Ranelagh: The location and potential of this late 19th century house in Ranelagh balance out the need for some refurbishment. At a guide price of €635,000, 69 Ranelagh Road offers the prospective buyer an ideal location for living and commuting, with the city centre within easy walking distance. The house will be auctioned by Sherry FitzGerald on October 23rd.
Both the front and back gardens have been professionally landscaped by the owner; the front garden includes a beautifully mature, protected acacia tree, which adds elegance to the front prospect.
From the front door, the hall gives the impression of space and light, with its high ceilings and features such as cornicing and an archway. The interconnecting living and diningrooms, each leading off to the right from separate doors, are also full of light; the windows at either end of the rooms facing west and east to make full use of the day's sun. Both rooms have original marble fireplaces, with tiled hearths.
A further room at the back of the hall-level floor was being used as a bedroom, but the owner suggests it could also be converted into a kitchen, which would be convenient to the diningroom.
A bathroom on the return going upstairs has a bath/shower and sink, with the toilet in a separate room. These could be joined into one space.
Two bedrooms upstairs have a generous amount of space. One still has a marble fireplace; the fireplace in the other has been covered, but can be retrieved. Details, such as arched insets to either side of the fireplace, lend style to the rooms.
At the ground level, two more rooms have been used as bedrooms, both with Victorian fireplaces.
The room facing to the front also has a door leading into the front garden, so it would be easy to convert the downstairs into a separate apartment. There is also a small bathroom with shower and toilet, as well as the kitchen. Next to this, a door leads out to the back garden, nicely planted with shrubs and herbs, with a stone terrace at the back of this that catches the sun all day.
Throughout the house, original wood floorboards are still intact - in some places covered by carpet - however, they would require sanding and refinishing. Gas-fired central heating is present but not currently in use.
The house was originally purchased as a residence for the owner's son, who has been living there with friends. Since the current owners acquired the house seven years ago, they have had fireplaces replaced, put down carpets, installed a bathroom downstairs, put in a new roof and had the house damp-proofed.
Although not strictly being used as a rental home, the building and interior nevertheless indicate the need for greater attention and further refurbishment. This, however, can be accomplished at the new owner's leisure, as most of the renovation needed is purely aesthetic.
