Cross Avenue in Blackrock is home to some of the largest contemporary homes constructed in the capital over the last decade. Built in what was once part of the former orchard in The Hermitage, one of the roads finest homes, is Dun Rí, a detached and extended four-bedroom house.
Though it was originally constructed in the 1960s, from its exterior you would be forgiven for thinking that this is a period house due to its design and proportions, but it has all the contemporary conveniences of a modern home.
The current owners purchased the property in 2005 and engaged architect and artist Charles Hulgraine to design their new home. “What we were left with was essentially the front wall as there was so much to be done,” says the owner. The brief was to bring as much light into the house as possible while keeping good lines of sight.
The decision to have a spacious hallway works well as it floods light throughout the ground floor of the 362sq m (3,897sq ft) house. Lying off the hall, with a grand piano acting as a natural boundary, is a sunroom which also brings in lots of light.
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As the now grown-up children of the house are keen musicians, acoustics were also a factor when designing the house. Should new owners wish, it is a simple enough affair to create a divide between the hall and the sun room but to be honest, the light and space it currently provides is worth it, and will be of particular interest to those who love to entertain, as it can accommodate lots of guests.
An Alno kitchen by McNally Kitchens has clean and simple lines with marble worktops, crema marfil flooring with Miele and Siemens appliances.
Off the kitchen lie a dining area and informal livingroom where the brief of light, space and clean lines follows through, as is the case in a formal livingroom that runs the length of the property.
Upstairs are four spacious bedrooms, all of which are en suite.
The gardens are just lovely and while the front occupies a larger space than the rear, it also benefits from a sunnier, southerly aspect: “From just after 10am to about 8.30pm, the sun is out in the front.” It is also totally private despite lying to the front as it is set behind high walls with electronic gates.
The owners undertook the gardens themselves with great results. To the front, a pergola that sits adjacent to an outdoor dining area is covered with six varieties of white rose. The blooms give a heady perfume after a drizzle, and will give another flourish in September if given a good pruning.
The property, which has an excellent Ber of B3, has smart home lighting, underfloor heating, a Russ sound system and central vacuuming unit. “Dun Rí combines the best of both worlds,” says Ronan O’Hara of Sherry FitzGerald, who is handling the sale, “it is a spacious home with period proportions, yet it has all modern conveniences”.
The property is now on the market seeking €3.5 million.
