Calling all city slickers: With its unusual bathroom feature, this well-designed family home in Portobello, D8, has a contemporary interior and period proportions.
The most sought-after part of Dublin 8 is Portobello, with Heytesbury Street considered one of its most desirable roads.
Number 33 is set on an east-west axis and is not overlooked at the front or back.
Situated at the junction with Grantham Street, a block away from the busy Camden Quarter, this architect-designed property feels far removed from its late-night action.
Address: 33 Heytesbury Street, Portobello, Dublin 8, D08 E0F9
Asking price €1.45 million
Agent: Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty
The villa-style property has been very discreetly comtemporarised by Garbhan Doran of Broadstone Architects, and the work and finish were such that it was selected for Open House, Dublin in 2015, an annual architectural festival that includes opportunities for the public to cross the threshold of otherwise private properties to see how architects have reimagined and restored them.
It was also shortlisted for the 2017 Architect & Building of the Year Awards.
The result here is a low-key blend of period character and modern design, arranged over its two levels.
The entrance to the house is via a set of steps and through the front door, which is painted a deep and statement-making orange.
Villa-style homes have spacious halls, and this one has a sightline through the property to its radius window above the return, which still features its period painted glass.
The original floorboards have been stained a pale colour with a matte finish, and the walls are a soft white, which quietly shows off the cornicing and ceiling roses.
This approach allows the custom cabinetry by Cillian Johnston and the owners' artworks and objects to do a lot of the talking.
The two reception rooms at the hall level have been opened up to create a dual aspect space with morning light coming into the kitchen, which is at the front.
Here below counter units run the depth of the kitchen with open shelving in the alcoves on either side of the chimney breast. The hob and sink are on this side.
There’s an island in the middle where you can people-watch from a distance through the large sash window, which still has its window box and shutters.
On the opposite wall to the sink is a bank of eye-level units that include the oven and integrated fridge freezer.
This height of cabinetry works really well in a period property such as this and allows the owners to use the volume above as a gallery space that includes some kitchenalia.
The design is by Broadstone and fabricated by Co Galway-based JCK, based in Craughwell.
The dining room overlooks the garden, has an oval dining table and a wood-burning stove set into its fireplace, which has a slate hearth.
There is a study on the return, which is down a couple of steps.
At the garden level, there is a polished concrete floor throughout, warmed by underfloor heating.
There is a guest w.c and under-stairs storage.
The three bedrooms are doubles, two of which open out to an inner courtyard.
The third is at the front.
An unusual feature of the design is the location of the family bathroom.
It has been installed in what would have been the lobby area to the property's second front entrance, which is under its granite steps.
This entrance is still in use for the bathroom, now has two doors; one opening from the hall of the under-steps entrance and a second opening from the internal hall.
In effect, the bathroom becomes part of the lower hall, and you walk through it to come into the house from the front garden level.
At the opposite end of the hall is a family room with a large, sectioned picture window framing the garden.
Warmed by the sun and with a raised hearth, home to an inset stove.
The garden is extremely private, is west-facing and gets sun from the afternoon onwards.
Extending to approximately 161 square metres, agents Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty is seeking €1.45 million for the BER-exempt property.
