Bright side of life along sunny Sandymount stretch for €1.9m

A lively, bon viveur of a house, 3 Ailesbury Gardens has hosted many parties in its time and been a genial family home to the vendors’ family for the past 31 years.

In an almost 90-year long lifetime, number 3 has been extended, updated and appreciated and now, looking good for its age and with a light-filled 245sq m (2,637sq ft) of floor space, it is for sale through Lisney with an asking price of €1.9 million.

The vendors bought for £60,500 in 1987 and have never looked back. “It’s been fabulous living here,” they say. “The layout’s great for circulating at parties, and the garden’s great for football.”

They’ve put in a lot of work since: a new kitchen was added in 1989 and, in 1992, a two storey rear extension included an entrance hall reconfiguration which allowed them add an enviably well-stocked wine pantry.

A large Seomra in the garden with underfloor heating has operated as a home-office for 12 years, and “gets the sun in the evening and bird-song in the morning”. Family reared, they are now downsizing “in preparation for retirement”.

The Ailesbury Gardens houses – 12 of them in a single, secluded row close to Sydney Parade Dart station – were built in the 1920s for the estate managers of Lansdowne Estate. The vendors fell for number 3 the minute they saw it.

“Even though it was in two flats and not in great nick we loved the ambiance. Also, these houses don’t often come for sale.” About four have sold since 1987, most recently number 2 – in need of an upgrade – sold for €851,000 in 2012. Number 3 has 245sq m (2,637sq ft) of space, four bedrooms (one en suite), three reception rooms, a wine pantry, family bathroom and large family/dining/kitchen area.

Cook’s paradise

A wood-burning stove, purchased in France, warms the entire rear family/dining area. Double French windows access the garden and the whole area is Amtico floored. The kitchen is a cook's paradise with gadgets of every kind, everywhere: a Salamander grill, sous vide oven, built-in steam pressure cooker and coffee-machine, Quooker constant boiling water tap and warming drawers.

The dining area is sunroom in style with a glass ceiling and double glass doors to the garden. There’s a deal of drama in a front facing black-and-white themed den/TV room with semi-bay window and fireplace.

One of the bedrooms has a sleeping loft, the main bedroom has a large en suite. A floored attic provides storage space.

A strip of land along the opposite side of the road is also owned in individual lots by Ailesbury Gardens householders