Double-fronted Victorian on prime road in Clontarf for €1.45 million

Number 49 Howth Road, a fine semi-detached, double-fronted Victorian house, lies a few minutes stroll from the main junction in Clontarf, directly opposite the Applegreen garage and just a few doors down from Copeland Place, the contemporary duplexes developed by Treverbyn Properties.

Set well back from the busy road, with lots of room for off-street parking, the property is actually two units; a main four-bedroom house extending to 245sq m (2,637sq ft) and a maisonette occupying 63sq m (678sq ft). The two-storey maisonette, which lies to the rear, has two bedrooms, a kitchen and living dining area and could work well as a guest suite, au pair lodging or as a rental unit. The fact that the house is semi-detached allows for a pedestrian entrance to the side of the main house, so gives independent access for anyone occupying the maisonette.

The main house has three reception rooms – thanks to it being double-fronted – and to the rear lies a very large room housing a dining space and country-style kitchen. The dining area is brightened by a rooflight and there is, most unusually, an indoor Juliet balcony, which opens from an upstairs bedroom to overlook the dining area, should you need to serenade your guests after dinner.

A spacious island takes centre stage in the kitchen, which is designed for catering to sizeable gatherings with a large range and double Belfast sink with an additional sink in the island. From here, double doors open to the outdoor dining area, which is a raised deck in a well-stocked rear garden, which is laid out in pockets, one of which has a built-in barbecue. The garden catches the evening sun – thanks to its south-facing aspect – and its design also allows the maisonette to have a small private deck space.

The house has a BER rating of C1, which is high considering its era, and the solar hot water panels and wood pellet stove central heating contribute to this; however, the BER for the newer maisonette is a D1.

There are four bedrooms in the main house, and the principal has been cut to allow for a dressing area and a large en suite with twin sinks and a full bath.

While new owners may want to change some of the colour schemes, the property is in turnkey condition and has now been launched on the market through Sherry FitzGerald, seeking €1.45 million.