House on the strand will blow you away

A trophy home on Sandymount Strand has wall-to-wall comfort and views from Howth to Killiney Hill. Property Editor Orna Mulcahyreports

Even on a chill January day the view from 12 Strand Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4, will blow viewers away. Wall-to-wall windows in the big kitchen extension to the back of this Victorian house look out over the sea to Howth, across to the Pigeon House and south to Killiney Hill. Mind you, any hint of a sea breeze is contained by the most efficient double glazing.

The five-bedroom house, which backs directly onto Sandymount Strand with its own steps to the beach, has been renovated from top to bottom in recent years and is now to be auctioned by Lisney on March 1st. Lisney's AMV is €4.25 million.

Number 12 is located just beyond Merrion Gates, going towards town. A handful of houses here have direct access to the beach. The downside is that the back gardens are on the short side - number 12 just has a manicured strip, and then a long timber deck that runs the full length of the property. There is a large patio at the side of the house and off-street parking for three or four large cars in front of the house.

Inside, this two-storey house has 325sq m (3,500sq ft) of living space, all of it finished to an exceptionally high standard. When the owners bought it, the house was a rambling collection of rooms needing a lot of TLC.

Now it's a home that is going to appeal both to affluent couples on the lookout for a trophy home, not to mention wealthy empty nesters in the neighbourhood seeking a new home which has all the elegance of a period house without the creaks and draughts.

An attractive hallway leads on one side into a comfortable, somewhat masculine, study with damask papered walls and excellent built-in book cases.

Across the hallway are two interconnecting reception rooms - drawingroom to the front, and diningroom overlooking the sea.

Both rooms are decorated in period style with handsome cream-painted panelling, gorgeous cornicework and impressive crystal chandeliers that can be bought by negotiation. Spanning the back of the house is the big, almost square, kitchen with its vast marble-topped island unit, black Stanley range cooker and an entire wall of cream-painted traditional-style larder units.

Beyond the kitchen is a large utility room, fitted to the same high standard, and with a handy back door for bringing in the shopping.

A playroom and two marble-tiled cloakrooms complete the downstairs layout.

Upstairs, the first landing has a self-contained feel with its two bedrooms and a great bathroom where the bath is positioned to give a full view of the sea and sky. The larger upper landing has the main bedroom on the seaward side, and an equally large and a lavishly-fitted guest bedroom with an en suite that connects back to the landing, opposite the fifth bedroom. Clearly no expense was spared during the renovation and the attention to detail is impressive.

New owners will have nothing to do but unpack their boxes.