments or, indeed, plush hotels.
Number 11 Greenville Terrace was bought for the sole purpose of doing it up to sell and those who carried out the work, which began in January, have really given this property an overhaul, as well as hauling it into the modern age. The roof was replaced, floors dug out and a series of back extensions were removed and replaced with a substantial part of the new house comprising a kitchen/living area, new bedroom and bathroom.
The house, which measures 100sq m (1,080sq ft), has retained its period look to the front and the developers were keen to keep the front room as a traditional-style drawing room, which has retained its sash window and wooden shutters. The flooring is now American pitch pine.
The flooring in the hallway, running through the living room and kitchen and bathroom, is in light travertine, much of it warmed by underfloor heating.
The living room, beyond the hall, has been carefully plastered, like the rest of the house, save for the fireplace which, when stripped back, revealed brickwork that was too pleasant to cover over again.
This part of the house wraps around a south-westerly facing decked terrace, accessed by French windows, allowing for lovely light-filled spaces around it. The master bedroom enjoys morning sun from the east.
Many of the rooms have skylights too, including the kitchen,, master bedroom, en suite shower room and the bathroom. This bright room has travertine tiled walls with stone mosaic detail.
The bathroom also has speakers, as part of a surround-sound system wired through the house. There are also flat-screen wall-mounted televisions in each of the bedrooms.
The outside decking has inset uplighters for glowing evening parties, and there is an LPG outlet to attach barbecues to. The deck is flush with the internal floors to better marry the interior and exterior.
The house has been dressed with furniture by Flanagans.
