Taking French leave from a home on Vavasour

Sandymount: €1.05m After 16 years in Sandymount, actor Phillip O'Sullivan, his musician wife Sandra Ellis and five-year-old Jeanne-Marie are planning to sell their Dublin 4 home and head off to warmer climes.

Somewhere in the south of France is their first preference, although everything hinges on getting a good price for their Vavasour Square home. A small city apartment to return to in the sweltering summer months is also on the cards.

Bennett's Auctioneers is expecting number 2 to fetch €1.05 million at auction on May 18th. While this may seem steep for 116sq m (1,250sq ft) of living space, this is one of the most beautiful houses on the square and has a great back garden. Almost hidden down a narrow lane off Bath Avenue, Vavasour Square was built for officers from Beggar's Bush barracks, is highly sought-after and simply can't be spoiled. Prices have zipped up in recent years and anything needing work is hotly chased.

Phillip, a member of the Abbey Theatre Company from 1973 to 1984, came to acting prominence as Father Tracey in Glenroe. Recent appearances include the Gate production of Molière's The Misanthrope and the Second Age production of How Many Miles to Babylon by Jennifer Johnston, for which he was nominated for a Best Actor award. His film and TV roles are numerous; he is currently working on a new John Boorman film, A Tiger's Tale.

With neither partner tied to nine-to-five jobs, Phillip and Sandra are better placed than most to relocate overseas, says Phillip. "We love the challenge. I get a lot of time off between jobs and thought, why can't we do what we do in France? Jeanne-Marie can bring her friends over at Christmas and mid-term break. With two homes, I can get out from under Sandra's feet when I'm learning lines for a new play."

While dreaming of pruning olive trees instead of roses, the couple have been getting the Vavasour Square house spruced up and ready for market. There was little to do, as the end-of-terrace two-bedroom house was remodelled a few years ago and has a gorgeous interior.

They bought it from Danish architect Fleming Rasmussen, who had put his artistic stamp on the interior. Architect Brian O'Donoghue carried on from here and designed a kitchen extension that greatly increased the space and light. Rasmussen had lowered the floor level and maximised light with a glass atrium. The front study was linked with the sittingroom and kitchen through glass doors, providing a bright semi-open plan living space. Floors are narrow-plank oak and there is a wall of bookshelves in the study.

Down a couple of steps is a semi-open plan sittingroom and dining kitchen, with a marble fireplace, polished oak floor and Farrow & Ball cream and gold walls. A square opening flanked by two windows leads into the terracotta-flagged kitchen, which fits a good-sized table.

A double row of Velux windows set into the pitched roof floods this room with light. Distressed pine cupboards include appliances and an island unit separates the working end of the room from the dining area.

Two double bedrooms and the family bathroom are upstairs, with fitted wardrobes and a beautiful stained glass window in the main front room. The atrium window looks down to the front hall. Outside, clematis is trained up a wooden trellis in the neat front garden.

Sliding doors open from the kitchen to a flagged terrace and long back garden. Through a rose-covered pergola at the far end is a second terrace which catches the late evening sun. Old stone boundary walls are clad with Virginia creeper and there is a small curve of lawn.

With a Dublin apartment and a house in France to buy, the family are sensibly waiting until the sale is over before they embark on their house-hunting challenge. "I look forward to the onerous task of finding somewhere," says Phillip, very definitely tongue in cheek.