Dublin 4

An elegant four-bedroom townhouse at 61 Wellington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, should well exceed its £900,000 guide price when it is auctioned by Lisney on October 6th. The two-storey over garden level Grade 1 listed house, which has a sunny 80 ft long back garden, should appeal to the growing number of buyers seeking period houses close to the city centre.

According to Lisney director Tom Day, who is handling the sale, very few houses of this calibre have come on the market in Dublin 4 this year. Number 61 is a terraced house set well back from the road with a long front garden but no off-street parking at present.

Inside, the house extends to just over 3,000 sq ft, and planning permission exists to build a conservatory-style extension to the rear.

Viewing is strictly by appointment, so only a limited number of potential buyers will be allowed to walk through the house and see the owners' collection of period furniture and curios. None of the furniture will be included in the sale but it is interesting to see just how good the rooms look when they are furnished in an appropriate style. The diningroom is to the front of the house and the drawing room, which has a white marble chimney-piece, overlooks the back garden. Both rooms have rich red walls with deep cornicing and ceilings in white.

The rear return has a door to the garden and a small lobby area that leads on to a neat and tidy workroom. This whole area is likely to be redesigned by new owners, who may consider locating a kitchen, or butler's pantry, here to serve the reception rooms. The first of the bedrooms is on the first return and it is a small single room. The main bedroom is on the first floor and it faces over the back garden. It has a very good range of fitted wardrobes and a spacious en suite shower room. There are two good-sized double bedrooms at the front of the house, both with tall Georgian sash windows.

The family bathroom, at the top of the house on the second return, has a stained-glass window.

At ground floor level, there is a large kitchen fitted with pine units and an oak woodblock floor. Off the kitchen is a fitted utility room.

A family room has fitted shelving and there is a rear cloakroom with the shower concealed behind a door.

A side door leads out to a lower yard where there is a series of arched cellars and stores and steps leading up to the back garden. Wall-mounted old Belfast sinks filled with flowers add a touch of colour to the area.