Two period homes have been given a thoroughly modern makeover in the past few years - and now both are worth over £1 million. Anne Dempsey goes to Rathgar and Orna Mulcahy looks at a home in Sandycove

A detached double fronted Regency-style home, 11 Winton Avenue, Rathgar, Dublin 6, has been recently refurbished with immense flair and imagination.

Due for auction through Sherry FitzGerald on March 22nd, the three/four-bedroom house is expected to fetch around £1.1m (#1.4m).

The villa style house has rooms on three levels with a striking kitchen/diningroom on the upper return and a breathtaking bathroom at garden level among its impressive features. The colour scheme throughout is of white, cream and stone, creating a minimalist backdrop for an extremely elegant interior.

Railed granite steps lead up to the front door which opens into a large hall. To the right of the hall is a frontfacing diningroom, currently furnished in a period style. The white marble mantelpiece has a horseshoe shaped cast-iron inset and fitted gas fire. The drawingroom on the other side of the hall has the same decor but is furnished in a contemporary style which works equally well with the period fireplace and large sash windows. At the rear of the hall, one flight of stairs leads upward to the first floor return, which houses the kitchen. A lower flight descends to the bedroom level. The kitchen/diningroom on the first floor return has a timber floor, with wall and floor units in cherrywood topped by polished black granite. The whole effect is extremely smart. A centre island with black granite worktop has open shelving, cupboard space and wine racks. An integrated Neff oven, hob and microwave is included in the sale.

The timber-floored dining area has a soaring pitched roof lit by two large rectangular roof windows, rear facing bay windows and double glazed doors leading to a wrought-iron balcony. Across the hall from the kitchen is a utility room and a door to an adjoining hot press. The room is plumbed for a washing machine. The third room on the first floor return could be used either as a bedroom, playroom, office or study, and features a period fireplace with slate inset and fitted gas fire. Heating throughout is gas fired.

At garden level, a goodsized hall has a sitting area and double doors to the garden. The main bedroom with en suite bathroom runs the full depth of the house and includes a large dressing area with two sets of fitted wardrobes in white with panelled doors and stainless steel handles. A bay window with double doors leads to the back garden patio.

At the other end of the room, steps to the right and left lead into a stunning bathroom. This large, high-ceilinged room is tiled throughout in aged Italian stone, and furnished with a Philippe Starck bathroom suite. A free-standing bath surrounded by lots of space catches the eye immediately. Less obvious but equally distinctive is a stand-in shower area concealed by a solid tiled wall.

There are two further bedrooms at garden level. One bedroom is rear facing and has wall-to-wall fitted wardrobes. There are patio doors to garden. The main bathroom also features a Philippe Starck suite.

The gardens front and back have been landscaped and lit. The gravelled front drive has space for three to four cars.