A two-bedroom, end-terrace Edwardian in Dublin 9 has charm, personality, and space to extend.
The owners of number 1 Vera Terrace bought the two-up, two-down end terrace in 2017. It needed complete modernisation.
“We knew we were buying a fixer-upper,” says Jonathan Berry, who is a graphic designer with UX and packaging expertise.
Address: 1 Vera Terrace, Botanic Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, D09 H3C8
Asking price: €575,000
Agent: Move Home
Berry and his wife, Michelle, however, had a secret weapon many other home buyers do not have: family in the business.
They were lucky to engage top tier carpenter, Jonathan’s brother, Patrick Berry of Santry Carpentry.
He spent the guts of a year helping out at weekends, he recalls.
“We stripped it back to the four walls and dirt.”
Through other trades contacts, it was rewired and replumbed.
The brothers added 100 ml insulation to the walls with the greater depth concealed behind window boxes in a style true to the era of the house.
A neighbour across the street, who was into conservation, helped with other detailing such as coving and picture rails, all of which were reinstated as can be seen in the front room, which has an open fireplace and punchy marigold yellow seating.
The entrance floor is tiled in a timeless checkerboard pattern and leads through to the dining area, which runs the width of the house.
He believes it to be built of Athy brick,k and the couple have made a feature of this warm and on-trend material.
The couple also had a hard deadline.
Michelle was pregnant at the time with their daughter, Sadie.
“I got the top floor sorted out first and was under a lot of pressure to get it all done in time,” Jonathan recalls.
The couple lived upstairs while work continued downstairs, and by the time Sadie was born, all that remained were minor painting and patching-up jobs.
In the dining area, he removed the existing gas fire and discovered the original inglenook hearth hidden beneath.
He brought the brick back to its current colour and found a pair of boots, bottles of whiskey and razors behind the fire, left by the original builders.
They have installed the “funky little wood burner” into the space, purchased from one of the antique shops on Francis Street or in the general Liberties area.
The couple travelled far and wide, scouring Mac’s Salvage in Islandbridge, Dublin 8.
They also journeyed north to Wilson’s Yard, where they found the antique-style radiators and the lamp post in the dining room that looks like it is a support structure, but is purely decorative.
There’s a pantry hidden under the stairs, and the kitchen is in the return.
The original brick from the back wall is exposed.
The counter has been set flush with the windowsill and the cabinets, which feature a Belfast sink, were built by Patrick.
Now a two-bedroom, two-bathroom property with a guest w.c. at the end of the kitchen, the house is in turn-key condition.
Outside, there is a lovely, sheltered terrace to the back of the return.
You could also extend into this space.
A jib door in the fence opens to the garage, giving you off-street parking.
There are two double bedrooms upstairs,s along with a metro-tile lined shower room.
Jonathan’s sister works for a tile supplier and was able to also put them in touch with expert subcontractors to do the work.
The couple don’t want to leave the area, but with their daughter now aged seven and ageing parents, they’re looking for more space, a house that can accommodate those requirements and a home office.
The C2 Ber-rated property, which extends to 86 square metres, is seeking €575,000 through agents Move Home.
