Dublin 6: €1.675m:In its short life, this house has already seen more than its fair share of architects, musicians and stars of the small and silver screen, writes Emma Cullinan.
This modern mews house at 3 Louis Lane, Rathmines, must be one of the biggest residential landmarks on Ireland's design map. It was built just under a decade ago, to a design by McCullough Mulvin architects for musician Peter Sweeney, who lived there with his partner. He was so thrilled with the design and so generous about showing his house to people that it became well known in design circles and among those who read interior design magazines. Its fame was enhanced when it then appeared in the film About Adam, starring Stuart Townsend.
Having cherished the property the original owner then sold it to architect Rory O'Reilly and television presenter Liz O'Kane who specialises in property programmes and who also runs a property finding service called Get Sorted. They are now asking €1.675 million through Gunne Residential.
While respecting the original design, Rory made some alterations, to make it more child friendly. The couple also added in more colour, especially in the kitchen units, the furniture they chose, and the garden.
The upstairs has remained open plan - with light streaming in through glass walls to the front and rear - with changes coming in the form of a blue kitchen that replaced the original white one. To break up the azure run of units there is an oak cupboard - designed by Rory - to match an oak cabinet at the other end of the room that houses the television. The idea was to create the feeling of pieces of furniture.
Downstairs, to the left of the front door, are two bedrooms, split by a bathroom which was also reconfigured. Where there used to be a bath and shower, there is now just a smaller bath to create extra space. The couple put in underfloor heating and a Philippe Starck tap and basin, from the Duravit range.
To the right of the house there used to be an alleyway which has now been built into, to create a utility room and wet room. It has also extended the rear, ground-floor room which triples up as an office, playroom and guest bedroom. This has a huge glass wall looking out to the garden. The current owners added in pink cement structures and planters into this 45ft garden, in homage to Mexican architect Luis Barragan.
The main bedroom beside the office also leads out to the garden through a large glass door affording the pleasure of lying just a few feet from the lawn and plants with the door wide open on fine days.
So, having been designed by one of the country's finest architectural practices, the house has been cared for by a succession of owners who came with their own design credentials. Who will now take on the mantle?
