Donnybrook five-bed with oodles of potential for €1.4million

Almost four years ago in July 2012, 86 Eglinton Road, a semi-detached house, came to market asking €995,000 and sold for €1.017 million according to the Property Price Register.

The house needed gutting, but had terrific potential, even though its garden ran parallel to busy Clonskeagh Road. Thanks to a very sympathetic architect, an entire new bay was discreetly added to the side of the house almost doubling the size of the property.

Now its next door neighbour is coming to market, and while it isn’t as wide as its neighbour’s plot, there is scope to extend to its side in a similar fashion.

ExpandAutoplay

Image 1 of 3

The house was built in 1928 and has been in the same family since 1949. It has fine proportions, 12ft ceiling heights and two good interconnecting reception rooms off a roomy hall.

These have brass-hooded open fireplaces and sliding doors leading from one to the other, although the fireplace in what originally was the formal diningroom is set off-centre, which throws the room off balance. The fact that the height of the rear window and the door that opens out to the back garden are different may also irk fans of symmetry – but this is fixable.

Interesting space

The really interesting space is the kitchen, currently divided by a hatch that could be in situ since this family first moved in. To its side is a large wet room and a utility room housed in a pebble-dashed shed that is the size of a standard sittingroom.

This sizeable space leads through to the existing garage with a door opening directly out to the side garden, a space that gets the morning sun. In the hands of the right architect this space would make a really attractive open-plan kitchen, living, diningroom, adding the modernity that most families now crave without compromising the layout of the original reception rooms. While not huge, the back garden is private and south-facing.

Traffic sounds

Upstairs, four of the property’s five bedrooms are set to the right. The traffic sounds in the master, which is to the front, are audible but not unbearable. It is worth bearing in mind that this is a busy thoroughfare.

There are two more good size doubles and a large single that could be used as a home office or a fine en-suite for the master bedroom. To the left of the landing is a small double, a toilet and shower room. The attic is also sizeable.

The property, which measures 209sq m /2250sq ft, is asking €1.4 million through agents DNG.

Househunters might be advised to bring an architect with them to the first viewing to see what he or she would suggest.