The colour and texture of the soft and weathered brick, the intricacy of the pointing and the flat symmetry of their facades are all instantly attractive . . . and it makes no difference whether the house opens right onto the street or the grand front door meets a flight of fine granite steps.

No 3 Wolseley Street off South Circular Road is a typical Dublin 8 redbrick, built for the Victorian middle classes. Refurbished five years ago by the owner, it has that atmosphere of grandeur that these old houses exude and which she found instantly enticing despite its state of repair when she bought it.

It's quite a grand house for its size and I think it's because of the high ceilings and room proportions. They seem to create a sense of space and height that makes these homes so wonderful.

The situation of the rooms, the return, the staircase and the way you can feel so far away when you're in the bedrooms upstairs all make it feel very spacious ."

When she bought, the property was laid out in three bedsits which stretched right into the garden. The owner decided less would be more, so demolished and rebuilt a smaller extension allowing her to create a wonderful lightfilled space at ground-floor level as well as a deck and patio garden.

The various jobs of rewiring, replumbing, knocking down and rebuilding took about six months but today the beautifully decorated 105 sq m (1120 sq ft) house is a ready-to-walk-in home.

The owner is on the move and on the look-out for a larger house to refurbish and so No 3 on this quiet, treelined street is up for sale by private treaty through Felicity Fox, whose asking price is 750,000. The use of space creates a great flow throughout the house, with the hall leading through to two very good reception rooms which interconnect. Here, the high ceilings, period fireplaces and ceiling plasterwork make for two luxurious rooms . . . favourite flop spot of Jack the Bijon Friese.

I wanted to enhance that sense of space so I decorated with soft Farrow and Ball colours. When you stand in the living room in the front you can see all the way through to the garden at the back.

I created a good outdoor space here because it is so private and when you sit out there, you're not overlooked but can see the redbrick chimney tops of the neighbouring houses."

The kitchen, in classic shaker-style cream, is elegant with a slightly country twist thanks to the timberpanelled ceiling, tiled floor and overhanging pot rack and is a most relaxing room for cooking and dining.

The deck behind is very much the outdoor room and, as the owner says, once the enticing smells of the barbecue season begins, neighbours and friends will be popping around to enjoy warmer evenings.

Upstairs and onto the first floor, the large bathroom is a spacious showstopper that overlooks the garden. There are three bedrooms with timber floors. There is a guest wc in the attic area.

The best thing about here is not just the house, but the area and the sense of community, " says the owner.

People are very welcoming and there is a good mix of homeowners who have been here all their lives and their families before them, and newer owners who are mainly couples or people with young families.

I've always walked into the city, which takes about 10 minutes, so you're not worried about traffic or transport."

This is the owner's home, but she also renovates properties as her business.

And while location and size and condition of a property will dictate whether she will take it on, she firmly believes instinct is just as important in any property purchase.

Before anybody buys a home, they should really listen to their own first reaction because it is that atmosphere you get when you first walk in . . . no matter what condition a house is in . . .

that dictates your feelings about a house.

You may feel there is too much work and it will stress you out too much, but if you feel you can take on a project, then you should go with your gut feeling about a house. Location and light are priorities, but that first feeling is all-important to whether you are going to enjoy the house and enjoy creating a home of your own."

Price: 785,000 Agent: Felicity Fox 01- 6334431