1920s cottage in Churchtown for €600,000

Former serviceman’s house adapted to create more space and maximise natural light


Originally built in the early 1920s as part of a housing scheme for the servicemen who fought in the first World War, under the Irish Sailor's and Soldier's Land Trust, this cottage has been home to Aideen Allen for the past 30 years.

Ten years ago, under the guidance of Cormac Dooley, of Dooley Architects, the cottage was extended over two storeys to the rear. The brief was to maximise the amount of natural light and utilise all available space. This was achieved with great flair and imagination and the result perfectly blends contemporary and period styles.

Inside the front door, there is a remarkable sense of calm as the palette of neutral colours and polished porcelain flooring reflect the light shining through the cottage windows. A drawing and diningroom to the right of the hallway are bright and have the original pine flooring and one of the original slate and wood fireplaces remains. There are original picture rails in both rooms .

To the rear of the reception rooms is a bright modern extension on a split level with a glass-topped breakfast bar dividing the living and kitchen areas. The living area has full- length French windows which open out to a patio paved with Indian sandstone and the verdant back garden.

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The kitchen runs lengthways and has three large Velux windows, fitted shaker-style units, integrated appliances and pale green glass tiling.


Pair of patios
Upstairs are three bedrooms; the master has a clever en suite with green smoked-glass sliding doors that allow the maximum space to be utilised, and a Romeo and Juliet balcony overlooks the rear garden allowing lots of light into the room.

A smaller double with baby blue walls and white pitched ceiling has original pine flooring and overlooks the 18th green of Milltown Golf Club. The third bedroom is a single which is also used as an office.

The rear garden, with two patios, is full of mature camellias, mahonia, roses and heathers.

Aideen Allen is off to live in Galway to establish a secondary office of her graphic design company, Allen Design, and her 123sq m (1,330sq ft) cottage is for sale through estate agent Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €600,000.

On this road in Churchtown number 44, a three-bed in need of some refurbishment, was sold in November for €555,000 and number 127, also in need of upgrading, sold in December for €456,000.