The renovation of number 50 St Patrick’s Villas in Ringsend, Dublin, a mid-terrace property with 80sq m (860sq ft) of floor space, focused on light and storage.
“When we bought the property it was very dark. The downstairs bathroom wall blocked all the light from the south-facing garden so we felt by moving the main bathroom upstairs and adding a window and glass sliding doors in its place it would open the whole area up,” say the owners, who purchased the property in 2015 for €385,000.
It was a clever move as the entire house is now bathed in light, which bounces off the all-white interiors.
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Other installations such as a roof light in the new bathroom brought in further light, as do sun tunnels set into the pitched roof.
In reconfiguring the house the couple removed an en suite for the principal bedroom – which now has lovely bright painted floorboards – and turned the room into a nursery for their baby. While it is easily reinstated, the large bathroom that sits between the two bedrooms removes any urgent need for a small en suite.
Just inside the hall door is a bright airy living room, the focus of which is a wood-burning stove.
“We knew that there should be an old hearth somewhere behind the walls and one weekend we took a hammer and began chipping away. What we found was the original brick hearth which we stripped back. It was a great find as it gives so much character to the room.”
The couple then designed shelving units to accommodate their books and a week’s supply of firewood which gives lots of storage. There’s further valuable storage under the stairs, and in a bench unit in the small living space overlooking the garden. There’s also a storage room upstairs in what was originally a large landing.
A shed in the rear garden houses more wood, a freezer and all the accoutrements needed by a young family, allowing the house to enjoy a minimal feel – a place where everything has a home.
An olive tree takes centre-stage in the rear garden as it soars to 12ft in height. This year it produced a solitary olive, so while new owners won’t necessarily be pressing their own oil, the fact that it bears fruit shows just how content the tree is in its sunny southerly orientation.
A vine – that does produce grapes – tangles along the entire wall in the garden and stops at an outdoor hot water shower unit. An unusual feature and the family do use it: “In the summer it’s a lovely way to take a shower – especially after a run – and the kids really love it. If you put a towel on the line it gives total privacy from our neighbours.”
The couple are looking for a larger home due to a growing family, and have placed their home, which featured on RTÉ's Home of the Year show in 2017, for sale through Sherry FitzGerald seeking €475,000.
