Listed Victorian hides striking two-bed

A large two-bedroom apartment in a converted Victorian house at 14 Heytesbury Street, Dublin 8, comes on the market today with an asking price of £285,000-plus. Fitzpatrick Estate Agents are handling the sale of the top-floor conversion, which is in immaculate decorative order.

For sale by private treaty, the 930 sq ft apartment is owned by PR consultant Caroline Kennedy, who has lived there since the early 1990s. She is moving to a larger apartment in the Warehouse development off, Clanbrassil Street, hence the sale.

Once one of the finest houses on the street, the two-storey over basement building is still called Heytesbury House and is a listed property. It was totally revamped in the early 1990s by its previous owner who divided it into three apartments with private parking to the rear.

The entrance hall with its elaborate ceiling plasterwork has been restored, as has the original staircase, which leads to the top floor.

Inside the apartment, the living area is at the back of the house, while the main bedroom is at the front. This is a spacious room with an open-plan en suite shower room, an attractive feature being the two steps leading up into it. In addition to this there is also a main bathroom, again with a two-step feature.

The most striking aspect of the apartment is the main living area, a bright airy room, with an unusually large double-glazed window, comprising four large panels which meet in a point in the middle to form a V-shaped bay. Another feature is the Victorian white marble fireplace and ornate grate.

While the bedrooms and hallway are all carpeted, the living area is highly polished beech Junckers flooring - as is the kitchen and main bathroom. All the windows are original hardwood sliding sash with working shutters.

The apartment was newly decorated a little over a year ago with the help of Caroline's sister, fashion designer Louise Kennedy.

Opting for fresh creams and neutral carpet - with the exception of the bedroom which is a deep powder blue - the overall feel is elegant and tasteful, enhanced by the addition of recessed spot lighting throughout.

It is also unusual in that most apartments enjoy either a front or back aspect, while this one enjoys a double aspect, giving sun to the bedrooms in the morning, and in the living area and kitchen in the evening.

The wooden blinds and cream carpets in the bedrooms and hallway are to be included in the price.

Potential buyers will be given the opportunity to purchase the existing furniture, as Caroline's new home is a fully furnished penthouse in the Warehouse development, which is just a stone's throw from her office in Christchurch.