Off the shelf: €650,000 for booklover’s haven in Portobello

Ovoca Road in Portobello is one of the finer roads on the city side of this area. Running parallel to South Circular Road, one end adjoins Emorville Avenue and is where the locals congregate at Bibi’s Café. Set up by two sisters in 2010 the café has proved so popular that it regularly has waiting lists, especially for sunny outside tables.

The road is home to several housing stock styles and it has seen a high level of sales activity in the last six years with nine properties changing hands, according to the property price register.

Ten years ago at the height of the boom, number 10, a fine four-bed came to market seeking €1.75 million. In August 2011, number 24 sold for €402,000 having first come to market in 2009 asking €950,000. Fast forward to 2015 when number 19 sold for €515,000; number 20 sold for €595,000; number 5 sold for €760,000 and number 25 sold for €650,000.

Number 2 is one of the smaller styles of houses accessed via a set of granite steps. The villa-style redbrick is close to the Arnott Street end and opens into a wooden-floored hall. The sittingroom to the front is light filled, with polished floorboards and a marble mantelpiece with cast-iron surround.

There are two more rooms at this level and these will most likely work as bedrooms if a family buys. While the ceiling heights here are 2.9m/9.5ft high these rooms, which also have cast iron fireplaces, are small.

Bookcases

Downstairs, the room to the front of the house has bookcases in the alcoves. Painted yellow the ceiling heights here are lower, just 2.25m/7.38 ft high. The property’s only bathroom is also to the front with storage drawers under the stairs and a utility room to the rear.

To the rear is a large, open-plan kitchen, living/diningroom that extends the house to 119sq m (1287sq ft).  This work was done in 2007 and the owner used architect Micheal O Drisceoil whose design includes a Shaker-style kitchen area with polished black granite countertops that opens up to a large vaulted ceilinged room with a limed wood panelling ceiling. More bookshelves line these walls. The space made for books throughout the house really enhance it’s homeliness.

The back garden has a flagstone patio and a raised rear that is north-facing with pedestrian access to the back.

The property is asking €650,000 through agents Property Partners O’Brien Swaine.