Designer's home in Monkstown for rent

The Monkstown home of fashion designer Paul Costelloe is on the market to rent with the stylish interiors reflected in the asking rent of £4,250 a month. Not only is there a certain cachet to living in the home of a celebrity, with a high level of design flair, but you have plenty of opportunity to pick up a few ideas. The Costelloes are moving to a Victorian house in London's Putney for the next few years and the four-bedroom Richmond Hill home is to be let in the meantime through Lisney, in Dun Laoghaire.

The spacious property was originally the presbytery of Monkstown's Catholic parish church. Few houses can command such a high rent and the influence of a top designer is clearly a factor. "Anything that's done really well and is nicely furnished rents well," says Jennifer Nolan, of Lisney. "Executives at the top end of the market are looking for nice neutral colours and an element of style."

Number 4 Richmond Hill is a bright and sunny home with period features intact and the Costelloe flair most clearly evidenced by the interior woodwork stripped back to its original finish.

The designer's style is also seen in the choice of creams and natural colours, says his wife Anne. "The look throughout is all very clean and uncluttered and there's nice pine and woodwork. We went through 17 coats of paint in some cases."

The hall floor has a drawing-room and dining-room each with a marble fireplace. "The house is ideal for entertaining," says Anne Costelloe, who is eyeing the corporate market and willing to leave existing furniture in situ. The kitchen is in the basement and here walls have been stripped back to a natural brick, with the original stone tiles exposed and polished and an Aga installed.

There is also a family room at this level. Upstairs are four bedrooms, and the flat roof has a terrace which could be used as a roof garden. The house has sea views.

Paul Costelloe is not only a fashion designer but is established in crystal and cutlery as well and is about to move into home furnishings, which is why the level of interest in his own home front is likely to be high. Large period homes of this type are a popular option and are renting well at present. Those with facilities for entertainment have particular appeal. For instance, 4 Coliemore Villas, in Dalkey, Co Dublin, has large glass doors opening out to a series of terraces leading down the sea. This house was recently auctioned and had been expected to make in excess of £1 million, but it failed to sell under the hammer and is now available for rent through Lisney at £3,000 a month. The house, which is part of a terrace that is accessed through an archway off Coliemore Road, has graceful period features and a dramatic vista across Dalkey Sound to the Bailey and Kish lighthouse. The galley kitchen looks out to sea as does the main bedroom. The magnificent setting overlooking the sea also accounts for the high rent of £5,000 a month which Lisneys are seeking for a large four-bedroom property at Newtownsmith, in Sandycove. The property has been renovated and has very good interiors. In Killiney, Home Locators has a newly built four/five bedroom house coming up for rent on Killiney Hill Road. It's cleverly designed along open-plan lines with entertaining totally in mind. Many corporate clients prefer a lot of living space to vast numbers of bedrooms. It has 3,000 sq ft and is £4,000 a month.

The same agent has a large rambling six/seven-bedroom property near Brittas in Co Wicklow. The modern house has two/three reception rooms and is set on nine acres. It is for rent at £3,000 a month. It has ducks, geese and even peacocks wandering in the grounds which would be a nice backdrop to any late summer drinks party. Mind you, the wildlife can be relocated if required.

Also coming up is a newly-renovated house at Nutley Lane for £4,500/ £5,000. It has four-bedrooms and fine reception rooms finished off to a very high standard. It is near the entrance to Elm Park Golf Club. A top-of-the-range penthouse apartment with three bedrooms is available in Simmonscourt Castle, in Ballsbridge, at £3,000 a month, through Christies, which also has what is described as a bijoux "jewel in the crown" period property in Upper Leeson Street renting for £2,000, also with three bedrooms.

A five-bedroom house at Tritonville Road, in Sandymount, is available for rent through Hooke and MacDonald at £3,000. It has fine reception rooms and again, is especially geared to entertaining. For the same rent you can have a four-bedroom house on Anglesea Road, in Ballsbridge for £3,00. It is a terraced period redbrick and on the books with Lisney. They also have a two storey over basement period house on Marlborough Road to rent for £5,000 a month. It has five bedrooms, five of which are en suite.

Many of the agents are seeking to rent 23 Ailesbury Road, an imposing house with interconnecting reception rooms and over six bedrooms, for £8,000 a month which is. And Sherry FitzGerald is quoting £2,500 for a partly furnished period redbrick at Merrion Road, in Ballsbridge.

Woodtown House, near Athboy Co Meath, is for rent for £2,500, through Gunne. This imposing nine-bedroom Georgian residence has been completely restored. It is set on five acres of lawns and gardens.