The subtle decor at No 19 Wolseley Street, South Circular Road, Dublin 8, contributes to the welcoming mood, with a plentiful supply of natural light enhanced by soft white paints in many rooms, alternated by pale heritage shades from Farrow & Ball. Floorboards have been sanded and varnished back to their original honey sheen, while up on the top landing they are painted white and compliment the coloured and etched glass of the sash window.

The kitchen has been extended and steps out on to a sunny, sheltered deck. Add to all of that the characteristic, late Victorian features . . .

the house dates back to 1897 . . . such as tall elegant ceilings topped by delicate plasterwork, and also preserved cast-iron fireplaces, and you have a home with just the right balance of nostalgia and modernity.

While No 19 is a two-bed, this is not a small house by any means. There is an overall floor space of 129sq m (1,388sq ft), plus the attic has been tastefully converted.

The entrance hall retains its decorative ceiling cornice and centrepiece, while the white walls are currently complemented with a series of the owners' colourful abstract paintings. To the left is a large, open-plan reception room with high sash window to the front.

The guest cloakroom on this floor has black slate tile flooring. At the end of the hall is the kitchen-cum-diningroom with double patio doors. Fitted units here have a high-gloss finish and are topped by mahogany work surfaces.

A ceramic double sink and integrated appliances complete the working kitchen end of the room; the timber deck in the south-facing garden extends the function of the diningroom.

Upstairs, on the first landing, is the generously sized bathroom complete with bath and Mira power shower. The original floorboards here are painted, and the wash-handbasin sits into a tiled surround with shelving unit. Up on the second landing is the main bedroom, a charming space currently painted soft blue and retaining its original fireplace and sash windows.

The second bedroom, also a double, has a tiled fireplace while a separate wc completes the rooms on this level. At the top of the house, the converted attic offers good storage space and additional bedroom potential.

There has been significant demand for homes, as well as increased prices, in this part of Dublin 8 in recent weeks, and No 19 is sure to be no exception.

Price 850,000 Agent Felicity Fox 01-633 4431