Spacious Edwardian era semi in a nice spot

Dublin 4/€2m-plus: Restored and redecorated, Dermalogue would make a terrific family home in a very good location, writes Orna Mulcahy

Lisney is guiding €2 million plus for a five-bedroom semi-detached house at 31 Ailesbury Park in Dublin 4.

The house, Dermalogue, is situated on the corner of Ailesbury Park beside Sydney Parade DART station, within easy reach of the Merrion shopping centre, St Vincent's Hospital and St Michael's school. A feeder bus to UCD stops almost outside its door, and Sandymount strand is a short walk away. The auction date is set for July 15th.

This is a typically Edwardian house with a two-and-a-half storey layout and impressive reception rooms on the ground floor. There's a total of 257 sq m (2,760 sq ft) with potential to extend, and to the rear is an unexpectedly large and private garden that has been beautifully landscaped and maintained. A double garage fronts directly onto the street, offering some scope for conversion.

The entrance is at the side and from this vantage point the house looks rather mysterious with a climbing hyndrangea cloaking most of the facade.

Inside, there's a large hallway with rooms on three sides. Directly ahead are two fine interconnecting reception rooms, the drawingroom and diningroom, which run from front to back of the house and have high ceilings decorated with original cornicing. There are matching Adams-style fireplaces and elegant tall windows at either end as well as French doors to the garden.

A separate family room is only slightly smaller and has windows on two sides. Oak floors run throughout all three rooms and the hallway. A couple of steps lead down to a lower level where there is a large kitchen complete with vintage units and Rayburn stove. It's a big bright room overlooking the back garden, and with access to the garage. New owners will almost certainly reorganise this part of the house, possibly to create a far larger eat-in kitchen by converting part of the garage, or pushing out into the garden.

A handsome staircase leads to the first landing off which is a double bedroom. The first floor has three further bedrooms, all generous doubles, while the fifth bedroom is on the next landing up. A large attic room at the top of the house would make a fine playroom or au pair suite.

Dermalogue needs a good deal of refurbishment so the eventual cost of moving here will be a good deal higher than Lisney's guide. However, restored and redecorated, this will make a terrific family home in a very good location.