Abbey Lodge, a three-bedroom house with a strong Gothic flavour in Killiney, Co Dublin, stands next to the ruins of the 6th-century monastery – Cill Iníon Léinin – which gave Killiney its name.
When Paddy Devery built his house 15 years ago, he didn’t just name it after the building next door – he built it in sympathy with it. He opted for a Gothic look – the form of architecture that began in the 12th century.
Abbey Lodge hasn’t just got Gothic windows and doors – inside, doors are panelled with pointed arches, a sandstone fireplace in the livingroom has a similar design and over the upstairs landing there’s a hand-carved frieze salvaged from a church by Devery, a builder specialising in restoration. Painted in cream and richly furnished, the house manages to be cosy as well as ecclesiastical. Abbey Lodge is also a modern home, with underfloor heating, central vacuuming, surround-sound and lots of built-in storage.
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The 233sq m (2,508sq ft) three-storey house on Marino Avenue West is for sale by private treaty through Savills for €1.275 million.
Devery’s house, built over three levels, is mostly hidden behind high walls and has a small, tranquil garden: a waterfall runs past the front steps into a pond by a sheltered lawn bordered by colourful plants and bushes, opening onto a patio that in turn opens into the conservatory at the back of the house.
Octagonal hall
The Gothic-arched front door opens into an octagonal front hall floored with cream limestone tiles: the livingroom/ diningroom at the left is bright, with two French windows looking on to the abbey at one side and towards Killiney Bay on the other. Panelled doors in one corner fold open to reveal a neat tea/drinks station. A study, downstairs toilet and a small double bedroom open off the hall at the other side.
Upstairs, the main bedroom – with a good-sized en suite with a Jacuzzi bath – looks over Killiney Bay. There’s another bedroom and a bathroom on this floor. Downstairs, the open-plan kitchen/living area has polished granite countertops and a breakfast bar, and a large living space with a cast-iron stove in a brick fireplace.
Floor-to-ceiling decorative timber pillars mark the division between kitchen and living area. This space opens into a small, bright conservatory.
There’s a utility, boiler room, more storage and a tiled family bathroom – with a good-sized sauna – at this level too.
There’s room for three cars in the gravelled area just inside the front electronic gates. Marino Avenue West is off Killiney Hill Road and there’s pedestrian access at the end to Killiney Dart station, about a five-minute walk.
