The gardens around 8 Ash-Hurst are lush, greens of all shades following a curved walkway into a secret garden with evergreens towering overhead. The owners have made the house a feature of this botanical nicety by creating door-windows that fold back and open out living spaces to a deck and gardens beyond. It works well, adding a sense of leafy expansiveness to an already expansive 3,101sq ft (288.10sq m) of floor space. The sale is being handled by Savills and the asking price is €1.55 million.
One of only eight houses in a cul-de-sac off Military Road, 8 Ash-Hurst was built in the mid-1980s. Views of a nearby Gothic-style astronomy tower, the centrepiece of the neighbouring Victorian mansion called Ashurst, lend a little social and architectural history.
Built in 1861, Ashurst was once home to Dublin’s Archbishop Charles McQuaid who enjoyed the considerable views from the belfry-like tower. According to the property price register the Gothic mansion sold late last year for just over €4 million.
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The vendors of 8 Ash-Hurst have lived here for 15 years and, by adding a kitchen/ breakfastroom, loft with balcony, two en-suite bathrooms and 1,000sq ft, have significantly redesigned and enlarged the house.
The kitchen/breakfastroom, with its fold-back glass doors, makes particularly good use of the possibilities offered by the surrounding gardens. Floors are of marble and Velux windows highlight a black-marble topped centre aisle with hob. The original kitchen is now a small TV room with French windows to the garden.
Palely elegant dining and sittingrooms adjoin at the front of the house. Both have solid oak floors and le Droff fireplaces of wood and sandstone; while smokers are catered to in a smoking patio. Wide stairs lead to the first floor and a family bathroom with large, grey porcelain tiled walls. The bedrooms – no two alike and three of them en suite – are on this floor also.
Oak stairs with glass-panelling to the side lead to the loft-conversion. A world apart from the rest of the house, this large, light-filled space has a wall of windows opening on to a wide terrace and gives a sense of being outdoors. The loft is laid out with lounging, computer/work and sleeping areas. It also has a sink, worktop and, with plumbing already in situ, offers the possibility to add an en suite.
