Touch of luxury in Blackrock villa

Co Dublin: €4.5m: There's likely to be keen interest in a smart Victorian villa on almost half an acre of gardens on a quiet road in Blackrock, says Kate McMorrow

A Victorian villa on one of the best avenues in Blackrock is expecting at least €4.5 million at a Lisney auction on May 23rd. Sydney Lodge at 21 Sydney Avenue also comes with almost half an acre of gardens, a real rarity in busy built-up Blackrock.

Their family grown and moved away, the owners of this four-bedroom 340sq m (3,650 sq ft) villa are planning to downsize to something more manageable in the village.

Properties rarely come up for sale on this quiet road, so interest is likely to be keen. Sydney Lodge also has a two-bedroom annex which opens up many possibilities.

The house dates from 1820 and is in very good order, with all its period glory intact. On a practical note, there is parking for at least six cars on the gravelled front drive.

Through the smart black front door is a beautiful hallway with Portland stone floor, fine decorative ceiling work and folding doors to an inner hall.

An airy drawingroom extending into the bay includes lovely ceiling plasterwork and a carved marble fireplace. Also bay-windowed, the diningroom has a slate pillared fireplace.

There is also a family room with bookshelves and cast iron fireplace with carved marble mantlepiece.

The house is spacious enough to accommodate a big country-style kitchen/breakfastroom with oak flooring, pine units with granite worktops, a wide Brittania cooker with ceramic hob and a full range of appliances. Folding doors open to a sun deck. A guest toilet is also on this floor.

All four garden-level bedrooms are doubles, with fitted wardrobes in three. Ceiling coving adds character.

Three bedrooms include wash-hand basins, while the second largest room has an en suite shower room with vanity unit.

A luxurious main bathroom is fitted with a Jacuzzi bath and vanity wash-hand basin. A laundry room down here opens to the back garden.

The 84sq m (900sq ft) two-storey annex has a sittingroom, kitchen, bathroom and two good bedrooms, both with fireplaces. This could be incorporated into the main house without too much trouble or used as a staff or guest house.

It comes as a surprise to find such a huge back garden in the middle of Blackrock, one a family will appreciate. This is stone-walled, with a terrace, expanse of lawn, mature trees and ball-clipped shrubs.