Fairway to heaven: Nutley Park home is in walk-in condition

Nutley Park is a cul-de-sac at the Donnybrook-end of Nutley Lane which has long been popular with those on the hunt for sizeable two-storey family homes.

Number 7, a five-bed semi-detached house measuring 253sq m, asking for €1.6million, has just been sold here for €1.475 million through agent Felicity Fox.

It shows how much the market has moved on since 2013, when number 29 sold for €902,000 in February of that year, and number 50 for €1.04 million in March. Number 3, another semi, sold for €1.425 million in August 2015.

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Number 22 gives an indication of what can be done with larger properties on the street.

Originally a detached house of 172sq m/1859sq ft, and unoccupied since 2011, it sold in December 2013 for €950,000, having come on the market asking for €1 million.

One of only three detached houses in the cul-de-sac, it was put back on the market in January 2015, asking €1.395 million, through Hunters, this time with full planning to replace the existing house with a 390sq m two-storey over-basement structure with additional accommodation at attic level.

This asking price was reduced by €100,000, to €1.295 million and it was purchased by its current owner, a one-off house developer, for €1.107 million in July.

Completely gutted

The plans were amended. The house was completely gutted, insulated and put back together again – increasing its footprint by 40 per cent (129sq m/1,388sq ft) and shifting its G BER (Building Energy Rating) up to an A.

Now measuring 301sq m/3,250sq ft, only one structural wall of the original house remains.

It is now asking for €1.85 million through Hunters.

Whoever buys this property will get a lot of house for their money and the luxury of not having to get their own hands dirty.

Very practically renovated, everything in the house is brand new – right down to the plush carpets, fresh flooring and blingy light fixtures. The buyer needs only unpack.

The big, but not beautiful, original exterior has been replaced and a large two-storey extension added to the rear.

It would have been nice to see the lovely, curved art deco windows to the front retained but the new double-fronted box bay window brick front is sympathetic to the surrounding properties and its new Carlson windows and doors have helped it achieve its A rating.

In walk-in condition, the house has new, limed oak floors, crisply plastered and freshly painted walls and boasts acres of space, starting with a small den situated where the garage originally stood.

Interconnecting pocket doors have been installed between the two original reception rooms and glide open to create one enormous open-plan space – great for entertaining.

Brightest room

The front room is laid out as a formal sitting room with an equally formal dining room set to its rear.

This room leads through to a huge eat-in kitchen-cum-living room.

Lit from above by a light well, and with glazing on two sides, it is the brightest and best room in the house. It features painted units by Nolan Kitchens and has double doors leading to a spacious sandstone patio.

Overlooking the 18th hole of the Elm Park Golf and Sports Club, there’s a great sense of privacy, save for the odd passing golfer.

Inside the vast open-plan ground-floor, space could be a little too open for some who might prefer to install some sort of division such as a simple glass wall that would allow light to stream through but mask any sound transference.

Deep-pile carpeted stairs lead up to the first floor where there are four very big doubles, two of which have shower en suite bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes. The master is set to the back of the house and enjoys views of the greens.

There is a fifth bedroom on the second floor with a really large bathroom, including a separate bath and shower across the hall.

The house has off-street parking for up to five cars.