A two-bed townhouse is a hard-to-beat alternative to a new apartment. No 2 Bankside Cottages at Milltown Bridge, a period two-bedroom home, is for auction through Sherry FitzGerald on July 5th with a guide of £240,000 (304,740) and, as it is owned by an interior designer, it is in walk-in condition.

The terraced house is very much part of old Milltown. It was built in 1823 and is in a short terrace of houses that are on a slip road that is a cul de sac to traffic but continues on to have pedestrian access to the park that runs along the Dodder.

The owner bought it four years ago dela6yed moving in while the house was completely gutted, replastered, replumbed, new timber floors installed, new windows put in and old timber doors dipped.

The living accommodation was also rearranged. Directly inside the front door is the livingroom which runs the width of the house. At one end of the room is a staircase, at the other a period marble fireplace. It's a comparatively large room made even more so by the deep, tall bay window. The owner has built a window seat there which cleverly incorporates storage space.

The threads of the staircase have been opened up to enhance a feeling of airiness and there is home office areas in the space under the stairs. The kitchen opens directly off the livingroom and is particularly smart with Shaker style units, stainless steel appliances and a striking blue splash-back. The floor is covered in mosaic tile. To the side of the kitchen is a bright dining area.

Upstairs there is a large double bedroom and a good sized single. The main bedrooms has two windows and runs the width of the house. Both bedrooms have built-in-wardrobes. The bathroom is large and stylishly finished with mosaic tiles and antique brass fittings.

An unusual feature of the house is that it has no back access at all, not even a yard which will put some people to the security conscious.

The interior design is flawlessly stylish from its Farrow & Ball muted paint colours to the Chinese slates that cover the path directly outside the front door. It will appeal to a single person or a couple or someone looking for an alternative to an apartment.