Two for under €800,000

38 Casimir Road Harold’s Cross

The owners of number 38 Casimir Road, the Holden family, are in search of a property with a larger garden. Kieran and Suzanne have three young sons, and the townhouse garden is no longer large enough for their needs.

The couple bought the Edwardian property in 2006, and undertook the renovation of the entire house, while also adding an extension to the rear.

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60 Rocwood, Blackrock, Co Dublin

“Luckily, all the period features were in perfect condition, with the exception of the windows, some of which wouldn’t open,” recalls Suzanne.

Having engaged Historic Sash Windows to restore the originals, the house now has all the craftsmanship it had when originally built in 1906.

The two interconnecting reception rooms, even though facing northeast, are bright, thanks to deep bay windows, and have antique fireplaces and polished walnut flooring. Both rooms are furnished with a mixture of contemporary and antique furniture, allowing the spaces an individuality sometimes lost in houses where all fittings come from one source.

To the rear of the property, the extension houses an informal living/dining area, kitchen and good-sized utility.

The couple installed contemporary roof light windows, which sit flush with the upper roof line, maximising the amount of light in the room. Fitted with Pilkington glass, these no glare windows promise energy efficiency and lower heating bills.

Upstairs, on the return is a fine-sized bedroom that overlooks the rear garden, and an L-shaped family bathroom.

The first floor has three further bedrooms, two of which are decent-sized doubles with original cast iron fireplaces. The master mirrors the size of the drawing room downstairs and also benefits from a large leaded bay window.The colour palette used throughout the house is timeless and sits well in a period home.

It is worth noting that the gardens on this side of Casimir Road, while having the benefit of a southwesterly aspect, were never very large to begin with. As the Holden’s extension took up much of the original garden, what remains is more of an entertainment space than a play area for three growing boys.

However, Harold’s Cross park, located just around the corner, does offer some compensation.

Number 38 is a fine period house standing at 162sq m (1,744sq ft) in turnkey condition, and is available through estate agent Sherry FitzGerald with an asking price of €795,000.

60 Rocwood Blackrock, Co Dublin

Rocwood estate is tucked into a quiet cul-de-sac adjacent to the Leopardstown Road, just off the N11 in Blackrock. Number 60 has had a recent overhaul with the addition of an extension to the rear, bringing the property’s footprint to 166 sq m (1,787sq ft).

With the exception of a study, which the current owners use as a playroom, the ground floor has a very open plan feel to it – thanks to double doors which lead from the family sitting room into the spacious extension to the rear of the property. The décor in this family room marries well with the layout and style of the extension.

The new space includes a dining area, living room and swish kitchen with glossy black granite countertops and shiny stainless steel integrated appliances.

Bright and airy, thanks to high ceilings and overhead Velux windows, the new living room has blond wood flooring and double patio doors which open out on to the garden.

The garden has an Indian sandstone patio for al fresco dining, and some mature shrubs in raised beds surrounding an artificial lawn.

While green-fingered enthusiasts may gasp at the thoughts of plastic grass, for families and older people they can be quite practical.

Mud-free and canine-dig proof, new varieties are permeable so there is no chance of urban flooding. In any case, to the front of number 60 is a vast communal green where footballs are welcome and mud is plentiful.

Upstairs are four bedrooms, the master of which is en suite and offers lots of storage in a wall of inbuilt units.

Nearby number 1 Rocwood, a detached three-bedroom property standing at 122sq m (1,313sq ft) was sold in 2013 for €485,000. Now in turnkey condition it is asking €595,000 through O’ Gorman Properties.

Number 60, also in walk-in condition but with almost 40 per cent more floor space is seeking €795,000 through agents Sherry FitzGerald.