Built “from scratch” by the vendor 10 years ago, 51A St Patrick’s Close is that rare find – a stylishly contemporary house with innovative storage that also has heart and charm.
Vendor Tomek Byrdy, a builder with his own company, Buildpol, built no 51A when he bought a large rear garden site attaching to number 50 St Patrick's Close.
“We had an architect’s plan but my wife designed how best to use spaces as we were building. The key was to have areas for individual activities.”
The result is concealed wall storage in the main bedroom and bathrooms (there are two good-sized shower rooms and a guest WC), a beer/wine essentials cupboard in the wall to the rear garden, a deep understair cupboard – even the front entrance porch has concealed storage. A tumble dryer and washing machine are cleverly accommodated in the large, guest WC.
Tomek, who is Polish, loves the house.
“I would have no problem staying here,” he says, “the problem is the kids keep growing and need separate bedrooms.”
Now they want to sell and build a new home.
He bought the site and built 51A for €200,000 in 2007. Agent Vincent Finnegan is asking €475,000 this time round for a detached house with a floor area of 120sq ft (1,291sq ft), three bedrooms (one en suite), open plan kitchen/ dining/familyroom and enclosed rear garden.
Built in concrete blocks, the rear and second floor have a wood cladding finish, the front exterior is stone rendered. Internal style statements include the pale varnished oak used in the stairs and floors, a high, brick-built feature wall to the rear of the staircase, a wall in the main bedroom made using planks salvaged from a Victorian house, vivid Polish tiles in the main bathroom, ornate cement blocks in the wc, an oak-framed, sliding, glazed glass door between hall and living areas.
The L-shaped, living kitchen/dining/family area has a wall of glass doors leading to the low maintenance, high facility garden. An extension of the house, the garden has a sliding, double door street entrance, secluded seating, faux grass lawn and cleverly potted plants.
Two of the bedrooms have large, fitted wardrobes. The main bedroom has an additional walk-in wardrobe and porcelain-tiled ensuite. A third bedroom is currently in use as an office.
