IF A SINGLE house could tell the story of the property boom then it might be Sorrento Villa on Vico Road in Dalkey, Co Dublin. The Victorian detached house, facing the sea, slumbered up on the hill for decades, its interior divided into two spacious units that would have been described as flats rather than apartments.
The house dates from the 1860s when it was built by a provost of Trinity College as a summer villa: and he chose one of the finest sites on the hill with a sunny east-to-south exposure.
Two years ago when property prices reached fever pitch, it came on the market with an Advised Minimum Value (AMV) of €4.5 million. However, after intense bidding at auction it sold for €5.6 million. Stamp duty at 9 per cent added an additional €500,000.
The new owners went on to spend many thousands more on redecorating the rooms and making changes to the layout, converting it to a five-bedroom house.
They also drew up plans to install an expensive kitchen. However, they have now decided to put the house back on the market, in the hope of recouping much of their investment.
Sorrento Villa is asking €4.5 million through Sherry FitzGerald where Rosie Mulvany is handling enquiries. Having sold it before, Mulvany is well acquainted with the house, which she reckons has one of the best views on the road, “because it’s so high up, and it’s incredibly bright”. Viewed on a sunny morning, it had light pouring into every room through exceptionally tall windows.
Sorrento Villa sits on just under half an acre of grounds, with a large level lawn as well as a back garden that rises in steep terraces up Dalkey Hill.
The grounds include an original teak-built garden house that sits above Vico Road and an old bomb shelter which the owners uncovered under a thicket of brambles.
The house shares an entrance with an adjoining property, and comes with plenty of parking as well as a detached garage that has been modernised and adapted to suit the owner’s vintage Mercedes.
Inside, the 353sq m (3,800sq ft) house has a linear layout designed to make the best of the views.
The entrance hall, with its pretty mural of entwined flowers, leads to a long corridor, off which is the superb drawingroom with three tall sash windows looking out to sea.
Then comes a large double reception room, with a deep bay window, that serves as a family room, diningroom and playroom.
It was here that the owners intended to install the kitchen, and the deep bay window would provide a striking dining space. It is a large room with access to a small Victorian conservatory at one end.
Beyond this room is another large reception room converted for Sorrento Villa’s original garage. Currently the kitchen is a modest room at the back of the house, where there is also a spacious utility room.
Upstairs, past a tall window giving a view upwards to the terraced gardens, the layout is excellent for families. There are three sizeable bedrooms – all with sea views for children, and then the main bedroom which has a wonderful deep bay looking out to sea.
The teenage son of the family has a separate suite, complete with a small sittingroom and an en suite shower room. In addition, there is a large family bathroom and a walk-in dressingroom.
Clearly more work could be carried out at this level, and new owners may configure the space to allow for a bathroom with each bedroom.
As it stands, however, this is a house which is made for a big family needing plenty of space in which to play and entertain.
