Fleur De Lis, a semi-detached Victorian property on Grosvenor Place in Rathmines, takes its name from the motif used throughout the house. The pattern appears in the stained glass rear door, the architraves of the interconnecting doors of the reception rooms and also on the glass panels which flank the front door.
They were used for centuries on papal crowns and as heraldry symbol for monarchs and artisan workers added decorative fleur de lis details at Grosvenor Place.
The property which extends to 289sq m (3,110sq ft) was purchased by owner Karen Daly in 2004, and old photographs tell a different tale to what is now for sale. After months of renovation, overseen by the late architect Tony Gallagher, the house, which was in flats for years has been extended and totally refurbished. "We had to dig down three feet into the ground to insulate the property," says Daly, who is moving to a house she has renovated just a few doors down from her current home.
Set over three floors, despite its renovation in 2005, the house feels as if it has just been completed such is the excellent order throughout.
Exceptional coving
Of interest are the exceptional coving and ceiling roses, in addition to the fine antique fireplaces. The principal bedroom encompasses the entire width of the house and includes a dressing room and en-suite that do not deter from the fabric of the room, as is so often the case when a bathroom is added to a bedroom in an old house.
At garden level the property was extended to add a dining room – the two reception rooms upstairs are used as living spaces for functional reasons. “It just did not make sense to traipse up and down with dishes so we eat downstairs and relax up here.”
There is a further living space at garden level, which now also includes an abundance of storage and a large utility room.
The property has four bedrooms and the family bathroom is particularly nice – the old floorboards have been painted white – overlooked by a small fireplace.
The gardens, designed by Rachel Lamb are practical – the rear has AstroTurf and off-street parking in a carport. "There could be 15 lads playing out here with our son, and for years I was driving kids covered in muck home so the Astro Turf made sense for practical reasons." To the front, Lamb created a bank of hedging so the entire house has privacy from passers-by.
The property in turnkey condition is on the market through Lisney with an asking price of €2.1 million.