Going for broke on Wellington Road

This Dublin 4 home is for sale at a bullish €3.25m. Will its pristine condition and exclusive address be enough to attract buyer interest?

51 Wellington Road, Dublin 4

Five-bed, three-storey over garden level redbrick

Agent: Colliers

IF YOU walk along leafy Wellington Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, it appears that quite a few of the imposing redbricks are in single-residential use.

Number 51 is one of them; it last changed hands seven years ago. While the owners inherited many of the fixtures and fittings, the good news is that they have maintained it so well, there appears to be little or nothing to do in terms of improvement.

Built in 1840, the three-storey over garden level house is exquisite on several fronts – not least its proportions, magnificent plasterwork and the well-judged decor, which for the most part is subdued and elegant.

Colliers is seeking a bullish €3.25 million for the five-bed, 360sq m (3,875sq ft) house. The price has been guided by recent sales nearby, not least that of financier Derek Quinlan’s Elgin Road property around the corner, which sold for €2.6 million.

While most of the rooms have a lovely, muted, sage green colour scheme, a few have a hint of bling, such as the main reception rooms at hall level, with gold inlay on the main double doors between the two rooms and over the architrave. There are beautiful panels of plasterwork over several doors that are cleverly highlighted in a darker green. The elaborate stucco work on the cornicing has been done to the highest standard.

These rooms are very traditional and remain very much as they were originally. It was fashionable in the 19th century to put a light marble fireplace at the front of the house and a darker marble version to the rear, representing day and night.

At the end of the hall there are steps down to a room that’s used as a study, which has doors out to the back garden. The garden, which gets the sun in the afternoon, is a fairly low-

maintenance space, mostly paved and fringed by lush planting in raised beds.

The garden is divided into three distinct areas; at the end of the garden there’s a lounging area and the daintiest-looking shed with green lattice work and a slate roof.

There’s another area for taking afternoon tea and steps down to a more intimate patio with table and chairs. The tall bamboo and other foliage give the garden a secluded feel.

In the basement are arguably two of the nicest rooms in the house. The spacious kitchen, a homely space with a green, handmade kitchen with corian worktops, is a modern take on an old country-style kitchen. In keeping with the look, it comes with plate racks and a big timber fireplace.

There are steps down from the kitchen to a utility room and a door out to the garden.

The room adjoining the kitchen has a matching fireplace and bookshelves and, although it’s fairly spacious, there’s a feeling of cosiness and being cossetted as you look up at the garden.

There’s also a double bedroom at this level and a bathroom.

Upstairs on the first floor, the main bedroom is decorated in mellow and dark greens.

The owner has added some drama with a modern take on the four-poster bed.

The high ceilings allow for such a statement piece in this space.

Off the main bedroom is a walk-through dressing room with a large, luxurious, panelled en suite bathroom at the other side.

Also at this level there’s a bathroom which shows a more playful side to the owner. In contrast to the soothing hues in the rest of the house, it has a black sink and dramatic wallpaper depicting colourful urns on a black background.

On the top floor there are three bedrooms, all doubles, and a bathroom with a double shower.

The immaculate front garden is gravelled, has space for a car and shares neatly pruned, elaborate hedging with its neighbour.