A place out of time on Sandymount Green for €2.5m

One of the most unusual features of Nutgrove House, a 254sq m detached property dating from 1860 is its cut-stone exterior. Most period houses in the area and indeed in neighbouring Ballsbridge have red-brick facades. Until 1810, Sandymount was known as Brickfield Town due to the extensive brickwork factory established locally by the Fitzwilliam family.

The property stands on a substantial site of 0.25 of an acre. Laid out with two ponds, various decks and a rather interesting bamboo playhouse, they would benefit from some care. An interesting feature is an old archway with large cut granite blocks which appear to pre-date the house.

The property is located a stone’s throw from Sandymount Green beside the veterinary hospital. It was purchased in 2000 and a double height extension was added to the rear, comprising a kitchen on the ground floor and main en suite bedroom upstairs. In truth, this detracts from the house as the windows are not in keeping with the period of the property, and the kitchen and bedroom though large, are now dated. Sliding double doors off the principal bedroom, despite allowing lots of light into the room, lead nowhere.

The three other bedrooms are delightful, two have open fireplaces and one is en suite.

On the ground floor a remarkable triple aspect drawingroom runs the entire length of the property.

Of interest here is the abundance of natural light, and the two mahogany bifolding doors which allow the room to open up into the hallway.

It would make a great space for entertaining on a large scale.

When the house was renovated, the wall of the diningroom (which lies opposite the drawingroom) was removed to allow a huge open hallway. New owners may prefer to reinstate this room to its original use and remove the four replica columns which now stand where the dividing wall once was – and still retain a sizeable hallway.

What most buyers will find interesting – and helps to explain the asking price of €2.45 million through Herman White Estates – is the adjoining mews. In need of total renovation, there is huge scope to extend here to the rear and under the eye of a good architect increase the space from its current size of 74sq m – subject to planning. The mews also has pedestrian access to Gilford Road.

Unusually the property is not listed, so the possibilities to transform the mews and indeed extend the main house are myriad.