Londoners have been postcode conscious for years, but Dubliners are increasingly alert to the cachet of an address. Nudge number 2 Whitebeam Road just a little northeast or west, and suddenly you are in Ranelagh or Donnybrook, adding considerably to the asking price.
These vagaries of geographical cachet can work in your favour, if you are smart enough to see that Clonskeagh is just two miles from the city centre, handy for bus routes and the Luas, gives considerably more bang for your buck and is a great place to raise a family.
Of the houses lining the enclave of residential roads built by Crampton in the 1930s, most are red-brick semis of varying sizes.
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There are just four large detached houses in the cluster of roads all named after trees – including Whitebeam, Whitethorn, and Laburnum – and number 2 Whitebeam Road, which is for sale with Lisney for €1.4 million, is one of them.
Secluded garden
With a wraparound secluded garden, patio area and plenty of off-street gravelled parking, it’s close to UCD, Riverview, and the Dodder walk. Ashtons of Clonskeagh is down the road at the end of a short stroll. Schools nearby include Gonzaga, Alexandra College and Mount Anville.
The owners, who bought the house in 2003, worked with architect Dara O’Connell to extend, adding more space for their four children. They are moving to get even more room, but staying in the area.
With its five bedrooms, four of which are dual-aspect doubles, it is a well thought-out family home, with a super sense of flow.
This flow is what attracted the owners to the house in the first place. “All the rooms are interconnected, that’s what creates family life,” says the owner.
‘Seamless spaces’
“Dara is from the area and was very sympathetic to the house. We didn’t want a glass box extension, and he was really brilliant. The new spaces are seamless.”
Downstairs, the extension includes a very large kitchen with a gas-fired Aga and an island unit with granite work surfaces. This opens to a cosy den on one side, and a bright dining area on the other, that has extensive picture windows looking onto the gardens.
What was the original diningroom is now a livingroom, and there is another cosy room off this, so you are catered for if you love open-plan living, but if you are after a little peace and quiet there is room for you here too.
Upstairs the bedrooms were extended to make the sizes really generous. Skylights open up the landing to light and the master bedroom has a dressing room and ensuite. “It has expanded to our needs,” says the owner.
“We’ve so many memories here, and it’s a very easy house. The open-plan living is ideal for a growing family, because they’re all always within earshot.”
Side access
Off the kitchen there is a utility room with side access, so that kids and grown-ups alike can come in with muddy boots from outdoor pursuits, and wash the grime away before running the risk of sullying the pale timber flooring or tastefully neutral walls and carpeting that runs throughout.
Stephen Day of Lisney says he can envision a Leinster rugby player wanting to move in.
Minutes from the club’s headquarters, you can see why they might like to tackle it.
