Avoca Park, off Avoca Avenue, in Blackrock, has become one of the most popular developments in south Co Dublin since it was built in 1995, and its four and five-bedroom houses have more than doubled in value. One of the former showhouses, Number 5 Avoca Park, is for sale by private treaty through joint agents Gunne and Orchard. It was bought in 1995 for £175,000. Today's asking price is £435,000.
Set in a cul-de-sac overlooking a landscaped green, the house is bright and airy and extends to over 1,750 sq ft. The front garden has been almost entirely gravelled, allowing parking space for at least three cars.
Inside, it still has the pristine look of a show house, and the decorative scheme, by Peter Johnson, looks fresh and modern. The fact that it is in walk-in condition, along with other features such as the converted garage and the cheery Stanley range in the kitchen, give the house added appeal. It has two interconnecting reception rooms - a drawingroom and a diningroom - as well as a family room with a conservatory-style roof and French doors to the garden, and a playroom. Upstairs, there are three comfortable double bedrooms and a large single, all with built-in wardrobes.
The entrance porch leads to glass inner doors and an oak floored hallway. The playroom is to the left and has a particularly useful table, large enough for snooker or model trains, which folds snugly into the wall. At the other side of the hallway, glass panelled doors lead to the drawingroom, where the lighting is recessed (as is all the downstairs lighting and that in the main bedroom upstairs) and a large bay window overlooks the front. The gas-fired, coal-effect fireplace has a cherrywood surround. Double doors lead through to the diningroom, which has polished wooden floors and glass doors on to the rear patio and garden. The family room, which could equally be described as a sunroom, is also to the rear of the house. Painted in warm terracotta, the lower part of the walls have a tromphe l'eoil of grey wood panelling. An archway leads through to the kitchen/ breakfastroom, another long room with a tough, laminated floor with a series of painted blue insets. The fitted presses, at floor and wall level, are in cherrywood and the red Stanley range is gas-fired. The utility/washroom has a linen cupboard, built-in presses and stainless steel sink unit.
The guest lavatory in the entrance hallway has, a wash-hand basin and an interesting mirror built into the wall by Tileworks. The stairs are wide and made bright by windows on either side of the stairwell at landing level. The main bedroom has another bay window and an en suite with a surround of Tileworks handmade tiles as well as a shower, bidet, lavatory and wash-hand basin. The second bedroom to the front of the house is a single with built-in wardrobe and star stencilled walls.
The other two bedrooms, both good sized, are to the rear of the house. Both have built-in wardrobes. The family bathroom benefits from more of Tileworks' innovative styling. The large mirror is surrounded by glass beads and narrow blue tiles, a motif which is carried on in a border surrounding the room. There is a Velux window, bath with shower fitting, wash-hand basin and lavatory.
The west-facing, well-cared-for rear garden and patio have evergreen shrubs. There is a large Barna shed and a side entrance.
