A quaint three-bedroom house on secluded Marino Avenue West in Killiney carries a guide price of £550,000 (€689,500) prior to auction through Lisney on April 10th.
From the front, Abbey lands Villa looks like a typical old stone cottage, with a cluster of potted plants and daffodils crowding the doorstep, but inside and from the rear it proves to be an interesting dormer house in walk-in condition. Perhaps its most surprising feature is a swimming-pool in the back garden.
From the garden the house reveals its height and the traditional lines of a former coach-house, built of natural stone with wood-framed windows. The present owner has transformed the interior with an eclectic mix of ornaments framed by the stencilled ivy on the walls.
This capricious wit reflects the unusual design of the interior which opens into a small lofted hall leading to a landing flanked by two short flights of stairs to dormer bedrooms.
A third staircase descends to the reception rooms and kitchen.
Directly off the hall is a child's bedroom, with timber-panelled wall and tiled floor. The previous owner used this room as a study and it could easily revert to that role. The reception room has a cherrywood floor and carved timber mantelpiece surrounding the fitted gas fire. This room, with its sliding glass door to a stone-flagged terrace, could serve as a sittingroom/diningroom.
There are raised-panel cupboard doors in the kitchen/breakfastroom, and ceramic tiled work surfaces. Beyond this is a small utility room which houses the gas-fired central heating boiler. An internal window in the kitchen adds interest and space to the compact room.
The garden is cleverly split to add depth to it. This is achieved by defining areas with trellis and shrubs, so that the 60 ft swimming-pool does not dominate the space. The lawn is surrounded by well-stocked beds, and the patio is paved and features a stone pond with a fountain. There is a large gate, providing access for cars, and substantial parking space.
The two dormer bedrooms are en suite, one with corner bath and shower, and are well lit. It has easy access to Killiney DART station and shopping in Ballybrack and Dalkey.
