Bloomfield Park, is a tiny cul-de-sac at the canal end of Bloomfield Avenue in Portobello. Number 15, at the entrance of the avenue has a south westerly aspect to the rear – which means sunshine pours into its small city courtyard.
In 2006, the current owner engaged Limerick-based architect Morgan Flynn to redesign and extend the property, which then had just two rooms. The refit enlarged its interior from 41 sq m to 60sq m (646sq ft).
What is striking about the renovation, completed in 2007, is the amount of natural light which now floods through the property, thanks to its aspect, the use of roof lights and an entire wall of glass in the living area.
At ground level, the rear of the property was extended to accommodate a fine sized kitchen, which can completely open into the courtyard, thanks to a patio door on wheels, for entertaining during clement weather.
To the front is a double bedroom which looks out onto the quiet lane.
The welcome surprise in this instance is the conversion of the attic into a fine master bedroom. Moreover, here again, the use of lots of glass allows a multitude of light to flow into the room.
More intriguing still is a wooden hatch which opens out onto a roof terrace.
Benefiting from both easterly and south westerly aspects, it catches the sun all day, and the use of opaque glass and wooden slats ensures total privacy.
It is a perfect space for morning coffees.
A fine sized family bathroom sits adjacent. The property has lots of clever storage – a feature that these cottages fundamentally lack – in the eaves and in a panel under the stairs.
The house is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €535,000.
It may seem ambitious, but nearby, 21 The Moorings, an 86sq m two-bed apartment built in 2004 – also in Portobello – sold in August for €500,000.
Though larger than the cottage at 86sq m, the house on Bloomfield Park has the added bonus of a courtyard in addition to the roof terrace, and is self-contained with no annual management charges.
Parking is available on Bloomfield Avenue through Dublin City Council’s resident permit system which costs €50 per annum.
