A large penthouse apartment with views of Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, in Dublin 6, is expected to make over £500,000 at a Finnegan Menton auction on December 8th.

Number 7 Fitzwilliam Court, Winton Road, has just over 2,000 sq ft, making it larger than most four-bedroom homes.

It has three bedrooms, two balconies and original 1970s decor that is right back in fashion. The smart redbrick block, which is just off Appian Way and Leeson Park Avenue, is within walking distance of the city centre.

The penthouse is arranged on two levels but its outstanding feature is how bright it is, with light spilling in through floor to ceiling windows in many rooms. It was fitted out to a high standard 20 years ago and while it is well maintained, it does need some upgrading.

New owners, however, might well decide to keep some of the original features such as the wood panelled walls. A front door leads into a long entrance hall with windows, which in turn leads into an inner hall. The first bedroom with its wood panelled walls is currently being used as a study. Next door is a large storage area, which could be used as more study space, or as an en suite shower room.

Also on this level is a double bedroom with French doors to a large south-east facing balcony. Again, this room could be used as a reception room. Also at this level is a fully-tiled bathroom with an oval corner bath, as well as a separate boiler room and an under-stairs cloakroom.

A winding staircase leads to the upper level, where a large reception room runs the width of the penthouse. It is an exceptionally bright room with a wall of windows along one side and French doors leading to a balcony twice the size of the one downstairs and providing obvious scope for container gardening. Tennis buffs can watch play on the distant courts. Wood panelling features on the other walls in this reception room and there is a tiled open fireplace.

A good-sized kitchen leads off one end of the room. It has a range of fully fitted wall and floor units, as well as a Miele double oven. Unlike most apartment kitchens, it has two windows and a utility room. Also at his level is the main bedroom which is a large double. It has an extensive walk-in dressingroom, with a full range of fitted wardrobes, as well as an en suite bathroom.

The apartment block is well maintained and landscaped. The penthouse comes with two car-parking spaces.