Banking on Sandymount for €995,000

While it has a Sandymount address, number 23 Serpentine Avenue is situated at the Ballsbridge end of this busy throughway, almost directly opposite the side entrance to AIB headquarters.

The house, which is a bank sale, has been staged to make it look its best by architect Caroline Irvine of Irvine Nash Architecture and Interiors, who has done a fine job of reimagining it for family living.

The job has been helped by the fact that the property is well proportioned, has good ceiling heights and has been tastefully refurbished. At hall level, the house has fine period coving although the matching ceiling roses are new and belong to a different vintage. Broad solid oak boards have replaced the original flooring.

The property has two good-sized interconnecting rooms where light pools in through the dual aspect front and back windows. High spec wood and aluminium-clad sash windows throughout mute the noise of heavy traffic to the front.

Cleverly hidden

In contrast to the light-filled reception rooms, the eat-in kitchen to the rear feels dark although the vanilla gloss units help brighten the space somewhat. Stone composite worktops cover the counters and most of the appliances are Kuppersbusch. There’s a guest wc situated under the stairs. Doors lead out to a sandstone paved rear which while south-facing is quite small.

The property has four bedrooms, all of which are en suite which should broaden its appeal for investors. Two of these are very well proportioned. One, situated on the hall return, has a large bathroom with a separate shower and bath and wardrobe space that’s so cleverly hidden it doesn’t detract from the scale of the room. The other overlooks the back and has a shower en suite.

In the two rooms to the front of the house, the shower en suite in each detracts from the fine original proportions. Each has had a sizeable corner lopped off to accommodate the washrooms and will feel smaller again if the next owner decides to add built-in storage.

From the rear windows you can see a large site currently used as a car park. It would be wise to investigate whether there are longer-term plans for this, or if there are any planning applications pending.

For hockey fans, Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club is situated a few doors down.

The house measures 195sq m (2,100sq ft) and is asking €995,000 through Hunter Estate Agents. Parking is on street.