Florence Terrace/€1.7m: Two fine houses - both with sea views - are likely to attract buyers looking for period houses in walk-in condition, writes Fiona Tyrrell
A lavishly refurbished home in the heart of old Bray has an AMV of €1.7 million prior to auction through Douglas Newman Good on June 8th.
Number 8 Florence Terrace is one of 13 fine period homes on a distinguished terrace built by leading Victorian architects Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon in the 1860s. Along with numbers five, six and seven, number eight once formed part of the Florence Gardens Nursing Home, which sold for over €3.15 million last year.
Since then the owner of number eight has undertaken a knockout makeover involving serious remodelling and restoration. This beautiful four-bedroom house with 279sq m (3,000sq ft) of space will appeal to affluent young couples looking for a walk-in family home in a good neighbourhood.
No expense has been spared in the renovation - period detail has been restored or sensitively replaced, Italian marble floors feature throughout, a wine vault has been integrated into the rear garden and high-tech wiring incorporated.
A bright entrance hall leads to a splendid drawingroom with a handsome marble fireplace and two windows overlooking the front garden. Also off the hall is a rear-facing second reception room with original cornicing, central rose and marble fireplace.
The décor is less formal on the lower ground floor where the smart kitchen and family room are laid out in contemporary open-plan fashion. The ultra modern Snaidero kitchen has a large central island, a Franke double sink, Siemens five-plate gas hob and lots of storage space.
The other half of the lower ground floor is a classy living area with a marble fireplace. This part of the house is bright thanks to a floor-to-ceiling glass wall looking out to the rear garden. A utility, toilet and rear lobby complete the layout of this floor.
All four of the bedrooms are doubles and are on the first floor. They benefit from high ceilings and large windows with the two front bedrooms enjoying views across the roof tops of old Bray, down to Bray Head and across to the Sugarloaf.
The house has a 75ft front garden and a terrace-style rear garden where a pretty sandstone patio area leads to the wine vault.
