A refurbished Victorian terraced townhouse on Oakley Road, Ranelagh is expected to fetch over £675,000 at a Gunne Residential auction on September 27th. Owned by Dave Egan of Judge Roy Beans and Lillie's Bordello, and his wife Mairead, the three-bedroom house is in walk-in condition with the benefit of a sophisticated security system.
Number 48 is a typical Dublin two-storey over garden townhouse built in 1846. It has around 2,000 sq ft of living space, with plenty of room to play around with should a fourth bedroom be a priority.
Like most of its neighbours, number 48 is set well back from the road and has a gravelled front area with parking for two cars. The Egans have upgraded and decorated with style and an almost profligate disregard for expense. The house was damp-proofed, rewired and plumbed, the original sash windows and ceiling cornicing restored and an expensive limed oak kitchen built in one of the very bright garden level rooms.
A high-tech security system has been installed which includes modern electronic shutters cleverly disguised behind old-style pelmets. The lighting is a special feature, with plenty of spots and dimmer controls and period brass switches. The saffron and white hallway has a ruby red carpet and traditional mahogany staircase banister rail curving to the upper floors. To the left are in the interlinking drawingroom and diningroom, both with ornate ceiling cornicing, tall sash windows and black marble fireplaces. On the lower return there is a single bedroom which would make an ideal study.
The garden level is where most of the everyday living happens. There is a big country-style kitchen, with units of limed oak and a polished oak floor, saffron wall tiles and a gas-fired range in bottle green. All the built-in equipment will be included in the sale as will the 10 ft antique kitchen table.
The oak floor continues through to a comfortable family room with a traditional-style cast iron fireplace raised over a slate hearth. Bevelled glass doors open out to a paved terrace and walled garden.
Beside the French doors, the owners have hung a framed landscaping plan of the garden, which is laid out in cottage style, with apple trees and masses of perennials.
A curved path and rose-covered trellises meander through to a small lawn, and there is concealed lighting among the plants. The landscapers who maintain the garden will continue to do so with new owners, should it suit. Off the hallway leading to the upper floors are a prettily-decorated guest lavatory and a utility room with ample cupboards and laundry facilities.
Upstairs, a stained glass window over the landing reflects the colour of the ruby stair carpet. The main bathroom is on the return and is lavishly fitted out with a Jacuzzi bath, timber panelled walls and a separate power shower.
The main bedroom spans the front of the house and was originally two rooms. An en suite shower room off the main bedroom can also be entered from a second double bedroom at the back of the house. This room, blue-painted and with a deep storage cupboard, has a sash window looking out on the garden.
