For although the house itself has that attractive look of the 1920s in its architecture, the Woodlands scheme of detached homes and apartments was actually built in the 1990s by Ballymore Properties as a modern development but with the style of a bygone era.

The natural setting within a mature site all added to the authentic feel of the place, particularly as many of the original trees were listed for preservation. Detached and with some 130sq m (1,400sq ft) of well-planned interior accommodation, number 10 is within walking distance of the south beach and the Dart station at Greystones.

The generous rear garden is circa 50sq ft and designed to make the most of its seclusion and south-westerly orientation. That square shape, as opposed to the usual long, narrow garden to the rear of most homes, gave Mary more scope to create different "outdoor rooms".

"With side passages almost "ve feet wide, the gardens front and rear bene"t from that extra space. I began planting around 1997, putting in old favourites by degrees such as pittisporum, holly and numerous evergreens and these have matured to create a very private space, with a secret garden right at the bottom."

Among the many attractive interior rooms in the house itself are the generously-sized reception hall; the Shaker "tted kitchen with a dining area opening onto the patio; and the drawing room with charming period features such as the deep box bay window and timber and marble "replace.

Other rooms at ground"oor level comprise the formal dining room which interconnects with the kitchen, and also the fully "tted utility with good storage provision and a door to the rear garden.

Upstairs is the master bedroom with bay window and en suite, two further double bedrooms, one single bedroom, and a large, bathroom with marble "oor.

Outside, the front garden has a large, gravelled drive with a lawn to one side. Mature hedging gives great privacy here and there are wellstocked "ower beds with lush evergreen shrubs.

The twin-gated side entrances lead to the rear garden which is designed around a circular lawn. Next to the house is an inviting patio with outdoor furniture and tubs of spring bulbs, while at the opposite end is Mary's "secret garden", approached through an arch covered in climbing plants and sheltered by specimen trees and shrubs.

According to its creator, the key to the charm of this lovely garden was getting the design right from the start.

"I love moving the smaller plants around to create a different emphasis, and you can really enjoy doing that once you get the layout sorted at the beginning. It's a real sun-trap garden too, which makes any gardening task a pleasure . . . not a chore."

Agent: Lennox Estates 01 286 8275 Price: 890,000