Grand design in Donnybrook for €3.85m

An extended Edwardian house on Eglinton Road has lots of Celtic-tiger era flourishes, writes BERNICE HARRISON

IN 2004, WHEN 61 Eglinton Road was last on the market, the house was an elegant and comfortable period home. The buyers, who had experience in renovating such properties, saw further potential in the semi-detached redbrick in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, and embarked on an ambitious plan to not just renovate from top to bottom but also greatly extend the pleasantly proportioned house.

It now has five bedrooms, all en suite, three reception rooms and 363sq m (3,907sq ft) of space; it is on the market for €3.85 million through Colliers Jackson-Stops.

The spacious mostly double-height extension which runs the width of the back of the house is now one of its most appealing features, certainly for families.

Fitted with a Clive Christian integrated and painted timber kitchen with polished stone worktop and island on one side, and a large living area on the other, it is a bright, attractive and practical space with heating under the limestone floor and light coming in from all sides.

There’s also a good-sized and well-equipped utility room and guest cloakroom.

In addition to this living area there are three other reception rooms. The smallest is off the kitchen and would make a great playroom if needed while another is at the front of the house to the right off the hall which is now used as a study.

The real grandeur is in the formal reception room which was originally two rooms linked by folding doors but which have now been knocked through to create one impressive room.

The fine period fireplaces are still there and new period-style decorative flourishes have been added including two Doric columns as visual room dividers and highly decorative plasterwork to replace the more restrained Edwardian cornicework that had been there.

Glazed double doors at the back lead down to the new extension.

Upstairs are five double bedrooms all with en suites. The main bedroom, which features a full-sized en suite bathroom with walk-in shower and freestanding bath as well as matching his-and-hers sinks, also has a fitted walk-through dressingroom area.

This luxurious arrangement was created by knocking two bedrooms together and so the main bedroom now runs from the front of the house to the back.

While there is a period feel in the reception rooms, hallway and landing, the bathrooms throughout are determinedly modern with marble tiling and mostly Philippe Starck fittings. New owners will be hard pressed to think of anything they’d wish to change or add as the decoration is stylish and smart and all bedrooms have fitted wardrobes. Every detail has been thought of from the custom-made radiator covers to good storage everywhere.

There is vehicle access to the rear though it’s not likely to be needed as there is off street parking at the front for three or four cars.