Portobello two-bed with attitude

Dublin 8: A pretty terraced two-bedroom house at 4a Richmond Row in Portobello, Dublin 8 is expected to fetch over €450,000 at auction through Herman White on October 22nd.

It's easy to find this two-storey Dublin town-house - just head for the Bretzel Bakery on Lennox Street and it's right behind it, on a road that runs up to the canal.

In fact it's attached to the rear of the bakery on one side, meaning that this is one house that doesn't need the smell of baking bread to charm potential buyers.

The brick-fronted house dates from 1870 and was given a thorough makeover by its architect owner in the late 1990s.

This included an extension to the rear faced in old brick so it blends seamlessly with the rest of the house.

In total there is just under 93 sq m (1,000sqft) of living space with a small roof terrace as well as a patio garden to the rear.

The front door opens directly from the street into a narrow hallway with a reception room to the left. At the moment it's a diningroom but it could also be a sittingroom or office.

It has an original cast-iron fireplace and a sash window onto the street.

At the back of the hall, a short flight of steps lead down to the spacious kitchen with its quarry-tiled floor and hand painted units topped in solid beech. It's an unexpectedly large space with an open plan utility area with floor-to-ceiling cupboards concealing the washing machine and plenty of storage space.

French doors from the kitchen lead out to a paved courtyard garden that is certainly small, but still has space to seat plenty of friends.

An elegant staircase leads up to the first return where there is a good sized bathroom with bright blue mosaic tiling.

Next door is a study or second bedroom, with its built-in wardrobes and cast-iron fireplace.

The first floor has a dramatic red livingroom with two sash windows overlooking the street and a cast-iron fireplace.

The stairs leads on up to the main bedroom and to a return with double doors opening onto a roof terrace that catches the morning sun.

With polished wooden floors and original plasterwork in most rooms, number 4a is in walk-in condition.

It will appeal to affluent first-time buyers as well as to couples or individuals who want to live bang in the middle of the city with work, restaurants cinemas and theatres all within walking distance.