Drumcondra three-bed with smart interior and scope to expand outside

Eighty-three Clonliffe Road was purchased by its current owners Douglas and Karen Gray in 2006 when it was laid out as bedsits. Gray, a builder, oversaw the conversion back to a family home which took over a year to complete. “The fireplace had been painted over so many times you couldn’t see any of the features, so after lots of time, paint stripper and patience, we finally got it back to its original state,” he says.

The couple opened up the attic to give a further 23sq m (247sq ft) of space for an en suite bedroom. The room has lots of storage and an overhead Velux provides plenty of light. There are two further bedrooms on the return, both of which are bright thanks to their southerly aspect.

At hall level lies the family living room, which has the original fireplace – now stripped back to its original condition. The flooring is American walnut and local firm Belton and Davies created bespoke shelving – they also made the French windows in the second livingroom off the kitchen, and the new staircase up to the attic.

At garden level there’s an open-plan kitchen in French country style which links to the dining space and livingroom. The couple converted what was an underfloor storage room into a playroom for their children. Though it will only work for small children, as the ceilings are just over four feet high, it will easily revert to a huge storage space when it has been outgrown by the youngsters. Beyond the kitchen lies a utility area and a spacious family bathroom.

Sizable workshop

The back garden needs some planting, but what it does have is a sizable workshop which measures 30sq m (248sq ft) with access to a gated rear lane. It is a very flexible space and could easily work as an office or be transformed into a teenager’s den. Alternatively, it could be removed to more than triple the size of the rear garden, which is south facing.

There are some lovely touches throughout, such as wainscoting in the hallways and bedrooms, and the potential of the versatile workshop is sure to interest a range of buyers. Sherry FitzGerald is seeking €565,000 for the 123sq m property (plus 23sq m attic) in turnkey condition.