A terrace of houses on Upper Leeson Street in Dublin 4 has been transformed into apartments and townhouses by new property developer Neil Monahan. Kate McMorrow reports
Neil Monahan, the latest member of the Doyle hotelier family to enter the property development game, last night threw open the doors of Elysium, the sumptuous Regency terrace on the corner of Upper Leeson Street and Burlington Road that has been under wraps for almost three years.
Eight apartments and townhouses have been carved out of the elegant stucco houses, with prices starting at €1.1 million rising to €4 million for large four-bed townhouses.
Four apartments at 1,100 sq. ft. are asking €1.1 million; two townhouses with 2,500 sq. ft. are asking €3 million; the remaining two townhouses are larger at 3,500 sq. ft. and are asking €4 million.
Christies Estates is handling sales from its Donnybrook office.
Son of Eileen Monahan, who with her sisters Bernie Gallagher and Anne Roche have taken control of Jurys Doyle, the 29-year-old Trinity graduate hosted a champagne reception to launch the scheme which is expected to be snapped up by wealthy buyers who don't want the bother of calling in the builders. Elysium comes with all the right period detail, from elegant fanlights to sash windows with shutters, but buyers will also get the latest in kitchen and bathroom design and a fashionable cream colour scheme throughout, designed by Helen Turkington Interiors.
The terrace on the corner of Burlington Road was acquired about 30 years ago by the late hotelier P V Doyle when planning the Burlington Hotel next door. The four houses were subdivided into several flats, rented out and slowly deteriorated over the years.
Neil studied law and German at Trinity College before deciding to follow his father Ray Monahan into property development. Frank Gormley, chairman of Howard Holdings, is joint developer for the Elysium scheme and contributed a wealth of experience from his company's UK and Cape Town developments.
Elysium has been almost four years in the making, from initial planning stage to finished product. Walls were torn down, fine plasterwork restored and replaced floors relaid, sash windows restored and the bones of a contemporary lifestyle were implanted into the beautifully restored period houses. Long front gardens bounded by original railings have been landscaped to provide a good deal of privacy. New planting will provide a good deal of privacy when grown.
Attention to detail is what is most impressive about Elysium. Old foot scrapers and manhole covers set into the granite steps are buffed into newness, decorative plasterwork is in pristine order and fireplaces are are good faithful reproductions of originals.
Like most houses of their vintage, interiors are light and airy, with several returns and classic proportions. Garden level apartments are entered from the rear courtyard, with a sizeable flagged terrace on the westerly side.
The 232sq m (2,500sq ft) three-bedroom showhouse opens into a wide hall laid with stone and slate tiles. Heating is underfloor. Front and rear reception rooms are connected through tall folding doors.
Speakers for a surround sound system are set into the ceilings and provision has been made for plasma screens above matching marble fireplaces. Remote control gas fires are fitted and radiator covers installed. On the first return are a kitchen and breakfastroom floored in wide-plank walnut.
Cupboards are in ivory, with Spanish sillstone worktops and integrated appliances, including a five-burner hob. A temperature-controlled wine fridge is tucked under an island unit.
Leading off the kitchen is a curved walnut staircase - made in Co Mayo and transported step-by-step - which climbs to a roof-top conservatory and private sun terrace.
This staircase also descends to a ground floor bedroom suite with full bathroom and walk-in wardrobe, which would be ideal as staff quarters or a private space for adult children.
Two double bedrooms on the top floor have had the Turkington treatment, with rich silk curtains, soft cream wall colours and shimmery bed covers.
An en suite shower and toilet are tucked behind the half-wall which forms the bedhead. Provision for a plasma screen is placed above the cast-iron fireplace and wardrobes are installed either side.
Bedroom two has a regular en suite arrangement, with a separate shower and toilet and wardrobes. Like elsewhere in the house, bathroom ware is top quality, with soft neutral tiling and double-sized showers. Off the rear hall is a plant room which acts as the control centre for the entertainment system and doubles as a hot press.
Four-bedroom houses of 347sq m (3,500sq ft) with an additional floor are designed with a huge airy drawingroom and connecting diningroom on the first floor, two bedrooms at hall level and a glamorous main bedroom and enormous bathroom at the top of the house. The kitchen/breakfastroom is on the first floor return, with a back staircase accessing the fourth en suite bedroom.
Garden apartments of 102sq m (1,100sq ft) are finished to the same high spec, with open-plan livingrooms/kitchens and two double bedrooms, one en suite with a walk-in wardrobe and a family bathroom. Front terraces are a good size and the entrance is via a landscaped rear courtyard.
Residents can acquire permits for parking on Burlington Road or use the hotel car-park for an annual fee.
A covered laneway runs from Burlington Road to the rear courtyards and entrances to both apartments and houses.
