“It has been rebuilt from top to bottom,” says Lisa O’Sullivan of the home she shares with her husband Patrick and their two children.
The Victorian property, which they bought in 2013 for €750,000, was in a series of flats developed by a builder. He had done such a good job, he made the transformation back to a family home very difficult, says O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan project-managed the build from Dubai, where the family was based for 15 years. The result is a superb home decorated with flair and individuality.
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Original features
The property has many original features with the exception of the windows, which means new double-glazed sashes provide aesthetics as well as insulation. The garden-level kitchen has solid-wood Christoff units. "We decided to go for hand-painted units as they can be given a new look when greys are over," says O'Sullivan. The addition of an enormous larder keeps the room streamlined, allowing for culinary accoutrements to be kept out of sight.
Near to that is the family room in which a Kal remote-controlled gas fire takes centre stage. It is so big a heatproof wall had to be to be installed in the room.
To the rear is a dual aspect office – also built by Christoff – which looks out on the contemporary garden designed by award-winning landscaper John Durston. The formal reception rooms are at hall level and deep grey paint has been used over the picture rail to emphasise the high ceilings. A Victorian fireplace graces the drawingroom, where artwork reveals where the couple have lived over their lifetimes.
There is a nod to humour in the canvas over the sofa, however. “I made it,” laughs O’Sullivan, “with material from Ikea.” It fits right in with the bold decor. Upstairs are three bedrooms. The master has a three-bay oriel window overlooking the communal park at the front of the property.
The bathroom on the return is very large and this space is used as a fourth bedroom in neighbouring houses. The current layout allows for new owners to reinstate it as a bedroom with little effort.
O'Sullivan is in search of another building project and has placed 2 Royal Terrace West, with a footprint of 230sq m (2,475sq ft) and a 35m garden, on the market through estate agent DNG with an asking price of €1.345 million.
