Dublin 6: €3.75m The first time 24 Park Drive was advertised in The Irish Times it was described as being "a villa of attractive architecture with modern fittings on a salubrious site".
That was in 1907 and the detached redbrick, built by William Pickering, was further described as being "on the outskirts of Dublin, in country surroundings". While a lot has changed since then, the address in the heart of Ranelagh is still salubrious and the Edwardian gem is well suited to family living.
The four-bedroom house with 209sq m (2,250sq ft) is for auction by Sherry FitzGerald on May 17th with an advised minimum value (AMV) of €3.75 million. It's a handsome house with elegant proportions and fine rooms. Pickering put in as many windows as possible so several rooms have dual aspect, and the hall and landing are bright with stained glass windows. There's an entrance porch and off the hall are two elegant and spacious reception rooms.
Off the drawingroom is the perfect Edwardian touch - a quarry tiled part timber conservatory in good condition having being refurbished some years ago. At the back of the house is a good-sized breakfastroom that opens to the kitchen.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms, a bathroom and separate toilet. Each bedroom has its original cast-iron fireplace and there are more elaborate, original fireplaces in the downstairs reception rooms.
This is an executor's sale (the house has been in the same family for 55 years). It has been well maintained and the south-facing garden has been particularly well loved. It's triangular shaped with a garage and potting shed at the back.
New owners may update the kitchen by knocking it and the breakfastroom together to make a large eat-in kitchen. The bathroom is also fairly dated.
