Rathmines: €1.6m: Cherry Lodge has been given a total makeover in the past eight years and is now on the market with a guide of €1.6 million. Bernice Harrison reports

The people who bought the attractively and aptly named Cherry Lodge on Belgrave Square in Rathmines eight years ago promptly gutted the villa-style period house.

Although downsizing from a larger house they wanted a new layout, more space and a larger kitchen, and they got all that as well as four bedrooms, a large formal diningroom for entertaining and two reception rooms.

At 192 sq m (2,066 sq ft) the house is certainly larger than it first appears. It is for auction through Lisney on May 20th with a guide of €1.6 million.

The front door is up a short flight of granite steps and, inside, the diningroom is to the left and a formal reception room is to the right.

It opens through to another more informal family room. The rooms that face out onto the square are particularly attractive, given the views.

The large eat-in kitchen is at the back and side of the house; the dining area has the original decorative iron grille on the window.

Belfast company Robinson's was commissioned to design the units for the L-shaped space and the result is a country-style well-thought-out kitchen in solid wood complete with granite worktops, excellent storage and integrated units.

There is access down to the back garden from here via a timber staircase. The bedrooms are downstairs. Three are large doubles, and the main bedroom opens into a full-sized en suite.

Another double, also to the front of the house, has an en suite as well, although this is a more modest shower room. Both rooms have fitted wardrobes.

The third double bedroom is currently used as a home office and, as it has doors out to the back garden, it is a particularly attractive room.

The fourth bedroom is a quirky little room. It's tiny and has a toilet in an alcove, so it's very likely that new owners will turn this room into a full size bathroom.

The back garden is clearly a labour of love for the owners and it is beautifully and carefully planted.

There is storage and access to the side of the house and, to the front, the garden is also extensively planted - there is a cherry tree as well as a wisteria that once blooming will add to the charm of the house.

There is parking for three cars.