Hidden from view behind a tall set of gates, Chadsley may be the perfect home for a celebrity in search of privacy. The detached turn-of-the-20th-century property was built by architect Richard Orpen (brother of celebrated Irish portrait painter William Orpen), who was appointed architect to Christ Church Cathedral in 1910 as well as St Patrick’s Cathedral, St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny, Trinity College Dublin and St Columba’s College, Rathfarnham.
While some additions have been made to the brick-fronted house since it was constructed – a PVC conservatory at the west-facing entrance, for example – the property has retained many lovely original features, starting with its square-shaped entrance hall and staircase that draws the eye up to the galleried landing and semi-circular window in the stairwell.
There is a really good balance in the way the rooms circulate around the hall. The formal drawingroom is a dual-aspect space with feature windows and a baronial-style sandstone fireplace. Ceiling heights here are 3.3m.
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Off this is the drawingroom, a large and gothically dark space painted a deep shade of red – a real boon for keen entertainers. Two small windows add limited light.
Bright space
In contrast, the kitchen is a bright space that gets the morning light. Modernists may want to upgrade the units and counters and paint the pine ceiling to make this room, with a ceiling height of 2.7m, feel as spacious as the other rooms.
The lounge adjacent to the kitchen is where, one suspects, the family does all its living. It’s close to the engine room but with a door to buffer out any TV noise.
Upstairs there are four bedrooms. The two principal rooms are dual aspect with ceilings rising up to the eaves. Each has a semicircular window set out as a delightful window seat. The small bedroom that originally adjoined the master bedroom has been converted to a spacious en suite, with separate shower and large bath, and dressingroom.
There is a third bedroom on the gallery part of the landing and a fourth door that leads through to a self-contained one-bedroom flat with an outside terraced arc. With a spiral staircase to ground level it’s a lovely space that will suit parents of college-going kids – so nice in fact, they might never leave home.
The property, which isn’t listed, is set on an acre of grounds that includes a swimming-pool in its own pavilion, a hard tennis court and the remains of a kitchen garden and small orchard.
Potential
The property will likely garner development interest and agents Knight Frank, who are selling the 157sq m/1,700sq ft house and grounds for €2 million, have had schematics for three two-bedroom detached houses drawn up by Cantrell & Crowley Architects to illustrate the potential of the site. They believe new homes here will appeal to people trading down in the area.
It would be a real pity to see such a pleasure ground tumbled in as it is currently a fine family home. With a G Ber rating, it does need some upgrading, in particular new windows, to exclude draughts and to drown out the sound of traffic from Leopardstown Road. The pool and tennis court also need work.
