Mews houses are always well located and situated in quiet enclaves, far from the noise of the busy main streets but bang in the heart of the action. These two have great private outdoor spaces and off-street parking in Dublin 6.
If you have €675,000 to spend, which of these two mews houses, each within a short walk of Rathmines, Dublin 6, would you choose and why?
Quiet cul-de-sac parallel to Rathmines main drag
Address: 14 Fortescue Lane, Mountpleasant Avenue Lower, Dublin 6, D06 X635
Asking price: €675,000
Agent: Mullery O’Gara
One of the many secret lanes of Dublin 6, Fortescue, is a cul-de-sac that once provided carriage access to the big houses on Rathmines Road Lower.
Number 14 has a stone-fronted terraced property that still demonstrates some of its original form.
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom property extends to 80 square metres and has a simple broken-plan layout with the kitchen at the front. This is a dual aspect space with units on two sides in an L-shape.
There is room for a small table or breakfast counter by the window overlooking the carport.
A spiral staircase leads up from here to the principal bedroom on the first floor.
The kitchen opens through to a rectangular living cum dining room with roof lights bringing daylight into the middle of the room.
A mirrored wall helps bounce further light into this part of the space.
A free-standing solid fuel stove warms both areas, adds architectural interest, and creates a divide between the two.
The living area overlooks a city-sized garden that is west-facing and private.
The green of the exterior is reflected in the interior decor, which features a forest green painted wall and a pine-coloured velour sofa.
The first of the property’s two bedrooms is at this level and accessed from both the hall and the living room. It overlooks the back.
The current owners have planning permission to rejig the layout across the two floors to expand the living space into this room and into the carport.
The plans include building out the first-floor level to accommodate two bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs.
The planning reference for this is WEB1747/25.
The principal bedroom is upstairs and is dual aspect, with a porthole window at the front.
There is a bathroom adjoining it.
The garden is a real luxury in a property so proximate to town.
It includes a patio area with the rest set out in lawn.
The carport is also a very valuable addition if you need to own a set of wheels when living close to the city centre.
For those who don’t, it would make complete sense to incorporate that space into the living quarters.
The lane runs parallel to Mountpleasant Avenue Lower, which is where you enter and exit the street.
Mullery O’Gara is seeking €675,000 for the D1 BER-rated property.
Secret spot behind a Rathmines square
Address: Mews rear of, 16 Leinster Square, Rathmines, Dublin 6, D06 PK29
Asking price: €675,000
Agent: DNG Terenure
On the other side of the Rathmines Road, about two blocks away, is this three-bedroom, one-bathroom terraced property of 82 square metres.
Hidden behind a high granite wall, the property has off-street parking at the front for a smaller model of car.
You will need to get planning permission to install a wider gate.
The front is east-facing and glazed. It opens directly into the living room, which runs the width of the house.
At the back is the first of its three bedrooms. Alongside it is the kitchen.
There are doors out to the paved garden from both these spaces.
The exterior needs a little love, but could be a great, low-maintenance exterior with the bonus that it is west-facing.
If you don’t need three bedrooms, the next owner might be tempted to extend the kitchen to run the width of the house or create a broken plan set up throughout the ground floor.
Upstairs, there are two bedrooms. The principal is a spacious room with low-set windows and further light beaming through from its rooflight.
In contrast, the second bedroom is quite narrow.
The imbalance between these rooms could be relatively easily rectified to create two more equal-sized spaces.
There is also a full-size bathroom at this level.
The interior needs some upgrading, but the location is first-class.
You can go to the movies or be in any of Rathmines' eateries and bars with less than 10 minutes' notice,
Extending to 82 square metres, agents DNG Terenure are seeking €675,000 for the C3 BER-rated residence.
