This refurbished and expanded Victorian house on Northumberland Road in Ballsbridge sets itself apart from other modernised Victorian residences with its keen attention to detail in every room. Notable features include brass fittings in the kitchen, a shining concrete kitchen floor, a bathroom tiled in blue mosaic, mirrored shutters in the primary bedroom’s en suite, and a glass-fronted shoe cupboard. Incorporating smart technology throughout, this home is truly an epitome of ingenious design and high-tech elements.
Purchased in 2016 by a couple for €1.975 million, they invested over €2 million in the house’s extensive refurbishment. Now, they’re relocating to Portugal with their young children, and their 455 sq m (4897 sq ft) five-bedroom semi-detached home is on the market for €4.5 million, through Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty.
Constructed in 1861, the semi-detached property is a protected structure. A conservation architect and Declan O’Donnell of ODKM architects collaborated to ensure the original architecture was preserved while transforming it into a contemporary, high-tech home. It includes a Crestron control system that remotely manages everything from the house’s security to its heating, lighting, sound system, and blinds. The family moved in a year before the Covid lockdown in 2019 and found it a calm refuge.
Despite its status as a protected structure (thus exempt from Building Energy Rating, or Ber), the home has a B2 Ber, indicating excellent insulation. It incorporates an air-to-water heating system and underfloor heating on the ground floor.
Standout features of house number 33 include a garden-level open-plan kitchen/dining/living room area with a 9ft-high ceiling, numerous skylights, and a glass side-extension over the garage. The primary bedroom stretches from the house’s front to its back. Glossy granite steps lead to a vibrant pink front door that opens onto a traditionally Victorian foyer, juxtaposed perfectly with modern mosaic-tiled flooring and a contemporary light fixture from designer Patrick Kerr.
In this splendid abode, the two ground-level reception rooms, located on the right, contain modern lighting fixtures, acting as unconventional replacements for the classic chandeliers, hanging from decorative central roses. Both the anteroom at the house’s front and the parlour at the rear exude elegance with intricate ceiling cornicing, roaring open fireplaces encased in light marble mantelpieces and tall bay windows, which are double-glazed throughout the property. Both rooms, linked by a set of double doors, boast paneled walls and stylish herringbone oak flooring. The rooms’ furnishings include up-to-date, snug, blue circular chairs; a fireplace-side shelves reminiscent of the art deco era; and exquisite coffee tables.
On the other side of the hallway, there is a substantial study, featuring the same herringbone oak flooring and a towering bay window facing the front. The property’s integrated cabinets were crafted by Barry Archer of Wedge, the artisan behind most of the house’s cabinetry work. A camouflaged door located in a deep-coloured wall opens to a glass-encased boardroom/formal dining room extension. This room is complete with a lowered ceiling, electronic blinds and air conditioning.
The family bathroom emanates sophistication, resembling a spa with its recessed lighting, set into a wooden panelled wall, a generously sized oval stand-alone bathtub and a large, enclosed shower area.
Opposite, a charcoal-grey wall conceals a door, opening into a well-proportioned pantry/utility area. This space is replete with storage cupboards and leads to a separate laundry area. The family house offers two bedrooms on its lower floor, one being a suite and the other a playroom, packed with children’s playthings. A corridor outfitted with track lighting to highlight artworks leads to a charming wetroom, adorned with blue mosaic tiles and golden fixtures.
The heart of the domicile, a family-friendly yet uber-elegant garden-level floor, is accessible via an oak staircase enhanced with a smoked glass balustrade. The kitchen, designed by Dean Cooper, boasts a sizable island, topped with Silestone, fitted with hidden power outlets and a Zip tap providing boiling, cold and effervescent water. The countertop, located below the gleaming brass cabinets is also Silestone, is supported by rough-cut oak cabinets, a black glass splashback and is accompanied by a board-marked concrete wall, crafted by pouring concrete into timber board moulds. The kitchen and living spaces feature oak beams and skylights. Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that span the room open up to the back garden, making the entire space exceptionally bright.
This striking dwelling boasts a stunning stained glass window that illuminates the mid-section of the first flight of stairs, leading to a double bedroom complete with a predominantly tiled adjoining bathroom. However, the true highlight of the property is undoubtedly the principal bedroom on the first level.
The expansive space was formerly two separate rooms, now merged into one. It showcases two classic sash windows with front views, as well as an additional window at the rear. An impressive marble mantelpiece and a gas fireplace that mimics a coal effect are key features of this room, along with the intricate cornicework and centre roses from which ring-shaped LED lights from Shadowlight hang. Additionally, the room includes a vast wall of wardrobes and a broad cabinet with glass doors, showcasing the owner’s shoe collection.
What was originally an additional bedroom now houses the main en suite and walk-in dressing room, featuring a central chest of drawers crowned with a glass display box for accessories including belts, sunglasses and ties. The property’s washroom and shower cubicle are equipped with modern smart glass that can transition from transparent to frosted at the flick of a switch. Tucked away at the apex of the house, accessed by a few additional steps, is a smaller bedroom perfect for a child’s nursery.
The property is also home to an expansive backyard enclosed by stone walls and offering a patio area. Though situated in bustling Ballsbridge, the garden affords considerable privacy. A barbecue area complete with poured concrete seating is positioned in one corner. The garden area, masterfully landscaped by Dean Lavey from LandArt, includes raised flower beds beside a faux lawn, bordered with Corten steel. Multiple vehicles can be parked within the gravelled frontal area of the property, easily accessible yet secured through electronic gates.
The location of the house is also extremely convenient – nestled near Haddington Road, it is a short amble from the Grand Canal Dock Dart station and within comfortable walking distance of Merrion Square and Dublin city centre.