Spectacularly spacious

Blackrock: Lisney expects a price in the region of €1.5 million for a four-bedroom detached house on just under an acre of spectacular gardens at 6 Granville Road, off Newtownpark Avenue in Blackrock, Co Dublin.

Called Langton, the two-storey house will be auctioned on February 26th when it is likely to be bought as a family home, rather than for development, as its grounds might suggest.

The current owners, who have lived here for around 12 years, had considered building a small scheme of houses at the end of the garden, but could not get planning permission as the grounds are locked in by other gardens.

Such a large garden in such a good location is a rarity these days and there is likely to be strong interest from well-heeled couples with children who like to roam. The garden was once home to the local tennis club but these days it features swathes of well-kept lawns bounded by mature trees.

Built in 1949 and extended since then, the house is not particularly large at 208 sq m (2,235 sq ft) but there is plenty of scope to extend. Most of the house is just one room deep and, as a result, it's very bright throughout.

There is a small front porch with an inner door, inset with gorgeous contemporary stained glass, leading into the hallway. To the right is the drawingroom, a good-sized room with French doors to the garden, and a raised fireplace. There is also an attractive formal diningroom and a study, but most of the family living goes on in a terrific garden room that leads off the kitchen and has a wall of windows and French doors overlooking a split-level patio, and the garden which slopes away from the house.

Through the trees in the distance is Dún Laoghaire and the sea, and the sea view improves on the upper floor where there are the four bedrooms, including the main en suite bedroom, and a family bathroom.

The kitchen is big enough to seat a crowd to dinner, and there is a good-sized utility room leading off it with a door to the garden.

In summer the owners decamp to the lower patio where there is a big summer house that comes into its own for barbecues and garden parties.

The house is extremely comfortable and well-maintained, but with all that space to play with, new owners will almost certainly build and build.