In 2006 the owners of 17 Flemingstown Park bought a 1966 bungalow and razed it to the ground, replacing it with some 325sq m (3,500sq ft) of new build. The builders had already been on site for over a year when they decided to move in in 2008 to hurry the overdue completion – as parents to three children it wasn’t ideal but it worked.
Designed by Brian Rainsford of architecture practice Horan Rainsford who did the Shelbourne Hotel refit, the property has a koi pond that wraps around the house, a geothermal heat pump and solar panels on the roof that give the family hot water on tap.
The detached dormer is far bigger inside than it looks from the outside.
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The house opens into a double-height hall where original model airplanes hang. At one end is a huge vaulted ceiling kitchen-living-diningroom that overlooks the south-facing back garden.
Disco ball
Floor to ceiling windows bring the outdoors in and the room mixes antiques and contemporary furniture.
If the disco ball strung from the ceiling could talk it would say this is a perfect place for parties.
At the weekend the family switches the ball on to get them in the mood for Strictly Come Dancing. While open plan, a huge solid oak door can close off this section of the house when required.
Up the hall is a formal sittingroom where the Georgian furniture the owners moved from their former period home works well with contemporary pieces.
There is a music room, a split level space with a desk at ground level where some of the kids do their homework and a loft area above where a drum kit is set up.
There are four bedrooms on the ground floor. The little girl’s bedroom has a ballet barre, constructed by her father using a large format Ikea mirror. In one of the teenage boy’s rooms a cork noticeboard doubles as a cinema screen.
Japanese garden
The master bedroom has a shower en suite bathroom, a walk-through wardrobe area and doors opening out to what the family like to call their Japanese garden, an iroko decked area with two miniature Japanese maple trees.
Upstairs there is a cool, glass walled snooker room complete with wall mounted scoreboard, another bedroom and a sizeable home office that could also be a seventh bedroom.
The house has a B2 Ber rating and is asking €1.35 million through agents DNG.
