Refurbished redbrick hides surprise beyond the hall door

An end-of-terrace redbrick two-bedroom house at 2A Penrose Street in Ringsend, Dublin 4, is likely to attract a lively interest when it goes to auction on February 11th. The house has been entirely refurbished and has a sunny patio garden with separate access. Agents Sherry FitzGerald expect it to fetch in excess of £140,000.

The home of Beyond the Hall Door presenter and regular Property Supplement contributor Bernice Harrison, who bought it three years ago, its refurbishment involved a stripping back to the essential stones of the house and a rebuilding which has created a compact and stylish townhouse. Its corner position allows Number 2A to have a side entrance to its L-shaped patio and the bonus of additional light from side windows.

The sittingroom, to the front of the house, is welcoming and bright and has a stylishly uncluttered black slate fireplace. To the rear of the house are the diningroom and kitchen, both with maple flooring. The kitchen is a white, bright, well laid-out and fully-fitted working space. There are presses at floor and wall levels, a notable feature of which are the cubbyhole-like additions for storing such as spices. Work-top space is generous, miniature white tiles cover the wall behind the cooker and there is recessed lighting. Two windows on to the side street, as well as a glass panel in the door leading to the patio, ensure the kitchen gets the maximum daylight.

The diningroom has shelving to either side of the chimney-breast where the fireplace was stripped back to the original and kept simple with the insertion of an old iron grate. A door leads to an under-stairs storage area and a second French door leads out to the patio.

As well as a selection of climbing plants along its high walls and the side entrance, the patio gives space to a utility room. plumbed for a washing machine. The entrance hallway leads to the stairs and a side window on to the landing. The bathroom, directly ahead, benefits from another side window and has white tiling on the walls and a green tiled floor. There is an electric shower and bath, wash-hand basin and lavatory. There is also a good sized hotpress on the landing. Three steps lead up to the bedrooms, where the floors have been stripped back to the original timber boards. The main bedroom, to the front, has a small, cast-iron fireplace. In the second bedroom, where there is a nicely curved alcove, the fireplace has been cleverly converted to house pull-out drawers and storage.

There is gas fired central heating.