Designers' Dublin 8 apartment for €375,000

THE SELLERS:Frank Long and Monika Crowley

What and where

Two-bedroom apartment in Rainsford Avenue, Dublin 8 - a small gated street off Thomas Street in Dublin's south inner city.

Describe the apartment

It's in a small private street of 19th century houses, originally built for Guinness workers. There are 10 houses on the street and 39 apartments (four in each house - except for ours, which is divided into three. As a result, our apartment, 9c, is the largest one in the complex)

The apartment is unique within the complex; spread over three levels - from the reception hallway on the ground floor you follow the original granite steps to the second level where there are two bedrooms (one double, one single), a bathroom, a bright, spacious livingroom with working fireplace and an open-plan kitchen/dining area.

From the livingroom there are solid beech stairs leading to the bright attic room - which we converted into a studio space. Outside there is communal parking.

Why are you moving?

We are getting married in a few months and are looking for a more family friendly home.

What's the best thing about it?

People's reaction when they first come inside - the design of the space and layout is completely unexpected. It feels more like a house inside than an apartment.

Myself and my fiancée both work in design (in fact we graduated across the road in NCAD) and we put a huge amount of thought and work into transforming it into a bright modern home while keeping the original character.

We designed a lot of the fixtures ourselves and we converted the attic into a bright studio space for us to work in. It's a really unique place to live in.

The apartment has a creative past as well - the previous owners were writers Anthony Cronin and Anne Haverty.

And the neighbourhood?

It's in a small gated street of 19th century houses, originally built for Guinness workers. Located just off Thomas Street, Dublin 8, and an easy stroll into town or to the Luas line.

Who'd like your home?

Anyone with an eye for design who is looking for something other than a standard shoebox apartment. A first-time buyer who wants a spacious pad with parking in the city centre or someone who wants the option to work from home.

To view

The apartment is for sale through Douglas Newman Good and can be viewed on www.myhome.ie

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