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something different
This Edwardian fixer-upper in Glasnevin is ready for its next chapter
With period features ready to be restored and a large back garden, Ardmeen is a truly special townhouse.
FOR ANYONE READY to take on a project, Ardmeen is certainly the kind of house that will make wannabe renovators reach for the sketchbook or start a new Pinterest board. This eye-catching Edwardian home at 66 Iona Road needs updating, but beneath its finishes lies a beautiful period home with elegant proportions, original details and a wonderfully large garden.
Its red-brick façade sets the tone, opening into a traditional entrance hall with high ceilings, decorative cornicing and lovely timber joinery. These features continue throughout the house, where panelled doors, period fireplaces and large sash-style windows offer plenty to preserve.
The scale of the ground floor is particularly impressive. Four reception rooms provide remarkable flexibility, including a large bay-windowed front room. The adjoining dining room is almost as generous, while separate living and sitting rooms offer further space for family life, entertaining or working from home.
A future renovation could retain these formal rooms or reconfigure the back of the house for a more contemporary rhythm. The existing kitchen, utility area and ground floor bathroom provide a starting point, with the house’s overall proportions allowing scope for an interesting redesign.
Upstairs are four bedrooms and a separate study. The main bedrooms are spacious, with the largest extending to 6m by 4.6m. A substantial bathroom and separate toilet complete the upper floor. There is useful storage throughout, including shelving and a dedicated storage room.
The interiors are undeniably dated and will need plenty of repair, that’s also the appeal of Ardmeen. This house was never stripped of its identity or subjected to somebody else’s version of modernity. Its next owners have the opportunity to restore its best architectural features while introducing the comforts, efficiency and layout expected of a modern family home.
Outside, the mature garden adds another dimension. Predominantly laid to lawn and bordered by established hedging and planting, it offers a sense of depth and privacy for such a well-connected Dublin address. A paved area sits immediately behind the house, while a brick-built outbuilding provides storage and possible scope for another use, if planning allows.
Iona Road has long been admired for its handsome streetscape and collection of period houses. From here, Glasnevin Village, Drumcondra and Phibsborough are all within easy reach, along with the National Botanic Gardens and Griffith Park. Local schools, shops, cafés and public transport are close at hand, while Dublin city centre remains readily accessible.
Ardmeen will need investment and a good eye, but the ingredients are here like the elegant façade, grand rooms, Edwardian details and a great-sized garden. For a buyer prepared to do the work, this could be a really special Dublin family home.
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