The Irish Times, Thursday, May 19th 2016
The neat terrace of smart-looking brick houses on Albert Place East was built as staff accommodation for the nearby and far grander Georgian squares.
Albert Place East is off Grand Canal Street, a well-maintained cul-de-sac of Victorian houses with a benign air.
Number 11 is in a corner, looking very much of its time from the outside. Inside it has a refurbished, comfortably contemporary interior that fits nicely with its 19th-century origins. Albert Place East was built to house staff from nearby Merrion Square houses.
The vendors have loved living in Albert Place East, saying it is “a real oasis from the hustle and bustle, with Grafton Street only 15 minutes walk”. They arrived, 12 years ago, with a baby of three months and are leaving with children aged 11, nine and six. Number 11 cost them €875,000 in 2004 and now, through agent Owen Reilly, they are selling by private treaty for €895,000.
They have put a lot of “hard core” work and care into number 11 over the years. “The roof is new, electricals, plumbing are all new, and the insulating. We added a shower-room and a new kitchen, floorboards and more.”
They carefully retained original features and, where this wasn’t possible, had them recreated.
With a 137sq m (1,475sq ft) floor area there are three bedrooms (the main en suite), two interconnecting reception rooms, kitchen/diningroom and guest WC.
Oak floors
The pale, stone coloured kitchen/diningroom has Silestone worktops, American oak floors and an Aga cooker. Old-style wood panel and glass doors lead to the sandstone flagged patio-garden with its raised, brick surround artificial lawn and double, stone sheds.
“The Aga is a brilliant addition in winter,” the vendors agree, “and in summer the patio catches the sun.”
The reception rooms have a pair of original, gorgeously ornate cast-iron fireplaces and, as with the rest of the ground floor, American oak flooring.
The high-ceilinged hallway retains a Victorian feel. A bathroom on the return has a deep bath plus shower; and a bedroom, also on the return, has a polished wood floor. The main, en suite bedroom has two front facing windows and the third bedroom, to the rear, has built-in wardrobes.
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The Irish Times, Thursday, May 19th 2016
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