A lot done, slightly more to do in Rathfarnham

St Mary’s Avenue has a lot of charm. Tucked into an almost hidden niche to the side of Rathfarnham’s landmark Yellow House pub, its facing terraces of 1925, pebble-dash/redbrick-fronted houses have a self-contained air and some pretty gardens.

Number 15 St Mary's Avenue is mid-terrace, and the second house in the avenue brought to the market by Property Partners O'Brien Swaine this year; number 16 sold for €460,00 six months ago. The owners of number 15 bought it two years ago for €305,000; now the agent is seeking €425,000.

The owners were more than halfway through a thoughtful refurbishment when an opportunity decided them to move. Some 60 per cent of the original features have been refurbished, an impressive new shower suite installed and roof and other maintenance work carried out. The other 40 per cent or so of living space is in good living order, though a new owner might like to complete the refurbishment.

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The small, enclosed rear garden

A compact 80sq m (861sq ft), the property has two bedrooms, a sittingroom, family/diningroom, kitchen and shower suite with a window on to the small, enclosed rear garden. A rear laundryroom has been plumbed and a rear storage shed has a hardwood workbench and shelving.

Quarry times

The vendors’ refurbishment included replacing the roof on the kitchen extension and retaining an original Bangor slate roof on the shower suite. They have also stripped floors and stairs back to the original timber, revealed quarry tiles, cast-iron (functioning) fireplaces, dado and picture rails and more. Stira lead to a partially floored attic. A small, railed front garden needing some TLC has hollyhocks.

The sittingroom is a quintessential, early 19th-century  “front room” with a cast-iron fireplace in the corner, picture rail and polished wood floor. Basswood window shutters are a nice touch both here and in the main bedroom. A timber floor in the hallway, given light via the original leaded glass in the front door, leads to a polished timber stairs. The family/diningroom has a quarry-tiled floor that continues into the stylish shower suite where an anteroom has a skylight, baby Belfast sink and storage.

The main bedroom is to the front and has two windows, a high ceiling and a tall, narrow, white-painted cast-iron fireplace. A second, rear bedroom has a similar fireplace. A new owner will likely want to work on the kitchen, while a pantry/storage area offers good storage space.