A Georgian original
Dating from 1740, the elegant Ivy Lodge offers charm and comfort a short walk from the city
One of Dublin’s older suburban homes, Ivy Lodge was built in 1740 and its appearance both inside and out is very much in keeping with the simpler style of the period.
These Georgian homes tend not to have the very ornate ceiling plasterwork of later decades but their charm comes from that very simplicity and sense of balance found in all the rooms.
The front facade has the classic central doorway with fanlight over it, duplicated on the second storey with a big arched window allowing light to flood down the stairwell. Two bays of sliding sash windows sit very precisely equidistant on either side at both
levels. Throughout the 2128sq ft/197sqm house, the owners have maintained the purity of the proportions with a restrained, all-white decorative scheme that allows the original features to stand out.
The kitchen is very understated and almost technology free, while the bathroom is a simple, unfussy but gorgeous space and the builtin wardrobes are so restrained they almost disappear.
As you move from room to room, your eye is drawn to the fabulous heavy panelled doors, the fireplaces, the delicacy of the Georgian ceiling roses, and those amazing windows.
The front door opens into the wide hall from where the two beautifully proportioned reception rooms are found on either side. The kitchen and utility are at the back and open onto a terrace and large 120ft-long, south-facing walled garden.
The staircase is spectacular, with delicate spindles, polished handrail and an interesting curved panel on the wall that tracks the path of the stairway.
The family bathroom and separate shower room are both on the first floor return. Two bedrooms are on the first floor, each large with original fireplaces.
Upstairs again are two further bedrooms with sloping ceilings.
Agent: DNG, 01 679 4088