Dublin 6: €2.75 million Bernice Harrison visits a substantial four-bedroom period house in a nice spot close to the city centre

At the park end of Palmerston Road in Dublin 6 there is a section of the road called Temple Villas where the houses are imposing Victorian redbricks much sought after by buyers looking for substantial family houses without a basement.

They don't come up for sale that often but 4 Temple Villas now has, and it is for auction on March 18th through Sherry FitzGerald with a guide of €2.75 million.

Called Craigmore, it has been greatly extended, renovated and redecorated in the recent past and all in a sympathetic style. What was once an already large and very attractive house has even more living accommodation thanks to a new wing to the side that is single storey to the front, two storeys at the back and incorporates a large period-style conservatory. The four-bedroom house now has 325 sq m (3,500 sq ft) and a wide 80 ft back garden.

There are two formal reception rooms, a livingroom to the front and a diningroom to the back that both come with the expected period details including marble chimney pieces, decorative cornice work, high ceilings and polished floorboards.

At the back of the house is a family room made comfortable and informal with a pot belly stove and an arch opening into the new kitchen.

It has been fitted with well-designed and superbly appointed units, again in a period style.

Granite topped cupboards line the walls and, as well as a large Aga, there is a large central island designed for some serious food preparation and cooking. In it is a Belfast sink, an integrated Gaggenau barbecue as well as excellent storage.

A contemporary-style spiral staircase leads up to a mezzanine level, used by the family as a TV room that overlooks the back garden.

Double doors open from the kitchen out into the rectangular timber-framed conservatory which in turn opens out to a patio. Also at this level is a utility room and a guest toilet.

Upstairs there are four double bedrooms and a family bathroom. The house is three-storey at the back and the fourth bedroom is at the top of the house.

The main bedroom has its own en suite.

This is one of those houses where the back wall is granite which gave a head start in creating a wonderful garden. In this case, it has been landscaped and lushly planted and features a timber-framed Jacuzzi and sauna room.

Craigmore is well off the road and there is space to park three cars comfortably on its newly gravelled driveway.