Edwardian is a collector's item

One of the most distinctive homes to come on the market in Bray, Co Wicklow for some time will be auctioned on April 11th by Jackson-Stops.

Culloden, in Wyndham Park, is a large, detached Edwardian house on one third of an acre which retains most of its period features and has the advantage of a modern, bright kitchen extension and conservatory. It is expected to make over £690,000 (€876,119).

A picture of the five-bedroom house, built in 1904 by an architect for his own family, forms part of the National Library's Lawrence Collection of photographs of significant Irish buildings, which were taken between 1810 and 1914.

Standing on the corner of the Edwardian residential roads of Wyndham Park and Galtrim Road, the house is just a few minutes' walk from Bray's main street and is close to the DART and seafront. Its 3,000 sq ft of interior accommodation is well-proportioned and colourfully decorated.

Original features such as pine flooring, pine-panelled interior doors, ornate cornice work, dado rails and handsome fireplaces work well with a bold colour scheme of primary colours in shades of blue, pink and yellow, which are used throughout.

A path fringed with rockery plants leads to a handsome hall door with stained glass panels.

The wide hall has a floor in reclaimed pitch pine, a bright colour scheme, very fine ceiling cornices, and plenty of room for a marble hall table. The drawing room has high ceilings, pine floor, marble fireplace with painted tile surround and two windows - one of them a striking octagonal bay window with leaded panes.

Sliding doors lead to an equally fine diningroom painted in sky blue. Across the hall is a study decorated in soft turquoise shades. A glazed door leads from the study to the conservatory.

A large square kitchen combines original red floor tiles with modern wall and floor cupboards in solid oak, topped with black granite.

A square arch leads through to a large breakfastroom with pine floor which is part of a recent extension. Light pours in from a bay window, from the roof skylight and from glazed doors leading to the rear garden.

The breakfastroom is connected to a double glazed conservatory with quarry tiled floor and feature bay window. There is also a utility room and a ground floor shower room.

A fine carved pine staircase leads up to the first floor. The main bedroom has a large bay window, with the area under the window furnished with a couch. A recessed alcove has a step-in electric shower and wash hand basin. There are three further bedrooms, all sharing a family bathroom.

An original spiral staircase leads to the top floor where there is a charming bedroom under the eaves and a separate shower room. A ship's ladder stairway leads up again to a roof deck with a short passage known as the Widow's Walk giving town and sea views.

Outdoors, a separate garage has good loft storage. The front lawn is bound by mature hedging and an electronic pedestrian gate.

Off-street parking for several cars is secured on a separate driveway behind a side electronic gate. The walled back garden faces southwest and has a large patio area, complete with lawn, shrubs and fruit trees.