Mixing the new and the old

RathminesA Victorian home in the middle of a quiet terrace in Rathmines is being auctioned by Billy O'Sullivan and Associates on October 1st with a guide of €600,000.

Gulistan Terrace is part of a neighbourhood that lies between Mountpleasant Avenue, Belgrave Square and the Swan Centre, putting it right at the heart of Rathmines. Although this is a cul- de-sac, the local recycling centre is at the end of the road so there will be a bit of traffic.

Some careful recycling has taken place within the beautifully renovated house which has benefited from architectural salvage outlets and a conservation-aware neighbour. The previous owner replaced the original sash windows with Upvc varieties but a neighbour kept the discarded front window and handed it to the current owners who put it back into the house.

The top floor, reached by exterior stone steps, comprises two rooms knocked into one large living, dining and kitchen space. The kitchen/dining part, at the rear of the house, has an Aga set into a brick recess, which has the backing of a large Smeg cooker, situated nearby.

These two rooms have many original features, including the wooden floor, although the central cornice in the front living area is a replacement. The kitchen/dining space has more contemporary, recessed lighting.

This mix of contemporary and classic permeates the house. The period features are set against a quiet backdrop: the wooden floors, brushed stainless steel door handles, plus walls in mint green, pale mushroom and light blue give a sense of calm, rather than stuffiness.

This is enhanced by good natural light levels: the south-facing dining window has been enlarged, while the hallway is lit by a tall window with stained glass at the top of it. This incoming light is reflected around the front hall by a pale limestone floor.

Downstairs are two bedrooms and a small bathroom with a utility behind it, beneath the fronts steps.

The bathroom again has been served by trips to architectural salvage shops. There's an enamelled bath on clawed feet, a large ceramic bevel-edged basin with brass taps and an iron Hammond cistern above the toilet. The lights have been set into the ceiling here too.

The front and rear bedrooms have stripped wooden floors and serene walls in whites and blues. The rear bedroom has an en suite with a generous, oblong shower tray.

A tiny room at the end of the hall is currently a child's bedroom but was previously a bathroom and then a utility. It could possibly work as a small office.

The large, south-facing garden begins with a decked area beside the house and then rises to a lawn.