Restored and with a very high-spec, this Georgian house may suit an ambassador who likes to entertain, writes JACK FAGAN
A RESTORED late Georgian house at 17 Raglan Road, Dublin 4, going on the letting market today is expected to appeal to embassies looking for an ambassador’s residence of classical quality.
Lisney’s Joan Fogarty is asking €15,000 per month for the three-storey over garden level house which stands at the corner of Raglan Road and Elgin Road.
The recent history of the house is typical of many in the area. It was laid out in bedsits for over 50 years and, after being acquired by a housebuilder in the 1990s, was converted into flats without the approval of the city planners.
Forced to comply with the planning regulations, the builder sold on the house to the present owners, property investors with a particular interest in restoration.
The elaborate upgrading programme has included the installation of all mechanical and electrical conveniences under floor, including heating, vacuum systems, as well as electrical wiring for phones, data, security and television. The two main reception rooms have been enhanced by the addition of a small conservatory ideal for pre or post-dinner drinks. Two Italian fireplaces and Waterford crystal chandeliers adorn both the drawingroom and diningroom while parquet floors, laid out in a herringbone design at ground and garden level, echo an earlier age.
The accommodation includes a large library or study and five en suite bedrooms in addition to two visitor half-bathrooms. However, the pièce de résistance is the Hamptons-built conservatory and its Bulthaup-engineered kitchen and utility room.
In an unusual move, each of the top floors has been laid out as separate self-contained suites. Bathrooms feature distinctive white Calacatta Carrara marble fittings.
A restrained architectural approach to the design of the front garden reflects the conservation character of the area. To the side, a restored archway provides access to a private, elevated, south-facing rear garden with separate parking for two cars. Underground tanks hold rainwater for recycling as part of an energy saving programme.
