An impressive house with a Coole address in Rochestown

THE right side of the Rochestown road has always had a certain literal quality to it.

Built thirty years ago, 'Coole' is a property for swans rather than geese and is one of a select number of houses just off the main road.

Originally, these houses would have had four bedrooms, (they have all been added onto over time) and were probably the first of their kind to have that swanky luxury of the late sixties the ground floor loo.

The rise of the Rochestown road as a desirable location probably started at around the same time also, as the industry rich city (remember Fords and Dunlop's) finally had the salary level to fund two bathrooms.

All that seems very far away now in en suite Ireland but the houses remain a perfect example of the expansionist nature of the '70's economy.

Coole has generously proportioned rooms, with a wide hallway and similarly-sized landing space.

While it had two reception rooms originally, it now has four: the main drawing room extends outwards into the garden giving a second reception room and overhead is a master bedroom with en suite.

The dining room forms an L to the main drawing room and living room and in turn, leads to the fully fitted kitchen, which has a window overlooking the front garden.

Further on again is the utility room - this is almost the same size as the kitchen and has a range of built-ins. A door leads to the back and a door leads to the side of the house where there's a garden shed and a small yard with double gates to the front for security.

The family / television room is off the kitchen and has built in library panelling and a window overlooking the front garden: this is the least formal room of the house.

The upper floor illustrates a strong feature of the property - lots of light. It's only when you get high enough that you appreciate the benefit of picture windows.

Now out of fashion these wide frames allow maximum light, but their size requires wide rooms which were to be had in the seventies, when land prices were cheaper. In the new millennium, every millimetre counts in new developments.

The extended master bedroom overlooks the rear garden and leads on to the smallest room in the house - which at a push could be a double. There is still plenty of room left over in the tree double bedrooms. Two of the rooms have lovely decorative touches and would be ideal for young children.

With a third of an acre site, this kind of exclusivity and space, doesn't come cheap, but estate agent Billy Casey is confident the location alone will bring in the buyers.

Casey and Kingston are the agents and they are seeking offers in excess of 700,000 euro.