One of only three detached medium-size houses in this peaceful development at St Helen's Wood, 26 Hampton Court, Booterstown, Co Dublin offers many advantages as a family home, not least its location.

It is due for auction on July 19th by Sherry FitzGerald, with a guide price of £530,000 (€672,960).

Although St Helen's Wood is situated between the Stillorgan Road and the Rock Road, it is secluded and safe for children.

The many schools and good shopping centres in the area, coupled with proximity to the DART enhance the appeal of this house.

The present owners are the first occupiers of the house and as such have made some clever adjustments to the original plan.

Chief among these was knocking two modest front rooms together to make a good drawing/diningroom with double bay windows. Here too they installed an antique marble fireplace.

Double wooden doors lead to a family room, which in turn has a French window opening to the garden. The wood surround fireplace incorporates a fitted wooden desk and shelving.

Floors here, as in the reception rooms and bedrooms, are of timber.

Next door, the kitchen-breakfastroom also overlooks the east-facing garden and has access to the brick patio lit by the summer evening sun.

The utility room opens off the kitchen and in the hall, the tiny guest toilet is set under the stairs.

The four bedrooms comprise the main bedroom to the rear with wall-to-wall fitted closets and a good en suite, another double room and two smaller rooms. These three share a family bathroom. This being a detached house, each room benefits from a great deal of natural light.

Above this floor an attic den, with a separate box room, could easily be converted to a large bedroom with en suite. At present it has fitted wooden shelves and a computer desk, similar to those in the family room.