Traditional looks hide stylish interior

At first glance, this semi-detached five-bedroom house at 101 Terenure Road West looks just like its neighbours - a solid pre-war house built in a time when families were larger and space was not at a premium. The inside, however, is a surprising and very stylish contrast to the house's traditional exterior.

Completely refurbished and smartly decorated, the house is expected to fetch in excess of £440,000 at a Sherry FitzGerald auction on February 2nd. Period features, such as the curved ceiling cornicing and stained-glass hall windows, have been retained. The kitchen has been extended and revamped to create a stunning country kitchen/family area big enough to accommodate a regiment.

The timber-floored family room has an exposed brick fireplace and opens into a dining area with glass doors to the garden. The heart of the kitchen is a green oil-fired Stanley cooker in a rustic brick surround. The cupboards are pine, the floor is of Chinese slate and there is a cleverly-designed drinks cupboard that also opens on to the adjoining formal diningroom. A pitched glass atrium floods the room with natural light.

Off the maple-floored entrance hall, there are two interconnecting reception rooms - both with matching marble fireplaces - and a guest cloakroom with walk-in airing cupboard. Of the four bedrooms upstairs, two have built-in wardrobes and the main bedroom has a Jacuzzi bath en suite. A family bathroom is also at this level. The owners have converted the attic to two good-sized rooms, currently used as playrooms, but these could serve as a study and guest room.

Outside, the front driveway is cobble-locked and provides off-street parking. The long back garden includes a Liscannor stone terrace with matching table, a lawn and a couple of mature pear trees. There is also a storage shed, a garage and side access.