Dublin 4/€1.3m: A beach across the road, sea views and one of Dublin's best villages around the corner - an address on Strand Road, Sandymount is hard to beat. The traffic may be a nuisance and parking a chore, but closeness to the city centre is one advantage that Dalkey and Howth can't claim. Kate McMorrow reports.
New to the market after a revamp is number 61, a two-storey over garden three-bedroom terraced house with mews parking and a good-sized garden.
Lisney is guiding €1.35 million prior to auction on July 8th for this 185 sq m (2,000 sq ft) house, which is in walk-in condition. The owner, Galway builder John Moreton, paid €785,000 for the house in May 2003. It was in very poor order and had to be rebuilt from the basement up - a costly exercise, even for a builder. One would therefore suspect that the guide is being pitched on the low side.
The early Victorian house now has great style, with a mostly neutral colour theme throughout. The garden area was lowered to improve ceiling heights and extended, creating a bright and airy family living space.
Delicate plasterwork in the marble-floored entrance hall and main reception rooms has been replicated. Windows throughout are new sash versions in original style, with brass fittings.
The sitting and diningrooms have matching marble fireplaces with brass surrounds in period style. From the sittingroom window, views beyond the garden and out to sea are unimpeded.
New owners will want to spend time in the flexible garden level rooms, which include a huge kitchen / breakfastroom, dining/family room, a double bedroom/study and a guest shower room. Maple floors are laid throughout, apart from marble tiles in the shower room area.
Two steps up from the diningroom, the custom-made kitchen is ivory-painted timber with polished granite worktops, an island unit and a full range of Neff and Smeg appliances. A roof window provides good natural light to the working end of the room. The guest bedroom is separated from the diningroom by brushed glass panels which can be changed into double doors for home/office use. The original staircase has been replicated and an oval window on the half landing lowered, to provide more light to the rear hall. Off the main landing is one double bedroom overlooking the back garden and a huge main bedroom suite spanning the house to the front. The latter has a shower room with marble mosaic tiles and there is a walk-in wardrobe. Two sash windows frame the panorama of the beach and Dublin Bay.
Off a tiny return landing is a family bathroom with rolltop bath and in-bath shower.
With its charcoal walls, black and white tiles and bird's eye views over the rooftops, this is a cosy retreat.
The garden was designed by landscaper Martin Brady along traditional lines. A knot garden to the front has lavender, box and hebe, with gravel borders. A new lawn was laid and trees planted in the west-facing back garden, which is 70 ft long and runs down to a detached double garage. A roll-up garage door opens to a rear laneway. Electricity and water have been laid on and there is obvious potential for conversion to a studio or mews house, subject to planning.
