A week after the sale of most of the £1 million-plus new homes in the south Dublin suburb of Clonskeagh, another development of large detached houses at the top end of the market is being launched today in the same general area. Eight five-bedroom houses on the city side of Clonskeagh have already been completed and fitted out before they go for sale at prices from £875,000 to £980,000. Hooke and MacDonald is handling sales.
The Coolgraney development is located off Clonskeagh Road, a short distance from the bridge over the Dodder. The entrance is off Nutgrove Park and the eight new houses have been built behind high security gates on a one-acre site previously used as a garden centre.
All the houses are identical from the outside, double fronted with full brick walls, reconstituted granite keystones and sills, along with PVC soffit, facia boards and windows to ensure low maintenance costs. Driveways have been cobble-locked, public areas have been tastefully landscaped and all the gardens have been seeded. All eight houses have a similar layout, though different styles of kitchens and bathrooms have been fitted.
While the houses are expensive, with 2,500 sq. ft of space, they are as spacious as many of the big country houses that come on the market, and include three large reception rooms.
The spacious kitchens all come fully tiled, with polished granite worktops and a full range of integrated Neff appliances. The country-style wall and floor units are finished in either wax pine, oak or maple by Hynes of Dundalk and are both practical and attractive.
The show-house has a 160 sq. ft sunroom at the rear, which costs an additional £20,000. There are double doors from the kitchen into the very large communicating reception rooms. The living-room has a bay front with three individual windows which give the room a terrific atmosphere. However, the large white marble fireplace is definitely on the ostentatious side. There are high quality wooden doors everywhere, including the double doors linking the living-room and dining-room. All the rooms have been fitted with coving, including the family room.
Upstairs, there are five bedrooms, four of them doubles; the remaining single bedroom could, ideally, be an office. The main bedroom has an identical bay front to the living-room along with an en suite bathroom and a walk-in dressing-room. The second bedroom also has an en suite shower room. All the bedroom floors are finished in varnished Norwegian timber and the main bathroom is particularly well finished.
One of the surprising features of the houses is to be found at attic level, where a 500 sq. ft room (bigger than many one-bedroom apartments in Dublin city centre) has been provided with hardwood floors and fitted bookcases. The room has three overhead windows and will be ideal either as a gymnasium, office or children's playroom.
The houses in Coolgraney will be seen as an interesting alternative to period homes in Dublin 6, which frequently need expensive refurbishment.
