A country cottage near the city best describes 48 Drummartin Terrace which is to be auctioned on 27th June by Sherry FitzGerald with a guide price of £245,000 (311,000). This small enclave of cottages set well back from the road just up from the Goat pub and restaurant in Goatstown, Dublin 14, was built in the early part of the last century. Number 48 is near the end of the loop and has been completely redesigned and converted by its architect owner and his wife. They are moving to a larger house to suit a growing family.

A small newly planted front garden leads both to the house and to its side access. A small hall opens into the livingroom, which stretches the length of the original cottage and has new wooden flooring as well as a modern cedar wood and cast-iron fireplace. A new room has been created in the roof space - this would suit either an office or a third bedroom. Two bedrooms, both doubles, open off the livingroom.

The back of the house has been sympathetically extended to make a new kitchen, lobby and bathroom. Double doors lead to a private patio and a box bay window overlooks the garden. Shaker style kitchen units have been fitted along one wall, leaving plenty of space for dining.

Outside, the private garden has been The house is painted in shades of terracotta, yellow ochre, heather and indigo with natural wood and white to balance it. It is rather like a large contemporary apartment but with the added extras of a lovely garden space, a place to pull the car in, a home office and enough designer touches to give the house an original appeal.