Battle for a good mix of old and new won at Waterloo

A bright family home in Ballsbridge retains its period features but has been enhanced with a modern extension

A bright family home in Ballsbridge retains its period features but has been enhanced with a modern extension

MOST OF THE long, rear gardens at Waterloo Road, one of Dublin’s more elegant 19th century streets, had end portions sold off during the years of boom and development.

Not so at 55 Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, where the charms of a 46m (150ft) long rear garden have been added to with a striking architectural extension and refurbishment.

The entire house has been made bright, light and stylish but it is work to the rear which adds stand-out quality. Here architect Garrett O’Neill of Cathal O’Neill Architects has created a kitchen/family/breakfastroom at garden level and, dramatically on the ground and first-floor returns, a study and family bathroom.

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With 243.9sq m (2,626sq ft) of space on two floors over garden level, the house has three to five bedrooms, kitchen/ family/ breakfastroom and two reception rooms.

For sale by private treaty through Lisney, the €1.75 million price is a reflection of the fall in house prices in the area.

It was built in 1860, and was in in need of serious work when the vendors bought in 2001 but happily it had most of its period features, including six fireplaces, intact. Retention of the latter, as well as original doors, floors, high ceilings, working shutters, Ventrola sash windows and a fidelity to the original layout, have helped keep the original mood.

A study on the ground floor return, with its walls of glass, access to the terraced roof of the family/breakfastroom and multi-design Belgian floor tiles, could double as a sunroom.

The family bathroom, overhead on the second return, also has a sunroom quality, except that here the glass walls are opaque.

The ground floor interconnecting reception rooms have the high elegance you’d expect, as well as the addition of a French-style window leading to the roof terrace and garden views.

There’s a mellow tone and feel at garden level, notably in a front facing, en suite home office which has a New England ash floor and cherrywood cabinets with glazed glass.

The west-facing maple fitted kitchen/familyroom can be coaxed into alfresco mode with the lowering of a candy-striped awning over a patio and outdoor kitchen.

Alfresco necessities here include a barrel chiller, pizza oven, fridge, ice-maker, storage, multi-fuel grill and marble worktops matching those in the inside kitchen.

Main and other bedrooms off the first floor landing are bright, and high-ceilinged. Heating is geo-thermal, sourced 130ft below the rear garden.

55 Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

A three to five-bedroom house with original garden length and modern extension

Agent:Lisney