Three storey, two storey, redbrick and butter bricks: the gentle curvature of Anglesea Road in Donnybrook has a mixture of all house types. Throw in Georgian, Victorian, Arts and Crafts with a dash of contemporary apartments, there are few roads in Dublin 4 with such a mixture of architectural styles.
One of the real selling points of houses on the stretch that links the villages of Ballsbridge and Donnybrook, apart from their location within walking distance to the city, is that some of the gardens are quite an oasis despite being in such a central location.
Take Number 109, which has been home to the same family for the past 36 years: “It is just so peaceful in the back garden,” says the owner of the 270sq m (2,906sq ft) home which benefits from a private rear garden extending to 40m (131 ft). Its westerly aspect allows sun from the afternoon right through the evening.
Three-quarters of the way down is a towering old apple tree, which creates a natural divide between the more formal area with swathes of agapanthus and mop-head hydrangea currently in bloom, and a number of raised vegetable beds.
“The beds were just great in lockdown and we grew everything from kale and spinach to tomatoes and potatoes,” says the owner.
Beyond this is a 50sq m garage, with lovely sandstone walls, electric roller doors and a car-charging port. While it offers an abundance of extra storage, the issue of storage within the house has been addressed by the current owners.
Besides lots of room in the Spendlove design kitchen, the old coal hole is now a fitted-out reception area with storage at basement level, and the utility – also at this level – has a large number of presses to accommodate the needs of a family. Langrell of Kiltegan, Co Wicklow, designed and fitted custom cabinets in the music room and living room, along with wardrobes in the bedrooms, and there is lots of storage in the office space designed by Oakline.
The kitchen originally stood where the office now is at hall level, but for practical reasons the owners moved it downstairs and the formal dining area now lies adjacent.
The owners, who are rightsizing due to an empty nest, will miss the space, ceiling heights, and the ability to walk to town and to the beach at Sandymount. But they are staying in the area, where their children used to walk to school, which has a plethora of sporting facilities, such as Merrion Cricket Club, Old Belvedere Rugby and the RDS on its doorstep.
Number 109, an elegant three-bedroom Victorian two-storey over basement home, in turnkey condition and Ber exempt, is now on the market through Lisney seeking €2.45m.
