£800,000 expected for two Donnybrook houses

Two neighbouring houses on 0.4 of an acre by the Dodder River in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, could sell for £800,000 when they go to auction on March 3rd.

The properties - Brook Lodge, a large, very modern refurbished house, and Dunbur, a nearly derelict house next door - will be sold in two lots through Gunne. They are on Brookvale Road, a small curved road off Eglinton Road, just up from the junction with the main Donnybrook Road.

The site, right across the River Dodder from Donnybrook bus garage, has development potential, although planners have refused permission for the demolition of the two houses and the building of 15 apartments. But permission might still be granted for a smaller scale development, perhaps on the site of Dunbur, which was once the home of broadcaster Frankie Byrne.

Brook Lodge has been refurbished on clean modern lines since it was bought 10 years ago, and could sell for £600,000, according to Gunnes. The bright, open-plan downstairs has white-tiled floors everywhere except in the red-carpeted living room area.

Upstairs, the main bedroom boasts a fully-tiled en suite with a sauna and a huge Jacuzzi-style spa bath, with air and water jets.

There are windows on two sides off the bright living room/ dining room. A large study opens of this area, as does the all-white kitchen. There is also a large utility room, and a bathroom at this level.

One of the unusual features of the house, which has many innovations, is an elegant stainless steel boiler-style anthracite stove, made by the Pither Studio, in the living room. It stands in a large slate hearth, completely replacing a conventional fireplace.

A wide, red-carpeted and unusually attractive spiral staircase leads upstairs to a large bright landing lit by a Velux window: as well as the main bedroom, there is a pretty pink single bedroom, and a small blue double, with a large shower room en suite. The bedrooms all have good under-eaves storage space.

There is also a self-contained suite up here, with a separate entrance via an outdoors staircase: it consists of a single bedroom, small living room and bathroom.

There is a large garage with a conservatory at the side of the house. As it adjoins the downstairs study, it could easily be converted into a large family room. There would still be plenty of space to park several cars - there is a 1,500 sq ft garage where the current owner refurbishes vintage cars.

The whole outdoor area is landscaped and paved. A path leads down to a small walk by the Dodder. The property is very private and secure, concealed behind large gates and high walls. A large stone wall separates Brook Lodge from Dunbur, which is boarded up. Outside, a short walk down Brookvale Road leads to a footbridge across the Dodder.