With a cantilevered extension, antique parquet floors and seamless flow, tardis-like Glasthule home is a lesson in design
Asking price: €995,000
Agent: DNG (01) 2301616
That old estate agents' chestnut 'deceptively spacious' usually represents brochure bait to make us wary.
But at No 9 St Paul's Terrace – a terraced three-bedroom in a quiet cul de sac in Glasthule, Co Dublin – there's a lot packed in behind its narrow frontage, thanks to clever flow and an unusual extension, which takes the floor space up to one-and-a-half times that of a traditional semi-detached family home.
'It's been described as a tardis,' says owner Nora Lynch, a project manager from Co Fermanagh. 'It looks quite small from the outside, but once you enter, you see how spacious it is. It's also a calming house with a lovely flow.'
Lynch bought the 1,507 sq ft home, built in 1936, in 2013. 'It wasn't habitable at the time, as no work had been carried out since the original build. But I could see its potential because it faces south-west at the rear, and its location in Glasthule is amazing.'
First, the downstairs of the house was completely gutted. It was then extended at the front and back. Upstairs, a new cantilevered room was added over the back garden, and finally, the attic was converted.
External insulation was added to the walls and all of the windows were triple-glazed, contributing to its now B1 rating.
Nora was fortunate to have two friends, Tamara Jaradat and Mariam Allawerdi, who are architects and were willing to help with the design and advise on a structural engineer and a carpenter. 'I deliberately opted for a minimalist style to make the most of the space,' she says.
Downstairs is open-plan, which means you walk through the porch into a light and airy sitting room. There's a grey L-shaped couch here, pops of colour in the artwork, and a multi-fuel gas stove from Belgium.
A stand-out feature is the wooden window seat, which has storage underneath and overlooks the front, and a curved wooden bookcase that fits snugly under the glass window box.
Something most Irish homes certainly won't have is an antique Rhodesian teak herringbone parquet floor, which came from a university in Leicester.
'Wood is a living thing which expands and contracts,' says Lynch. 'You have to let it acclimatise before it's laid because of the humidity in the air. In fact, I kept it under a bed in the spare room of my old house for six months before I moved in here. Looking after it was a lot of work, but worth it in the end.'
She employed a specialist to design the lighting throughout the house, so the LED spotlights in all the rooms, including the garden, can be dimmed.
In the kitchen, Lynch had solid wooden presses, and an island with an induction hob, made by Timbercraft in Dun Laoghaire. 'I had very particular ideas about the symmetry and the lines in the kitchen, and every detail has been carefully thought out,' she says.
The dishwasher has been elevated, for example, so there's no need to bend. There's also a wall which hides doors to a utility room, a laundry area with a slide-out table for clothes, and a scented airing cupboard which runs on solar power. 'I love the fact that they're hidden, as it doesn't take away from the aesthetic of the room,' Lynch says.
'In addition, there's a little niche at the bottom of the island counter which holds paperwork, so my 15-year-old daughter, Lara, can sit there and do her homework whilst I'm making dinner.'
The frameless lift-and-slide doors which access the back garden can be pulled back when necessary. 'I wanted to create a seamless flow into the garden, and the design works very well,' she says. 'It's a great house for parties. I've entertained 60 or 70 people at a time.'
Outside, she repeated the herringbone pattern from the parquet floor with pieces of decked wood. There's no saddle board, so the inside floor flows into the outside. 'I have a niece who uses a wheelchair, so I designed it with her in mind,' she says. 'It's also future-proofed for the elderly.'
In the back garden, Lynch added garden furniture, a water feature, and flower beds with a Virginia creeper and an Amelanchier tree. 'The garden is a real suntrap because of its south-westerly orientation, and we spend a lot of time there.'
The kitchen presses with their hidden compartments have been continued visually outdoors in the white wall, which contains a hidden shed that's used for storage.
Upstairs, the attention to detail has been continued. Lynch turned the cantilevered room over the garden into a home office, and had a curved wooden bookcase made for the landing.
She also added a glass balcony with a glass window in the floor that looks down into the kitchen. 'From upstairs, I can look down and see my daughter, and it adds light to the kitchen,' she says.
There's a family bathroom, two double bedrooms and an unofficial single room in the attic, currently used as a guest bedroom. 'There's a wardrobe in the attic and storage in the eaves, and everything is on castors making it easy to access.'
The newly opened Hudson Road Park is adjacent to the house. It's also a stone's throw from the village of Glasthule and the Dart station, and about 50 metres from the seafront.
'There's a real community feel in the locality,' says Lynch. 'We have wonderful neighbours. We look out for each other and we hold great street parties.'
Given her daughter's love of horses, Lynch has decided to move to Co Wicklow. 'Lara rides in a couple of different stables there, and we both find being in the countryside calming. But it won't be easy saying goodbye to the house. There's really nowhere like it.'
DNG is asking €995,000.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
9 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Mary McCarthy: It might sound gross, but here's why I buy second-hand undies
Second-hand fashion is gaining ground in Ireland, but few would consider donning pre-loved pants Today at 21:30 You might consider yourself environmentally responsible, but would you wear second- hand pants? The Irish love their new gear, so I imagine most would be grossed out. And there's no opportunity.
