When the vendor bought Dunluce more than 45 years ago the family became only the second to live there since the house was built in 1930. “A rector and his wife were the first occupants,” the vendor says. “We paid £18,300 when we bought in 1972, but that was after it had gone on the market at £14,500 and then to auction. There was a great deal of interest, and it was a lot of money in those days. We put £18,000 into working on it and moved in in January 1973.”

That work added three bedrooms – a lot of space – creating a family home large and comfortable enough to rear four children. “It’s an ideal family home,” says the vendor, “all of our children have been able to walk to both school and university. The area hasn’t changed a great deal and is still a friendly, convenient place to live.”

Dunluce, at 131 Mount Merrion Avenue, Co. Dublin, has a floor area of 232sq m (2,500sq ft) with six bedrooms, two formal reception rooms, family room, playroom and kitchen/breakfastroom. A 60ft wide rear garden has a summer house, raised patio and sheltering trees along its end. Agent Hunter is seeking €1.455 million. According to the Property Price Register, number 33 Mount Merrion Avenue sold for €1.53 million in January of last year.

0 of 6

Decor changes

Splendidly cared for and maintained, Dunluce has everything a family could need to live comfortably, though a new owner will undoubtedly make decor changes and add contemporary fittings.

The bright entrance hallway has a dado rail, and is central to the layout with doors leading off to the drawing and dining rooms, family room and kitchen/breakfastroom. There is a curving arch between the formal reception rooms and, in the drawing room, a fine, high 1930s hardwood fireplace. The family room has a similar fireplace, a door to the kitchen/breakfastroom and a large picture window.

The L-shaped red-and-white kitchen/breakfastroom has windows overlooking the rear gardens, and alongside is a playroom (the original garage converted) with a separate front entrance. Five of the bedrooms are doubles, two of which are en suite.

The hedged-in cobbled-locked front has parking for several cars.