The number of very large period houses on the market in Foxrock would suggest that downsizers are particularly active in the southside suburb and if they want to stay in the area then Casa Mia might be an option.
Not that it’s a small house – it has four bedrooms over 227.7sq m/ 2,465sq ft but it is a dormer bungalow, a style of house understandably favoured for its liveable practicality and flexibility.
And it offers a number of options because it comes with separate guest accommodation – a detached two-storey 112sq m/ 1,210sq ft building to the side currently laid out with a comfortable and bright one-bedroom apartment upstairs over a two-car garage.
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This was built in the past 10 years in place of a more modest garage that stood on the property.
The owners did have plans to demolish Casa Mia as far back as 2002 and in its place build a more “Foxrock” house – a grander, two-storey over basement house, but that didn’t happen.
Instead Casa Mia, which is on Gordon Avenue, has been altered considerably during the owners’ time here. The biggest change is the extension that runs the width of the rear. A bright airy modern space, it made room for a large eat-in kitchen, with floor-to-ceiling window looking out on the back garden. Also in this extension is a utility room and a sauna.
Homeowners considering extending their bungalows might take a look at Casa Mia to see how it can be successfully and simply done.
The four bedrooms, three with en suite, are upstairs and down. Two are upstairs on either side of the house, while two are off the entrance hall on the left hand side. On the right are two interconnecting reception rooms.
The house stands on a third of an acre of mature landscaped gardens and as well as the garage parking, there is off-street parking.
While Casa Mia has been thoroughly modernised to a very high spec inside, its exterior looks old fashioned, particularly with its bow-shaped multi-panel bay windows and covered porch – new owners will probably bring in an architect to see what can be done to make the house look more contemporary and to better reflect its price tag. Casa Mia is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald for €1.65million.
