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Hope springs eternal in Harold's Cross

Despite the challenging times, the owner of 17 Parkview Avenue in Dublin 6 is optimistic about a sale, writes Valerie Shanley

Number 17 sits in an Edwardian terrace opposite the park off Harold's Cross Road; it has been refurbished and redecorated and has three bedrooms, a converted attic and paved rear garden

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To say this is a challenging time for anyone putting their home up for sale is putting it mildly, but hope springs eternal among sellers – even in this most impaired property market.

The owner of this refurbished and redecorated red brick three-bed in Harold's Cross is optimistic: "Obviously this is an uncertain time, but there is some hope signalled by the financial intervention announced last week."

Number 17 Parkview Avenue, Dublin 6, was built in 1905 and sits in the middle of an Edwardian terrace in a cul de sac opposite the park off Harold's Cross Road – a location that brings plenty of benefits, says the owner.

"We absolutely love the area and have great neighbours here. I work in the city centre, just a 30-minute walk away each morning. But we are beginning to outgrow the house itself, and so a move is inevitable."

The family moved here in 2005. Previous owners had done some renovation but new improvements included replacing the uPVC windows with timber sliding sashes, in keeping with the origins of the house, and extending the attic to create a home office and extra sleeping space. The most striking conversion is definitely the bathroom.

"Originally, there was a tiny bathroom with a single bedroom next door, but we sacrificed the bedroom because we wanted to accommodate a roll-top tub."

The property has not been extended, although the owner believes that what is now the breakfast room may have originally been incorporated from an adjacent outdoor shed. There is 104 sq m (1,120 sq ft) of floor space, and original wooden flooring, ceiling cornices and centre roses have been retained in principal rooms.

Through the front door with its stained glass panel, the house opens into the high-ceilinged hallway, painted chalky white, and with plaster archway and door at the far end into the kitchen. Leading to the right is the living room which has a marble fireplace with cast iron inset, and double doors to the dining room, also with original marble fireplace.

The long galley kitchen will tick many viewers' boxes. This is a really bright space, courtesy of three windows, a skylight and a door to the garden, but the natural light is tempered by soft cream painted walls and fitted units, while the wooden wainscotting below the dado rail is painted duck egg blue.

The first floor return is given over completely to the bathroom, with wood panelling similar to the kitchen – this time painted white, and with aqua walls above. The newly configured room is big enough for plenty of storage, while also retaining its cast iron fireplace to complement that old style bath.

On the first floor are the three bedrooms, two with original fireplaces and one with picture rail. Two large roof windows fill the converted attic with natural light. The office area here has a built-in desk, bookshelves and recessed lighting.

The rear garden is completely paved with slate flagstones while the white boundary walls are broken here and there by the blue painted shed door and pedestrian back gate. Raised flower beds, plus evergreen climbers and a mature tree, soften the hard paving. To the front, it's equally low maintenance, with a gravelled garden framed by box hedging and clipped bay trees.

Asking price: €595,000

Further details: Felicity Fox 01 633 4431