There are big advantages to buying a show house, even if you don’t take the furniture
Asking price: €825,000
Agent: DNG (01) 490 9000
Buying a show house at a new scheme can prove a wise choice, given that you can get top class soft fittings and furniture that has usually been coordinated by an interior designer or stager to optimise the look.
But even if you don’t opt to stump up for the furnishings and fittings, there are still advantages to be had, as one Dublin-based couple discovered when they acquired their A2-rated home four years ago.
“Show houses give you a template to work from,” says Muireann O’Keefe, who bought a modern four-bed terraced home at Harold’s Cross in Dublin – then the flagship home in a pocket infill scheme when it was launched four years ago. “You already have an idea of what you want to do, when you see them.”
The exterior of 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
Greenmount Court was transformed from a car garage into three new terrace homes, designed by Kildare-based architect Patrick Kerr. All are laid out over three floors in a small cul de sac in Dublin 6W.
O’Keefe, who works in financial services, and her husband Paddy Murray, who is in the executive education sector, chose to purchase the house without interiors and furnishings for €795,000.
Paddy Murray and Muireann O’Keefe. Photo: Barbara McCarthy
“Ours is the corner house – it’s the biggest of the three at 1,507 sq ft. It was €840,000 with the furniture, so we went without, but we inherited the colour palates, the carpets and the built-in kitchen and storage space.”
The couple, who have two young children, said they were looking for a home that was easy, safe, low-maintenance, child friendly and not too difficult to look after.
The anthracite kitchen of 17 Greenmount Terrace has lots of hidden storage
“Having a turnkey home means you don’t have any unexpected surprises,” says O’Keefe. “You know what you’re getting. Also the enclosed yard was a draw, as it means you have a safe area for children to play.”
“We got most of the big stuff like couches and beds from EZ Living. But with everything, we mixed and matched. That was the fun part. When you don’t have any structural work to do, or nasty surprises, you can focus on decor,” she adds. Because the house has underfloor heating, they weren’t burdened with radiators, making design easier.
The dining area off the kitchen at 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
“We got lots of items like chests of drawers and the drinks cabinet in April and the Bear, a furniture and design shop in Rathmines,” she adds. “Throws came from John Hanly and Co – an Irish woollen mill established in 1893 in Ballyartella, Co Tipperary.
“He makes high-quality cashmere, lambswool and merino scarves, throws, and fabrics. Side tables for the upstairs bedrooms came from Foxford Woolen Mills.”
The living room space with floor to ceiling glazing at 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
O’Keefe says the couple upgraded the wall paint throughout the house when they moved in: “We really liked the original green and grey palate, so we had it repainted in the exact same colours as before.
“We also did some redesigning with the help of Christine Delaney, who has a design company called Clarion Designs. She helped with design aspects, placing art, furniture and refreshing everything, so it’s like a brand new house.”
The seating area next to the courtyard at 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
The general style of the house is simple, she says: “When you enter, there’s a guest WC just before you come into the living space, which runs all the way from the front to the back of the house. It’s dual aspect. You get the sun in the kitchen in the mornings.”
The anthracite toned kitchen, utility room and the fitted wardrobes were custom made by BeSpace, a Dublin-based joinery company. “The wardrobes are designed around the space,” says Murray. “The layout doesn’t feel over-designed. There’s a lot of things you can hide in the storage.
Seating at 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
“It has a heat pump from Samsung/Joule, mechanical ventilation units to all wet areas and kitchen, and wall, floor and roof insulation. Areas within the houses are zoned and can be heated independently of each other, so your bills are really low. Because the windows are triple glazed, you don’t hear a peep from the neighbours.”
The doors and windows are by Architectural Glazing and Maintenance. “Downstairs, they’re ceiling to floor and we have sliding doors opening from the living space to a 12.5 sq m courtyard and a door for access, which is handy if you want to bring out tools and the bin,” he says.
The staircase at 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
“We didn’t really have to do much in the courtyard. There’s some fake grass already here, so we added tables and chairs. It’s a great place to keep kids’ toys and also a safe place for them to play.”
The downstairs area has a utility room that houses the air-to-water heat pump and laundry appliances.
The master bedroom at 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
Upstairs on the first floor is the main bedroom and ‘winter garden’. “It’s a really big room. We also have a sun room, where we put our laptop and desk, for working from home. It gets both morning and southern light. The house has four bathrooms in total,” says Murray. They are all fitted with sleek black Sonas hardware, concealed cisterns, walk-in showers, heated towel rails and porcelain floors and tiling.
The next floor includes two en suite bedrooms and a separate study, he adds: “This can be used as a home office or adapted as an additional bedroom if needed.”
One of the bedrooms at 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
The couple furnished the children’s rooms with pieces from Mamas & Papas, adding a personal touch through hand-stencilled designs.
“When we bought the house, we just wanted something practical,” says Murray. “It’s a home suitable for families who want an easy, intuitive house that’s cheap to run. Houses like that are hard to find, so we’ll have our work cut out.
“It’s also close to trendy yoga studios and close to town. We’re looking for something bigger, with a bigger garden, not too far from here. We’re going to miss the house, because we made it into a home with our style.”
DNG seeks €825,000.
The courtyard garden of 17 Greenmount Terrace, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6W
News in 90 seconds – Friday, March 6