This €1.15m Sandymount house has been given a makeover by its gadget-mad owners and most of its electrics – alarm, lights, and so on – can be operated remotely by mobile or keypad, writes ALANNA GALLAGHER
NUMBER 102 Tritonville Road in Sandymount may like a traditional Victorian townhouse but, when you ring the doorbell, it just might be answered remotely by owners who may be anywhere in the world. “If someone comes to our front door and rings the bell we can let them in remotely via our mobile phones,” says Alice O’Brien.
“If I’m overseas and my mother wants to water the plants, I can turn off the alarm and let her in and even talk to her while she’s there all through the house alarm system.”
And after she lets herself out. Alice can reset the alarm, all from afar. The alarm system means that the O’Briens never had to sit around waiting for deliveries and awkward-sized parcels, even if it’s a bit disconcerting for callers. Several deliverymen had the fear of God put in them when the door of number 102 has opened and they find no one at home.
Alice and Bill O’Brien both work in IT. They bought the three-bedroom house in 2002 and completely remodelled it. “Most of our money was spent on the refurbishment,” says Bill. They installed X10 technology for control of light and appliances.
“Our lighting operates from a central dimmer system that can be controlled by a portable remote,” Bill says. “Every room has light switches that recall their last setting.”
A Sonos multi-room audio system operates in the main rooms in the house. Instead of control panels built into the walls of each room the couple opted for portable keypads. “Now people use their iPhones to operate these systems,” Bill notes. The house has remote plug sockets so that on cold winter evenings the O’Briens can switch their electric blanket on while en route home from a night out. It also means they can have the kettle boiling as they cross the threshold.
All the smart technology wiring was installed when they refurbished the property. Some, such as linking the heating up to the system, have not yet been implemented but the wiring back-end is in situ, so there is no further dirty work to be done by the next owner.
“You can spend a lot of money on this technology,” admits Bill. “Because we had researched the subject extensively, we knew what we were doing and did most of it ourselves. It cost us an estimated €15,000.”
This may be a high-tech property but it has retained its charming period interior. It has oodles of light and space for their three children. “And if we’re away we can actually listen to the house,” says Alice, “which is quite a comfort. If the alarm goes off we can listen to the house to hear if anyone has actually intruded.” This is the type of big brother technology that can help put homeowners at ease.
The O’Briens are relocating to Seattle where they hope to buy a fixer-upper. Fingerprint key pads are one new technology they’re keen to explore. The 195sq m (2,100sq ft) house is for sale through agent Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €1.15 million.
