Bright light and city life in a renovated artisan home

Greenville Terrace is one of the myriad of red-brick, Victorian roads off Dublin's South Circular Road. Made up of compact, artisan houses, the fact that they look much as they did in the mid-19th century belies the imaginative redesigns and refurbishments which have, and are, taking place behind many of their hall doors.

Number 50 Greenville Terrace is a case in point. Its 1,000 sq ft of space has been opened up and redesigned by architect Roisin McCann to give a light-filled, imaginative living space to the rear while retaining the original main room to the front. It is to be auctioned by Sherry FitzGerald on 4th July and the agent is quoting a guide price of £290,000 (368,224).

The original house had high ceilings and so does the remodelled version.

This, and the light from Velux and other lofty windows, are what make an immediate impact. White painted walls and limed maple flooring throughout further increase the bright, airy feel.

The long hallway has an arch halfway along and ends in the open plan kitchen/dining/living room. Light here comes from four sand-blasted skylights in the vaulted ceilings, a pair of large triangular windows which reach ceiling level on the rear wall, two smaller windows in the kitchen work area, which give patio views, and a glass patio door.

A fireplace set into the chimney breast has a brushed steel surround and there are single white shelves to either side. Worktops in the kitchen are made of beech, overhead lighting runs on a track and the fitted units, at floor and wall level, are either white or glass fronted.

Three steps up is a bedroom. Opened to the apex, it has two Velux windows, recessed lighting and a sliding door which closes it off from the living area.

Good use is made of space in a utility cupboard off the hallway. Neatly holding a washer-dryer, water tank, central heating and shelving, it also acts as a drying cupboard.

The main bedroom is to the front and has an original, cast-iron fireplace (this, like the fireplace in the living area, is gas fired), cornice work, picture rail and sash window.

The white-tiled bathroom is accessed both from this bedroom and from the hallway. It has a high, tunnel-style Velux window, a deep bath and a wash hand basin with marble top surround.

The rear patio has high, white walls beginning to cover with Clematis and climbing roses. The ground cover is white Portland stone, with flower beds all around, and there is rear access. Central heating is gas fired.