Dalkey: €3.75m An 1880s redbrick has had lots of TLC over the years. Anne Dempsey reports.
Built in 1880, Merdon on Dalkey Avenue, Dalkey, Co Dublin has been fortunate in its owners who have cared for its many period features over the years.
It's lucky too in its current owners who created a new kitchen and bathroom, built on an airy family room and considerably upgraded the gardens.
The result is a home in a prestigious elevated location which combines the best of old and new. It will be auctioned on May 5th with Lisney quoting a guide price of €3.75 million.
The detached redbrick property at the foot of Killiney Hill is on half an acre of gardens. With 416 sq m (4,480 sq ft) of accommodation spread over three levels, there are four reception rooms and seven bedrooms in the house.
Original features such as interior panelled doors, cornicework, dado rails and fireplaces are all intact and in tip-top order. The house is well presented with a warm colour scheme.
The front door with original stained glass feature opens to an entrance hall decorated in shades of yellow with an original polished timber floor. Double folding doors open between the morningroom and family room and these rooms are unified by a colour scheme of cream and navy.
Both rooms have their original fireplaces and plasterwork, while the drawingroom is lit by a large five-pane bay window and has a door to the garden.
The diningroom has another fine oxblood marble fireplace with carved timber mantel. The walls are painted a mid-mauve, complemented by large colourful abstract paintings by Aidan Gaffney.
Entering the kitchen and family living area you step into smart modernity. The large family room with solid oak floor has a seating area around a gas fired stove and a dining area with cupboards and a large refectory style table. There are two large skylights and two pairs of French doors to the garden.
The kitchen, which has large picture windows overlooking Dalkey Hill, has top of the range units including a stainless steel De Dietrich double oven, integrated dishwasher, Miele fridge and gas-fired Aga.
There is a utility room with Belfast sink, a side lobby has a walk-in wine cellar, and a cloakroom off the hall teams the original embossed toilet bowl with a funky modern wash-hand basin.
There are two bedrooms on the first floor return each with fitted wardrobe and bookshelves.
Three first floor bedrooms, including the main bedroom, command fine views. The main bathroom is decorated and tiled in green with a white suite, while an adjoining shower room has a Grohe power shower. The second return has bedrooms six and seven, each with built-in wardrobes and one with fitted shelving.
Outside, the front garden has a granite wall bordered by trees and shrubbery with a gravelled drive providing generous parking. The rear garden deck and limestone slabbed patio leads first to a landscaped Japanese style garden area laid out in rockery and flower beds. A path under a trellised arch proceeds to a large lawn. There is a double garage.
