Drumcondra/€450,000: A Drumcondra two-bed - modest on the outside, transformed on the inside - has a guide of €450,000. Bernice Harrison reports
Making the most of a small space is what 8 Millbourne Avenue in Drumcondra is all about. From the front, it's a fairly uninspiring terraced house that looks like any other small two-up two-down.
Inside, however, it's quite a different story - and it's the contemporary style of the renovation that has the one-bedroom house on the market with a guide of €450,000. The auction, by Douglas Newman Good, is on October 12th.
When it last changed hands in 2000, architect Cathal Crimmins was called in to completely rethink the space as part of the extensive renovations.
Working with his son, Neil, he came up with a particularly interesting approach to the modest house that entirely opened up the interior space, creating two mezzanine levels and a bright open-plan feel.
The choice of architect was an easy one to make for the owners. Cathal Crimmins' portfolio ranges from designing new social housing for the Ballymun regeneration development to architectural restoration projects. More crucially, he's also the dad of Charles Crimmins, one half of the young couple who own the house.
The ground floor is largely open-plan: the original staircase is still there and it leads up to a double bedroom at the front of the house, as well as a large new mezzanine with a glazed balcony that overlooks the living area below.
A new flight of mahogany steps was installed leading up to the attic space and at this level there is now a small bathroom and another mezzanine, also with a balcony, so it's possible to look over from the top of the house right down to the living area.
The most interesting aspect of the design is how versatile the living space is. Charles and his wife, Carol, are both graphic designers who work from home, side-by-side in the light-filled mezzanine on the first floor.
This would originally have been a small back bedroom but, by removing the wall and replacing it with a glazed handrail to create what is effectively a deep balcony, the work space now feels considerably more spacious than its square footage.
The top floor mezzanine features a sliding folding door that can be closed over to turn the open space into a small guest bedroom.
The ground floor shows just how important details can be in creating a contemporary feel in a space. A small flat-roofed extension was added at the back and it has two attractive custom-made glazed doors instead of an exterior wall. These open out onto a small decked patio. The house is south-facing at the back and all this glass makes the ground floor particularly bright.
The kitchen area is to the front, with white-painted custom-built units topped with a mahogany worktop against one wall. There's an Aga, but it is not included in the sale. The middle section of the ground floor has a sofa and chairs surrounding a cast-iron fireplace and there is a dining area close to the back door. Also in the extension at the back of the house is a good-sized shower room and a small utility area.
With two small children, a toddler and a newborn, the Crimmins have outgrown the Drumcondra house. With its stairs, open-plan design and small deck, it's more suited to a young couple than a family. Given that it's in walking distance from town - Millbourne Avenue is off Drumcondra Road, at the side of St Patrick's Training College - it'll be of interest to first-time buyers or those trading up from an apartment. The viewing should also be of huge interest to anyone considering buying a small terraced house for renovation, as this is a prime example of what can be done.
