“I’m an energy nerd,” says the owner of number 12 Belmont Park when asked how he managed to transform this end-terrace Edwardian into a cosy, energy-efficient home. The house, sitting at the end of a cul-de-sac off Belmont Avenue, just around the corner from Donnybrook village, has an impressive A3 Ber – not too shabby for a period house of this type.
When they bought the house 10 years ago, he and his wife refurbished and extended the property, adding an attractive, light-infused kitchen extension with floor-to-ceiling glazing, and fully insulating the ground floor and internal walls. In recent years, the couple added a new bathroom and put in triple-glazed windows.
They replaced bulky radiators with an air-to-air heating system which sits discreetly above the internal doors and provides air-conditioning during the summer months. Number 12 measures 94sq m (1,012sq ft), but you’d think you were in a much bigger house, such is the efficient use of space.
The couple have certainly noticed the financial benefit of having an A3-rated house: their energy bills have always been low, they say, and even when prices spiked, they still found their monthly bills were manageable. Now, the couple are moving to Wicklow, and this three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald, seeking €835,000.
The entrance porch to the home features original decorative terracotta tiling, and the entrance hall has solid-wood flooring. To the right is a good-sized sittingroom with solid-wood flooring, a high ceiling, picture rails and a lovely bay window. Fitted bookshelves sit neatly in two alcoves.
Under the stairs is a small guest WC, with a wash-hand basin and tiled splashback neatly tucked into a corner.
The extended kitchen/dining/livingroom was created under the guidance of Alan O’Connell of OC Architects, and when you step down into it (the floor was lowered to allow for more height), you emerge into a wonderful, welcoming light-filled space.
The red bricks from the original galley kitchen have been recycled as flooring for the new extension, and the brickwork runs into the rear patio, creating a nice flow between the indoor and outdoor areas. The floor-to-ceiling glazing runs along the entire south-facing side of the kitchen/diningroom, maximising the morning sun.
The kitchen is fitted with a range of wall and base units, with wooden worktops, subway-tiled splashbacks and a stainless-steel sink. Wide wooden steps lead up to a cosy livingroom area – formerly the diningroom – with floor-to-ceiling glazing. The owners have enjoyed hosting dinner parties and other events over the years, and this open-plan space has provided the ideal setting.
The main bathroom is on the first-floor return. Moving the water tank to the attic allowed the owners the space to put in a bath, and there’s also a storage cupboard on the return. There are three bedrooms on the first floor, two of them doubles and one single, and all with fitted carpets. The main bedroom is to the front, with a bay window overlooking the street. The attic is accessed via a Stira staircase, and there’s a nice feature on the landing ceiling: a small glazed window lightwell with original coloured-glass inserts.
More stairs lead up to a small study, formerly a bedroom, which has worked nicely as a home office for the owners.
Number 12 sits at the end of a quiet terrace, next to Donnybrook Fire Station, with access to all the amenities Donnybrook has to offer, including easy connection to the city centre and the airport via the quality bus corridor and the Aircoach, while rugby fans will appreciate the proximity to the Energia and Aviva stadiums. And just a few metres from the house is Marco Pierre White’s Courtyard Bar & Grill. Schools in the area include St Mary’s National School, Gonzaga, Muckross Park and Sandford Park.
