Polished revamp adds shine to landmark house

Foxrock: €3.5mThose who drive frequently along the Stillorgan dual-carriageway will probably be familiar with Newpark House at White's Cross. Passing the junction at Newtown Park Avenue, in the direction of Foxrock, the detached house with white stucco facade stands to the left hand side of the road. It is for sale by private treaty through Lisney which is seeking offers of €3.5 million.

Built in the 1930s, its once extensive grounds have been devoured by the widening of the dual-carriageway some years ago and by the more recent development of 17 apartments to the rear. What's on offer is a large five-bedroom house of 282sq m (3,045sq ft) that has been thoroughly refurbished to an extraordinary degree by those who built the adjoining apartments.

There is not a piece of woodwork in the entire house that has not been replaced and almost every electronic device imaginable has been installed, such as a central vacuum system, surround sound and kitchen windows that can be opened by the flick of a switch. Behind the obligatory electronic gates, a gravel driveway that approaches the house has enough space to park four or five cars. One of the apartment blocks behind overlooks this drive, but perhaps this is no bad thing: it offers some extra security.

Although apartment buildings surround the house on two sides, these are relatively discreet and the house is not overlooked to the rear. Once inside, from many windows it is impossible to tell that the apartments are so close, or indeed that a major roadway runs outside. The quiet is thanks to new teak double glazed windows.

The entrance hall is a double height space with a pale marble floor and new timber and glass staircase. The first impression is a kind of hotel-style luxury. To the left is a large drawingroom with marble chimneypiece and a bay window that is hidden from the road by high granite walls that surround the property. A door links this room to the kitchen at the rear. A nicely proportioned space, it has double doors to the garden and walnut units built around an island. Appliances are top-of-the-range and there's double everything: oven, fridge and dishwasher.

The garden was designed by Brady Shipman Martin and is dominated by a round patio area. Planting has yet to mature, but is in place. A utility room is adjacent on one side and on the other is the diningroom, which also opens to the hall. A family room mirrors the drawingroom to the front on the right hand side of the house.

Upstairs, a large landing leads to five bedrooms, each en suite. All bathrooms are lined with creamy marble and have either shower or bath. The main bedroom also has a walk-in dressingroom with full height walnut wardrobes. There are four large doubles and one single.

This house is very shiny and very polished but, once decorated in a less predictable way, offers the kind of comfort that's hard to beat.