A 1950s semi in Monkstown has been given a thoroughly modern makeover. Property Editor Orna Mulcahy reports.

With building costs for domestic extension and renovation work now running at around ¤300 per sq ft, there’s a real demand at the upper end of the housing market for fully refurbished homes. Well-heeled buyers who don’t

want the hassle of builders are prepared to pay premium prices for houses that are ready to walk into – that is, if they can find them.

While there are plenty of builders out there buying up tired old houses and giving them a quick makeover to sell them on, houses that have had thorough, well thought out refurbishment are quite rare. Such a house is Wychwood on Carrickbrennan Road in Monkstown, Co Dublin. Originally a modest 1950s semi, it has virtually

doubled size since its owners bought it three years ago. It is now coming back on the market as a luxurious four-bedroom home with a high spec interior and a lavishly landscaped back garden.

A buyer prepared to trade the cachet of a period home for the convenience of having no further work to do, could do well when the house is auctioned through Lisney on March 23rd. Selling agent David Bewley is guiding ¤1.4 million. Around the corner on Pakenham Road, a newly built house in Victorian style fetched ¤1.9 million at auction last year through the same agent.

Wychwood is a discreet two-storey house hidden behind a high electronically controlled gate. A sizeable house at just over 260 sq m (2,800 sq ft), it has two fine reception rooms, a superb eat-in kitchen, a playroom, converted attic, excellent utility space and a 3,000-bottle wine cellar.

In front of the house the herringbone redbrick paving – with space for three cars – is echoed inside the house where solid oak parquet flooring in a traditional herringbone design runs through the hall and reception rooms.

The hallway is extremely bright thanks to the tall glass panels on either side of the front door, inset with stained glass in a Rennie Mackintosh design, made by the artist Angelica de Barra. The Arts and Crafts motif is echoed in the solid oak staircase carvings and finials and in a fretwork panel on the upper landing where a ship’s ladder leads up to a galleystyle room that would make an unusual home office or sittingroom.

The drawingroom – originally two rooms – has a fine marble fireplace inset with a gas fire. Double doors opens through to a family room built as an extension to the house, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the decked garden.

A wide opening leads through to the dining area of the kitchen with space for a big table and chairs. Steps lead up to the working kitchen where solid cherrywood units are topped in gleaming black granite. Storage includes a double larder cupboard, designed to take just about everything, and wide, pull-out wine racks. Fitted Miele appliances and the American fridge are all being thrown in, along with carpets and curtains throughout the house, and custom-made items of furniture.

Also off the hall is a corridor that runs past a playroom to the utility room, which was created by roofing over the original passageway at the side of the house. It’s a fully fitted space, with cupboards, wine racks, a gas hob and a trapdoor leading down to a cellar.

Upstairs, two large double bedrooms and a single bedroom, all with expensive built-in furniture, share the use of a terrific family bathroom with Antica Cermica tiling and expensive fittings. The main bedroom is an entire suite with a walk-in dressingroom, en suite shower room with double wash-hand basins set in Travertine marble, and the bedroom itself overlooking the back garden.

Originally the garden sloped away from the house quite steeply but it has been built up and now has two different levels with a large deck opening from the dining area, and a separate seating area further down. Hardwood trellising extend the boundary walls and together with lush planting make this a very private and attractive outdoor space.