Conveniently located five-bed on Seapoint Avenue with easy access to Blackrock and Monkstown villages

• Address: Seapoint House, 25 Seapoint Avenue, Monkstown, Co Dublin
• Price: €2,795,000
• Agent: Ann-Marie McCoy
• Journalist: Kevin Courtney of The Irish Times.

In Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, time is inverted, resulting in confusion and bafflement for the protagonist – and the viewer. In this mid-18th century marvel in south Dublin, time also seems to have been inverted but it all makes perfect sense. Look at the house from one angle, and it’s all sleek and new; look from another angle and it’s reassuringly classic and grand. As you explore this 345sq m (3,713sq ft) haven set well back from Seapoint Avenue, just behind Seapoint Dental Clinic, it soon becomes apparent how skilfully the two eras have been blended, and how cleverly the house has been redesigned and refurbished to suit residents of any age or stage. Timeless is the word that comes to mind. With a D2 Ber, the five-bedroom property is for sale through Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty, seeking €2.795 million.

Seapoint House has a triple-fronted facade with all the trimmings of the 1700s, including decorative plaques, and is tucked neatly behind wrought-iron security gates with a long, granite-walled front garden with ample lawns and gravelled parking for several cars. Step inside the front door with its fan window and your breath will be taken away by the stunning entrance hallway that runs the depth of the house, large enough to host a party without having to retreat to the kitchen.

The Portuguese limestone floor and the open fireplace with polished steel surround and slate hearth are eye-catching enough, but your eye will be drawn to the huge glass wall to the rear, which runs from floor to second-floor ceiling, and looks out onto the sun-drenched rear courtyard. In front of that is another marvel – an oak-clad floating steel staircase leading to the upstairs bedrooms.

There are two large reception rooms overlooking the front garden, both with large picture windows, wide-plank floors, ceiling coving, and open fireplaces with granite surround. The drawing room has integrated shelving a wine rack, and French doors leading into the inner hallway; the sitting room has lots of built-in shelving and is currently used by the owners as a combined office/relaxation space. Sounds like they’ve got the right work-life balance there.

The extensive refurbishment was done before the current owners moved in, but they added their touches, including putting down the new hall floor and moving the kitchen from the back to the front of the house, making the downstairs flow much more smoothly. The state-of-the-art kitchen and breakfast room now overlook the front garden and get the benefit of the morning light. The floor is tiled, the lighting is recessed and the floor and eye-level units are nicely streamlined. Fittings include stone work surfaces, a Samsung fridge-freezer, a Neff five-ring induction hob, a De Dietrich double oven, and an integrated dishwasher. There’s also a good-sized utility room and a guest WC on the ground floor.

Where the kitchen used to be is now an impressive family room with another eye-catching feature: a curved floor-to-ceiling window that looks out onto the rear courtyard garden. An electric fire with a raised marble hearth adds a cosy vibe to this room which, combined with the kitchen, nicely links the inside with the outside. The inner hallway has sliding doors opening out to the rear garden, which, though only 14.3m by 6.4m, is a whole world unto itself. The current owners got professional landscapers in to remove the lawn and put in paving, raised beds, outdoor lighting, and a water feature with a granite sculpture, all nestled behind a feature granite wall with a private raised roof terrace which provides a great space for relaxing. The rear courtyard makes for a great oasis and a focal point for relaxed living.