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Take the grand tour of this Victorian villa with the Irish Sea at its feet
Saint Kilda is on the market for a whopping €14,000,000.
AT SAINT KILDA, the Irish Sea is like a living piece if art. Part of everyday life, its set on a private acre overlooking the water in Sandycove, this detached Victorian villa combines the proportions of a country house with one of Dublin’s most coveted coastal addresses.
A recent renovation has kept the house’s period character firmly in view. Granite steps lead to a reception hall with parquet flooring, restored detailing and Morris & Co wallpaper. From there, the main rooms open towards the gardens and the Irish Sea.
The kitchen makes the most of that outlook. Designed by Jonathan Williams, it centres on a Calacatta Gold marble island, while a concealed butler’s kitchen takes care of the practical work behind the scenes. The adjoining dining and drawing rooms lead to terraces on opposite sides of the house: one facing the sea, the other catching the late afternoon sun. A separate family room can be turned into a cinema room for quieter evenings.
The main bedroom is its own suite on the main floor, with a sitting area, dressing room, en suite bathroom and, of course, more sea views. Five further double bedrooms sit at garden level, four of them have en suite bathrooms. This lower floor also has a home office overlooking the lawn and a generous games and entertainment room, giving the household plenty of room to spread out.
The acre of grounds brings a degree of privacy that is hard to find on this stretch of coast. Planning permission is already in place for a heated swimming pool and garden rooms on the seaward side, along with a substantial multi-car garage at the avenue frontage.
Beyond the gates, Sandycove’s amenities are all close at hand – the Forty Foot, the James Joyce Tower and the cafés of Glasthule are all nearby. Saint Kilda offers the unusual combination of a large family home, room to grow and a sea view worth pausing for, with a coffee in hand, every morning.
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