CO DUBLIN: €2.25MA Georgian four-bed comes with a spa suite including pool and gym, extensive office, garage and studio space, and its own protected beech tree

FAMILIES LOOKING for a slice of country life within minutes of Dublin’s main transport arteries might be interested in Chantilly, a Georgian farmhouse that has a boom-era addition – a spa suite that includes a swimming pool and gymnasium.

It offers the perfect marriage of country and city living. Situated on the Ballybride Road in Rathmichael, Co Dublin, the four-bedroom detached property sits on 0.75 hectares (1.85 acres) of grounds and is less than a mile from Shankhill Dart station and the Cherrywood stop on the recently extended Luas green line.

The house has charming period features including sash windows, stripped pine doors, servants’ bells and decorative roses and cornicing. It also has extensive office, garage and studio space in its enclosed stable yard.

Inside, the accommodation stretches to 444sq m (4,773sq ft). The house comes with its own protected beech tree, a dramatic deciduous tree that has pride of place on the front lawn.

The property has an asking price of €2.25 million through agents Knight Frank.

A glazed porch opens onto a sizable hall, with polished wood floor, in which an Italianate marble fireplace adds a serious country house feel. Deep-framed Georgian doors lead off the hall. To the front left is the drawingroom, a room with dual-aspect windows and French doors that open onto the garden. There are lovely details such as the timber surround fireplace and decorative radiator cabinets. A door leads from it into the wood-floored diningroom.

In the large, painted kitchen there is a sky blue, six-door Aga, an island and breakfast counter and a Belfast-style sink by Villeroy and Boch.

The adjoining conservatory-cum-diningroom has a domed stained glass skylight panel and double doors that open into the enclosed yard. The current owners use this area to barbecue and enjoy the evening sun.

From the kitchen another door takes you into the family sitting room, a cosy room with an Adams-style fireplace that is also accessed from the hall. Off it is a small lattice-windowed office with separate outside entrance.

A boot room with double doors onto another sun terrace opens into the gymnasium with its mirrored walls. Steps from it lead up to an exercise pool that comes with a current flow to help you get the most from your work-out. This is situated in what was the old stable block. Roundels look down into the yard and there is another statement piece of stained glass at the gable end of the pool house.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, three of which are en suite. A third stained glass ceiling panel illuminates the landing. The master bedroom is dual aspect, and has a fireplace and a sitting area that overlooks the front garden and its beech tree. Off it is a dressingroom and a bathroom with his-and-hers sinks and another smart fireplace.

Several of the bedrooms still have their original working service bells. The owners also positioned their utility and drying room on the first floor – eliminating the need to trudge up and down stairs with laundry.

The house was remodelled a few years ago. All the dirty work is done, leaving new owners with nothing to do but change any minor decor details that aren’t their style. In the yard there is enough office space to run a small to medium-size business. There are two garages, one with a pit. The other could make a smart artist’s studio.

There is also a one-bedroom apartment should you need to accommodate staff. There is a separate vehicular access to Ballybride Road. Outside, the gardens are well maintained but not overly manicured.

For more pictures of Chantilly, see irishtimes.com

Chantilly, Ballybride Road, Rathmichael, Co Dublin

Four-bedroom detached house, with period features, near Shankill Dart station and the Cherrywood Luas stop, on 1.85 acres

Agent: Knight Frank