Irish Examiner
11 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Desire Lines: Jellycat's Síofra Shamrock returns to Brown Thomas
The activewear Following a successful debut at Brown Thomas Dundrum, Adanola bring its signature blend of style, comfort, and everyday versatility to the Irish market. We are pining after this long sleeved top, €54. The jeweller Oliver Paul Jewellery, the new boutique by Irish goldsmith and designer Oliver Paul Healy, has opened in Market Parade, English Market. Oliver Paul Jewellery, the new boutique by Irish goldsmith and designer Oliver Paul Healy, has opened in Market Parade, English Market. Known for his handcrafted, custom-made designs and commitment to sustainability, this is more than a jewellery store. From custom made engagement to the remembrances of a loved one, each piece he creates carries emotion and meaning. He began his goldsmithing career at the Design Centre in Kilkenny. Now based in Cork, there's an opportunity to step inside the studio and watch a master at work. info@ The summer glow Charlotte Tilbury's Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick, promises a blurring and smoothing soft radiance. Darlings, the press release begins, are you ready for the most unreal summer of your lives? It can only be the one and only queen of glow herself, Charlotte Tilbury. Inspired by the smoothing, blurring and illuminating effects of her Unreal Skin Hydrating Foundation Stick, Tilbury has created two new beauty innovations that glaze the cheeks and lips with a touch of summer: Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Sticks for the cheeks and new Unreal Lips Healthy Glow Nectar Oils. Our June beauty buy. €46. The event Mark the solstice with a visit to the last day of Luke Jerram's breathtaking Helios today. Mark the solstice with a visit to the last day of Luke Jerram's breathtaking Helios today. Party of the Cork Midsummer Festival, Helios allows us to explore the Sun up close through a huge artwork by the world-renowned UK artist. Each centimetre of this six-metre sculpture represents 2,300km of the real Sun's surface. See sunspots and sources of solar flares to a soundtrack of live NASA recordings. The yoga festival Taking place on July 5 at Lilliput House on the shores of Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath, The Yoga Picnic returns for a second year. Now this is the summer festival we need. Taking place on July 5 at Lilliput House on the shores of Lough Ennell, Co. Westmeath, The Yoga Picnic returns for a second year. Created by Mary Gardiner, Alice Harrison, and Katy Harrison - three friends, business owners, yoga teachers and two sisters - their shared goal was to create an event that brings people together in nature to focus on movement, connection, and wellbeing. Expect high-energy Shakti Dance, plant-based food, wellness talks and of course, yoga. Tickets from €95. The jelly cat The first-ever Jellycat character created exclusively for Ireland, Síofra Shamrock, returns to Brown Thomas and Arnotts. Online stock sold out in just 27 minutes and international fans flew in to secure Amuseables Siófra Shamrock when it made its global debut in March. Three months later, on Thursday June 19, the first-ever Jellycat character created exclusively for Ireland returned to Brown Thomas and Arnotts. Available exclusively for a limited time, get it now, if you still can... The supplement After Beyond the Pale, we were on Resilience by Irish brand ethos. You know you're no longer a young thing when your festival packing list includes a carefully curated selection of electrolytes and multi-vitamin supplements. After Beyond the Pale, we were on Resilience by Irish brand ethos. Alongside your usual hero blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, this also has adaptogenic mushrooms like ashwagandha and reishi to aid not just your immune system, but your nervous and cognitive systems, to face the working week ahead. €49.50 for 30 satchets. Compiled by Vickie Maye, Nicole Glennon and Jillian Bolger weekend@
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
Aldi Ireland fans rushing to buy new beauty item that gives ‘holiday glow' in just hours – and it costs just €3.99
ALDI Ireland fans are rushing to buy a new beauty item for a "holiday glow" at home in just hours. The Lacura Facial Tanning Mist is available in stores now while stocks last in the middle aisle. Advertisement 1 Beauty fans will love the latest arrivals And it is priced at just €3.99. Shoppers can choose between two products - Day Glimmer or Night Shine. "The product is enriched with hydrating glycerin and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture. Advertisement READ MORE IN BEAUTY "Perfect for your night time routine. By the morning your skin is looking radiantly sunkissed. "It is combined with refreshing rosemary oil." The beauty buy will be perfect for keeping your tan topped up over the Its 100ml bottle also means you can pack it in your cabin luggage. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous And shoppers are also loving Splash around in the sun from the comfort of your own back garden as temperatures rise to 26C this week. Their all-new water toys have hit stores just in time for the good weather. Stay cool whilst having fun in the garden with the new giant sprinkler for just €24.99. Advertisement The latest water toy from the retailer is perfect for keeping kids and adults chilled during this Made from durable PVC, it features four sprinklers for extra fun. It includes a hose adaptor and fits onto most domestic hoses. Keep the fun outdoors as this item is meant for outdoor and land use only. Advertisement And better yet, you can let your little one pick their new giant playmate as it comes in two different characters. Choose from Oscar the Octopus or Twinkle the Unicorn. Mark the date as this newest THE HISTORY OF ALDI The German discount supermarket chain came to Ireland in 1999. Aldi's first few shops opened in November 1999, with locations in Sandyford, Dublin, and Ballincollig, Cork. By the mid-2000s, Aldi bosses had opened numerous stores, focusing on providing high-quality products at low prices. As the recession hit 2008-2012, Aldi's popularity grew as consumers became more price-conscious. The supermarket giant continued it's expansion in Ireland between 2013-2018, while refurbishing existing stores. By 2018, Aldi had over 130 shops throughout the country. The chain began to focus on expanding its range of Irish-made products and supporting local producers. In 2023, Aldi had over 140 stores in Ireland. The store invested in sustainability initiatives, such as reducing plastic packaging and increasing the availability of organic and eco-friendly products. Aldi chiefs said: 'At Aldi we are committed to supporting Irish suppliers. Developed in partnership with Bord Bia, Grow with Aldi is designed to help the very best Irish suppliers develop their brand. 'To date, we've invested €10 million in our Grow with Aldi development programme in a bid to find the very best Irish suppliers. 'As a result, for a limited time only there are over 47 new products, from 27 Irish suppliers available in store.' Aldi have introduced technological advancements with self-checkout systems and contactless payment options.
