An infill development in Rathmines – on the site of a former nursing home at the corner of Leinster Road West and Effra Road – is now complete with the arrival on the market of the final four houses in the 11-house scheme. The seven that have already been sold – and are now lived in – are in two terraces behind this final four which are also built in a terrace but made more interesting by incorporating the facade of the period house that once stood here.
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The four-bedroom houses range in size from 175sq m/ 1,884 sq ft to 202sq m / 2,174sq ft and show signs throughout of thoughtful design that’s fresh and modern.
Behind the redbrick facades, the emphasis in the interiors is on space and light – large windows and tall ceilings feature and each house comes with elements not usually associated with new townhouses such as a good fully-fitted utility room, ample storage and two en suites. Designed by OMS architects each also has a private rear garden with number nine, the corner house, having the largest outdoor space wrapping around from front to back.
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The design of each is different with the slick contemporary interior layout of the two houses built behind the original red brick façade, numbers 7 and 8, being the most striking. In one, the front door is to the side in a new section; the other has the original front door, although given a curiously unappealing self-consciously modern look.
Stunning inside
Inside they are stunning. Their livingroom – with modern gas fire is to the front, is double height with a gallery space above, imagined by the architect to be used as a library. It is also accessed off the main bedroom. Another interesting spot in these houses is an upstairs reading nook to the front accessed across a glazed landing. These two houses also have the best eat-in kitchens with space for a good-sized dining table.
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The other two houses, number 6 and 9 are on either side of the original façade and have the same contemporary aesthetic.
Each house has two off-street parking spaces.
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Stokes Property is the agent, pricing the houses from €950,000, an unusual move as each property differs in size and type. The agent stresses, though, that this is a private treaty sales process, where prices can go up depending on demand, and not a new house sales process where prices tend to be fixed when they come to the market.