For the owners of The Lodge on Mount Prospect Avenue, their home of just 123sq m (1,326sq ft) literally is their castle.
Set behind a 2m- high castellated wall in a converted turreted gate lodge to Baymont Castle (now the Jesuit residence, Manresa) it is one of the most striking landmarks on the Clontarf road.
Owners Liz Balbirnie and her husband, Ian Switzer, came upon it by accident, though Liz now terms this as “fate”.
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In 1995 they turned up too late for an auction of a plot of land in Sandymount that they had planned to buy and build on, but while at the auctioneers they spotted The Lodge, and having both grown up in the area – Ian played in the grounds of The Lodge as a child – they fell for it and bought it.
The original structure, built around 1838, was in a sorry state back then with just the bow-shaped entrance with the turret and a small ground-level annexe. Liz admits it took a bit of a leap of faith.
“It was really odd looking, with a low wall to the front and bars on the windows. I saw the potential though, but a million times thought about backing out. Then my father finally said ‘Just buy it, it will be spectacular’.”
At the time the couple paid just £93,000, and probably double that sum was added to bring it up to its current condition.
Now, one serious renovation later, it’s for sale for €975,000 through Sherry FitzGerald.
Balbirnie, who owns interior design company, Habu, and architect Gerard Irvine transformed what was a poky, dark space by introducing as much light as possible.
A narrow doorway was knocked through and the lower living area off the turret was broken into one space, while large Gothic-style and French windows throw in sunlight.
A clean white colour palette and the strategic use of large mirrors also help maximise natural light.
A second storey was added and now the entire space comprises two large double bedrooms (both with en suite), a kitchen/living area, diningroom, downstairs bathroom and study.
The study is in a bright crow’s nest at the top of the turret above the guest bedroom.
From here there's access via a low window to the parapet roof providing great views to the surrounding area, Dublin mountains and Manresa in the distance.
Across the road is the Rose Garden entrance to St Anne’s Park and Clontarf’s GAA pitches.
Wedding
The reception areas downstairs flow together well. The diningroom located in the thick-walled turret retains the castle feel, and is warmed by an open gas fire.
It leads through to the sleek bespoke kitchen with an island at its heart designed by Balbirnie.
A door beside the cooker reveals a very cleverly hidden utility room. Solid walnut flooring throughout the ground floor gives a uniform feel, and an open-sided staircase to the master suite and French windows to the front lighten the entire space.
Though bijou, Balbirnie says it’s a great party house. They hosted their wedding here, when 80 guests circulated between the house and a small marquee and pergola in the patio garden.
The Lodge is definitely a house for grown-ups. Between the open stairs, a spiral metal staircase rising through the turret and the rooftop parapet flanked only by the castellated walls it’s not remotely child-friendly.
Its greatest appeal is likely to be to a professional, and with an office across the courtyard, from which Balbirnie runs her business, there’s a readymade space for a self-employed person.
It could also appeal to an older couple downsizing who wish to remain in the area, though they would need to be relatively spry for those stairs.
Curiosity
The small ornamental garden is to the front and has a sunny southwest facing aspect.
It’s quite private as it sits behind the castellated wall, thick hedging and electronic gates.
Balbirnie does advise that the house is something of a local curiosity, and when the gates are left open, passersby invariably wander in to look around, or fetch elderly parents to see how the place has changed from “their day”.
The couple are moving on to Howth, where they have bought a site near the summit with views to Ireland’s Eye and the Mourne mountains.
It looks like they will finally fulfil their original dream of building a house of their own, but 20 years in this bespoke castle looks to have been a worthwhile diversion.
