Three-storey house on seaside terrace in Monkstown

There probably are not many homeowners who would buy a house with planning permission for a mews house, only to ignore that valuable detail and put a couple of potting sheds and a greenhouse where the mews might have been.

When the owners of number 2 Longford Terrace – that fine sea-facing terrace in Monkstown – bought their house 22 years ago it came with planning permission for such a mews. However, they are keen gardeners – as is obvious from the colourful, lush display in both the front and back gardens of their 382sq m (4,000sq ft) terraced home – and preferred a different use for the land.

These are grand houses and, even with the basement area divided off to create a self-contained, two-bedroom apartment – as is the case here – they feel very spacious on every level.

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The entire property is for sale though Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €1.75 million.

At front door level, there is a wide entrance hall opening into a reception hall, a home office, a dining room – with two tall, sea-facing sash windows – and a large kitchen at the back. This was completely modernised – pine-topped units and a granite-topped island – when the owners moved in and it has stood the test of time. A coat of paint would bring it up to date. There is access to the back garden from this level.

Upstairs, the owners of number two – who are downsizing as their children have grown up – use the first-floor room as their drawing room. This fine room, with its high ceiling, three tall sash windows and marble fireplace, spans the width of the house.

There are another two rooms on this level, the first of the four bedrooms and a large room currently in use as a family room, but which could be a large fifth bedroom.

Up again are the three other bedrooms. The large family bathroom is fitted with a free-standing bath and has its original cast iron fireplace. There’s a shower-room, recently revamped and smartly fitted out in the return.

The owners have maintained and updated the period house as the years have gone on – a recent project was fitting sheep’s wool insulation in the loft. But the big project was undertaken in 2010 when they no longer needed an extra three bedrooms in the basement for their now adult children, and were able to convert the area into a very smart two-bedroom apartment with a modern kitchen and bathroom.

There is vehicular access and off-street parking from Clifton Avenue – that's where the now lapsed mews planning was.