Country living in the suburbs for €845,000

Nestled at the base of Ticknock Hill with panoramic city views, lies Blackglen Road where houses have names rather than numbers.

This location offers all the benefits of country living yet is just minutes from the heart of Sandyford.

Carmel Browne, a luxury lingerie designer and supplier to Susan Hunter Lingerie, and her late husband purchased Springfield in 2007.

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The couple added an architecturally designed extension to the front, to create a modern kitchen and dining area, bringing the floor area to 172sq m (1,851sq ft). The curved front maximises views to the landscaped gardens and beyond to the city skyline through picture windows.

Formal living room

What was an old conservatory to the rear of the property is now a fine entrance hall and leads to a formal livingroom. Filled with antiques and a marble fireplace, the room combines period pieces with a bright modern setting.

To the front, the Schmidt kitchen features moulded Corian countertops and all storage spaces are drawers rather than cupboards, where kitchen accoutrements tidy away neatly. All appliances are Miele, Neff and Bosch, and are integrated in keeping with the streamlined theme.

The dining side of the room opens out to a wraparound porcelain terrace which follows the shape of the extension and overlooks a sunken gravel garden filled with symmetrical bay trees, clipped box and a specimen Garrya elliptica, the catkins of which resemble a chandelier.

Bedrooms

Off the kitchen is a utility, with a double Villeroy & Boch Belfast sink and access to the gardens.On the ground floor is the en-suite master bedroom which also features a fine dressing room with wonderful garden views.

Upstairs are two further bedrooms both of which have those great views.

“The best times for night scenes are Halloween and new year’s eve, as the entire skyline is filled with fireworks,” says Browne.

In the sunken garden lies a Shomera, which Browne uses as a design studio. In perfect condition with solid oak flooring, it would also work as a guest bedroom or home office.

The gardens need a special mention and the heavily-stocked tool shed and greenhouse are indications of the labour of love that has created the splendid landscapes – filled with mature shrubs and trees interspersed between winding paths.

Two magpies are busy these days building a new nest in an oak tree in the garden, and Browne is leaving to find a smaller nest in town.

Springfield is for sale through estate agent Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €845,000.