When the current owners bought 2 Orwell Park, the Rathgar redbrick had been in the same family for 90 years. That was in the late 1990s, and the couple who were returning from abroad waited another year before moving in while the two-storey over garden-level house was completely renovated. As well as modernising, they were keen to restore the many period features – the house dates from the 1870s – which, happily, were intact.
The principal rooms have grand proportions –a major selling point in these houses – notably the interconnecting reception rooms and spacious hall which feature fine ceiling plasterwork. Many of the rooms, including the reception rooms, have their original fireplaces, and working shutters on the tall sash windows.
These period homes in Dublin 6 vary in size and this semi-detached property is one of the larger ones at 269sq m (2,900sq ft), the extra space coming from the four-storey return which has good-sized rooms at each level. For a family that allows for flexible use of space, so while this house could be lived in as a four- or five-bedroom home there is scope to use the rooms in the return in different ways. For this family, the top-floor return is a home office while down at garden level the room in the return has been at various times a playroom, a teenage hangout and now a music studio.
Classic and restrained
Over the years, the owners have looked to architect Philippa Buckley from Studio 44 to help design the interiors so the look throughout is classic, calm and restrained.
The grandest bedrooms are the two on the top floor with the main bedroom running the width of the house to the front with two windows, the lovely oriel bay window and a tall sash. The house’s position on this leafy road and its height means there are glimpses of the mountains from these windows. A dressing area has been discretely incorporated in the room and there is a large en suite.
Down at garden level there is a good-sized, eat-in kitchen with glazed doors opening to the back garden. There’s also a shower room, guest WC and a utility which was renovated and refitted before lockdown.
Indeed the owners have throughout their time here constantly updated and refreshed the interior, including the kitchen and bathrooms, so buyers will find it all in walk-in condition.
Landscaped garden
The rear garden, which incorporates a large patio area, was professionally landscaped and is mature with deep-filled beds, trees and a modernist water feature. There is vehicular access down the side of house, which makes for easy garden maintenance.
To the front, the previous owners of number 2 and its neighbour reached an informal agreement which saw the division between the front gardens taken down so that both houses have greatly increased parking. Number 2 has parking for at least three cars. New owners may want to reinstate the railing but the arrangement has worked happily for decades. The couple are now downsizing and number 2 Orwell Park, is for sale through Mullery O’Gara, asking €2.5 million.
