Dublin 18: Anne Dempsey visits a house on Dublin's first purpose-built millionaires' row now on the market for €1.75 million.
The exclusive development of Carrickmines Oaks, Carrickmines Woods, Dublin 18 made a splash when launched in 2000 due to the style and the spaciousness of the houses, but most of all due to their price. Billed as the first million pound new homes in Dublin, they caused a real stir in the market when most sold our in record time.
Number 2 Carrickmines Oaks was the showhouse in the development, and when the present owners moved in they embarked on a further upgrade. The detached home will be auctioned on November 20th with Douglas Newman Good guiding €1.75 million, which includes carpets and curtains.
The upgrade included converting the double garage to a large playroom, installing some oak floors, enhancing the kitchen area, redecorating in a palette of neutral colours, and sourcing quiet curtain fabrics. Outside they cobblelocked the front driveway and extended the side timber decking. The result is 344 sq m (3,700 sq ft) of elegant accommodation including four reception rooms and five bedrooms, three en suite, set on one-third of an acre of south-west facing landscaped gardens.
An airy reception hall gives immediate views through a soaring window on to the rear garden defined by a number of mature oak trees. A pale restful drawing room has a large square bay window with double doors to rear garden and a smart minimalist light oak and marble fireplace. Steps lead to the diningroom which has a double height ceiling and window, another effective timber and marble fireplace, doors to rear garden and connecting doors to the hall. A third reception room is currently used as a large well-furnished office, and the hardwood floored playroom has a built-in desk and workstation with customised shelving for books and toys.
The kitchen is furnished with Siematic units with a soft mint green finish and topped with black marble. The integrated units include Neff gas hob, oven, microwave and extractor fan, drawers, pull-out larder units, shelving, carousel storage and a centre island unit. The bright breakfastroom connected to the kitchen via a square arch has a Stanley stove and fireplace framed between book shelves and storage units, a raised marbled floor and patio door. Between kitchen and playroom is a slate floored utility room.
An oak staircase climbs up to a large landing which has space for wall-to-wall bookshelves below a large internal double window which overlooks the rear garden. The main bedroom has an unusual fitted felted headboard, extensive wardrobes, and an en suite bath and shower room. A second bedroom could also be a contender for the master bedroom, being large enough to work as a bed / sittingroom, with ample wardrobe space and an en suite shower room. Two further bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and one has en suite facilities.
A fifth good-sized bedroom is a little apart from the rest and is currently used as an au pair room. It has a connecting door to a well-appointed family bathroom which is also accessed from the landing.
Outside the garden is entered by security gates and has a cobblelock courtyard for off-street parking. There is dual access to the rear garden, with the sunny south side laid with timber decking and containing a glazed lobby and storage area. The rear garden benefits from six oak trees which give a peaceful feel. A circular path leads around the lawn to a raised decking area at the rear wall which is furnished with a built-in wooden playhouse.
