Number 6 Garville Road was purchased by the current owners at auction in 2005 following a bidding frenzy. “It was laid out as four flats at the time, and after a year of planning the only thing we kept was the front wall,” recalls the owner, who is moving to Dublin 4.
It took an entire year to renovate and extend the property which was designed by architect Neville Verdon of SBLM Architects, and whose client list includes retail outlets such as Hugo Boss and Whole Foods Market's flagship store in Kensington.
When construction was complete, which also involved lowering the floors at garden level to create higher ceilings, interior designer Susanne Mintern was engaged to oversee the interiors. "The look I wanted was classical contemporary, while keeping in mind it was a family home. We placed the diningroom off the kitchen – which lies at hall level, so for dinner parties there was a perfect flow between the rooms," says Mintern.
The fact that the kitchen lies at hall level and occupies 56sq m – which is larger than the new guidelines for one-bedroom apartments, makes quite a lot of sense. Many renovated period houses have kitchens at garden level and diningrooms at hall level, thus involving much traipsing up and down the stairs when entertaining.
Opposite the bespoke John Daly kitchen, featuring all the bells and whistles one would expect from a property of this calibre, lies the formal drawingroom.
This room, which was a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom in its previous life, is now an elegant dual-aspect space. Artist Donald Knox, who specialises in murals, gilding and special paint effects and whose work is featured in Kilkenny Castle, the Mansion House and the Dorchester Hotel in London, painstakingly covered the entire ceiling in silver leaf. "The purpose of this was to give an intimate feeling during the evenings, where lamp lights would give a gentle reflection above," says Mintern.
Embossed with vermiculite
The walls of the diningroom are also an unusual feature. Here Mintern used Omexco Mica – a type of paper which is embossed with vermiculite – a mineral formed by the chemical reaction between quartz and granite. It adds both texture and reflection from the light that pours in through a rooflight and large window.
The curtains, on the other hand, both here and in the livingroom downstairs, somewhat resemble an unfortunate encounter between a swan and propeller.
The garden level, accessed by a staircase with toughened glass to reflect light, comprises a large television room with a state-of-the-art cinema and surround-sound system by Russound – which is also featured in bathrooms and bedrooms. This room opens out onto a granite patio in the rear garden through two sets of French windows, making it a perfect place for entertaining during the summer.
The property has four bedrooms, all of which lie at garden level. Two are ensuite and open directly to the garden. The main suite has impressive his-and-hers walk-in wardrobes, and a vast travertine bathroom with a free-standing bath.
Two further bedrooms, both of which are generous in size, face to the front of the house overlooking the manicured front garden, which has off-street parking for two cars behind electric gates. A small study lined with hardwood shelving – echoing the solid walnut flooring – sits off the television room.
Abundance of storage
The property has an abundance of storage; at garden level the walls of the hallway which lead into the utility are lined with presses, there is further storage in units under the Crema Marfil staircase, and more formal hardwood units off the hallway upstairs.
The gardens were designed by Advena Landscapes; to the front are tall planters with box and bamboo, and the rear is set over two levels. The boughs of old apple and pear trees laden with fruit overlook neat paving which is home to an al fresco dining area. The beds around the lawn feature rosemary, Japanese anemones, raspberries and an impressive Ceanothus which fills the garden with powder-blue blooms in early summer.
All the furniture in the property was custom-made to fit the dimensions of the interiors, so for new owners it may be an option to purchase same. The interiors of this property, which is essentially a new build but with period features, are opulent and well designed.
Sherry FitzGerald is seeking €2.25 million for the 296sq m (3,186sq ft) property – which is larger than its neighbours as the garage at garden level is now part of the house. Around the corner 39 Garville Avenue, a 336sq m property in flats and requiring total renovation, is seeking €1.85 million, also through Sherry FitzGerald.
