As Ireland is poised to confront Scotland at the nearby Aviva, Rosie and Graham Campbell are calmly gearing up to cater a lunch for a crowd of 90 at Clogheen, their double-fronted terraced villa located on Shelbourne Road. Both the villa and its occupants seem adept at handling sizeable gatherings.
Rosie’s extensive background in interior design becomes evident the moment one catches a glimpse of the front reception rooms of their residence. Prominently displayed mirrors adorn the mantels of the original fireplaces, beautifully pairing with vibrant Murano glass chandeliers that draw out a lively mix of bespoke painted cabinets, works of art and mirrored recesses.
The two key reception rooms, graced with double sash windows, are cleverly constructed to be multi-purpose, easily transforming into a drawing room or a dining room as required. There is another living room situated behind the main reception area, which stands out with its eye-catching burnt orange walls and an age-old wooden fireplace.
Just off the corridor to the right, a staircase leads from the drawing room down to a spacious kitchen. The kitchen features an island and a generous array of forest-green painted cabinets. Accents of lime green and aubergine add a splash of colour, reflected in the coloured glass splashbacks behind the stove and sink.
The kitchen is graced with a large cream Aga range, with a Sheila Maid clothes airer hanging inconspicuously above, a feature almost camouflaged by the exceptionally high ceilings. Adjacent to the kitchen, a games room houses a billiard table and a unique curved wall stacked with bookshelf cubes. A concealed green door hides a New York-style laundry area, and a compact cloakroom-cum-toilet is nestled at the end of the hallway, opposite the curved wall.
French doors in the games room lead to a breathtaking garden, designed with a balance of elegance and leisure in mind. Its opulence comes from a variety of mature trees, inclusive of apple and pear trees, weeping willows, and bottlebrushes. While a secluded patio can be found at the rear, the garden’s piece de resistance is its well-maintained pond which sees fish playfully darting through its shallow waters.
The size of the property is 279 square metres or 3000 square feet. On the first landing, there is one of the bedrooms which doubles as a home office now, boasting views of the expansive garden, as well as a substantial family bathroom.
The upper floor can be accessed via a staircase from the first landing. Here, there are four spacious double bedrooms. One of these bedrooms located at the back of the house has a shower room adjacent to it. Although none of the remaining bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, each of them comes equipped with sinks, built-in cabinets, and cupboards, and one even includes a sizeable desk.
The property’s Ber is D1, suggesting that any potential new owners may consider improving insulation and window quality, these being original installations. Despite its west-facing position, the building benefits from extensive sunlight throughout the day thanks to the reflective glazing on the nearby apartment building that took the place of the former Berkley Court hotel. As a result, the house always appears full of light.
Rosie and Graham, the current inhabitants, are looking to downsize. However, they plan on remaining in the neighbourhood due to their love for its closeness to the city centre, as well as a range of shops and eateries. Lansdowne Dart station is just a three-minute stroll away. They purchased Clogheen 32 years ago and have found it difficult to part with the tranquil environment it presented in the middle of Ballsbridge, not to mention the garden which felt like a hidden treasure with its stone walls and colourful painted doors. The property is currently on the market with estate agents Knight Frank for €2.65 million.