A great deal of redesigning and imaginative flair have gone into number 1 Mannix Road over the last few years. The vendors know their home well and none of this has taken away from the individuality of a house that started life toward the end of the 19th century. They moved in 30 years ago, reared a family of five who have flown but retain, “very fond memories, especially of how safe it was to play up and down the road”.
The house is in an eyrie-like location. Mannix Road is a cul de sac on a height overlooking Botanic Road, Griffith Park and, winding through the park, the Tolka River. No 1 is at the inner end, with high trees and high hedging and no traffic to speak of.
The vendors paid IR£43,000 when they bought it. Their first renovation was 20 years ago, when they added to the kitchen and side. More recently they added a two-storey extension to the side and another to the rear. “We did a big job to the kitchen, widening it by a metre (3ft),” they say.
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“Using how we live nowadays as a plan, we put the living areas around the kitchen to the rear, an American-style stairs in the hall and formal rooms to the front. We created a large, central landing and brought a bedroom and bathroom together to make one, big family bathroom.”
The result is a bright, graciously comfortable, open-style house with interesting niches, the occasional quirk and many original features. And it is almost double the size of the original. The floor space measures 224sq m (2,400sq ft) and has a formal study, drawing and diningrooms in a curve of space to the front, four bedrooms (main en suite) and a family bathroom and, to the rear, an open-plan kitchen/breakfast/family room. Sherry FitzGerald is asking €975,000.
Family room
The wide plank, oak flooring in the familyroom is warmed with a teak stain. Wood-framed French doors lead to the rear garden, six dormer windows form a ceiling peak and a period fireplace has a couple of interesting, old side hobs. The kitchen worktops are Oroko oiled and the sunroom-style breakfastroom has two sets of wood-framed French doors leading to the garden.
The circling curve of space to the front effectively contains four rooms, distinguished by arches between them. The drawingroom has a bay window and an original, diagonal fireplace. There is a similar fireplace in the diningroom, this one with splendid inset tiles.
The first floor bathroom has a delightful slipper bath on claw feet, a porcelain basin on porcelain legs and full-length mirrors. The front bedroom has a second bay window, the main has an en suite showerroom and a built-in wardrobe. The remaining bedrooms are to the front and rear, both with built-in wardrobes.
The attic has been floored for storage. There is a lawned rear garden with ivy-clad walls, tall evergreens and an Indian sandstone patio. A crazy-paved pathway through the landscaped front garden leads to the front door.
