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something different
A surprisingly secluded home in Blackrock with annexe and large garden for €1,350,000
After almost half a century in the same family, The Pines is ready for new owners.
A BIG GARDEN is a big draw when it comes to house hunting near the city centre. And, sometimes you can find a house with one that might transport you somewhere much more secluded, even if the N11 and bustling suburbs of Dublin sit close by.
Curving paths weave between lawns, fruit trees and pine trees, which is what gives this home, The Pines in Blackrock, its name.
Located at the end of a cul-de-sac, The Pines AKA 62 Stillorgan Grove sits on .32 acres, with a southwesterly orientation that adds even more appeal to the large outdoor space. Built around 1965 and owned by the same family since 1978, the detached dormer bungalow now has a substantial extension, which was added in 1999. The extension brought extra living space and the possibility of accommodating more than one generation under one roof.
Today, the house extends to about 261 m² in size, with five bedrooms, two bathrooms and a layout that gives any future owner plenty to work with.
The original reception rooms stretch across the front of the house, where two broad windows overlook a screening fuchsia hedge. Folding doors connect the drawing and dining rooms, allowing them to function together or separately. A fireplace with a dark marble surround and polished granite hearth anchors the living area, while pine floorboards lie beneath the carpet.
Between the dining room and kitchen sits a teak storage unit incorporating a drinks cabinet, which is a pleasing reminder of the house’s mid-century origins. This divider is, apparently, non-load-bearing so it’s an opportunity to create a more open kitchen and dining space. The kitchen also has direct access to a sunny side patio, giving any future redesign a useful connection to the garden.
It is the extension, however, that opens up the most interesting possibilities. Connected to the main entrance hall, it also has its own front door, along with a bedroom, lounge and even a games room. With a potential self-contained family annexe in mind, it could suit buyers planning for an older relative or an adult child, while it does need work. Plumbing was installed for an en suite bathroom beside the bedroom, although the bathroom itself was never fitted.
There is plenty of appeal in keeping these rooms as shared family space, too. The lounge has a red-brick chimney breast, while the games room draws light through windows, roof glazing and French doors to the garden. There is room here for competing interests like somewhere to read, somewhere to play and somewhere to gather without everyone sitting on top of each other.
Two bedrooms and the family bathroom sit on a quieter section of the ground floor, with windows towards the back. Upstairs, a further two bedrooms sit on either side of a shower room. The larger front bedroom looks towards the green across the road and combines fitted wardrobes, walk-in storage and access to the eaves. A partition that previously divided it has been removed, restoring its generous proportions.
Outside, the back garden is roughly a quarter of an acre. Landscaped by a Kew Gardens graduate, it has a circular lower lawn edged by a path, with further curved routes crossing the upper lawn and passing fruit trees. Along the back boundary, an old granite wall once enclosed Park House. Pines and a mature oak provide an established framework that a new owner would have the pleasure of inheriting.
Closer to the house, a patio and sheltered seating area offer places to follow the sun. Two block-built sheds provide practical storage, one serving as a utility space, while a steel shed is tucked among shrubs towards the back. Independent side access makes the garden easier to maintain.
The driveway has space for up to three cars, with a gravelled area offering further parking potential. Across the road, a green at the end of the cul-de-sac provides additional space for communal play.
Blackrock and Stillorgan are both accessible for shops, cafés and everyday needs, while nearby schools, UCD and sports facilities broaden the family appeal. Kilmacud Crokes at Glenalbyn is within walking distance and the N11 bus corridor offers connections towards the city centre.
The Pines offers serious scope for updating and reconfiguration. Its strongest assets are already firmly in place in the form of generous space, an adaptable layout and a mature garden that will let the next owners enjoy their next chapter in a particularly attractive and secluded setting.
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