A delightful house in a superb setting with amazing views, Carrick, on the Old Carrickbrack Road, Baily, Howth is unique.

Its timeless charm and style is enhanced by the perfection of the gardens, which consist of nearly three acres, steeply terraced into the hillside, with orchards, two lawns, seating areas and a secret garden -- all poised to take full advantage of incomparable views over Dublin Bay, the port and the Dublin Mountains.

The seven-bed house, set over of 390sqm, is supremely elegant. A bungalow to the front, it extends into two storeys at the back and this area accommodates a second kitchen, a living room, six of the seven bedrooms, two of the bathrooms and a sewing room.

A glazed veranda porch fronts the entrance to the parquet-floored hall and the three formal reception rooms. Exposed beams in the dining room and a cut- stone fireplace in the drawing room, together with an open fire and shelving in the rear living room, are complemented by tasteful decor. The main kitchen and breakfast room is equipped with an extensive range of appliances and opens to a family room with a bathroom and guest toilet off.

Built-in closets and an en suite with bath and separate shower are features of the master bedroom.

Colliers Jackson Stops are currently showing. 01 6333700

Property ladder, Irish Independent, 9 May 2008

She started with an apartment, then a cottage, and now this beautiful €1.395m Killiney family home - Tanyia Elliott has caught the renovating bug. But it’s another lucky family that will live in it, says Jacqueline Kavanagh, as the Elliotts are already in search of their next project ...

Tanyia Elliott admits that in the midst of renovating the attractively-located Sans Souci, Killiney Hill Road, Killiney, Co Dublin, the name - sans souci means 'no worries' in French - didn't seem, well, quiet appropriate.

"We'd often laugh about the name," explains Tanyia. "Right in the middle of everything, when things were going wrong - and things always go wrong when renovating like delays or you take down something and find a million more problems - it wasn't exactly suitable. We thought about changing it, but it'll be suitable for the next buyer."

Tanyia and her husband Stephen Keating bought the 140sqm, four-bedroom property last spring with the intention of renovating it and selling it. In fact, this is the third property in four years for the couple and it's turned out so well they are tempted to stay.

"When we bought it, it was in disrepair but in a great location and we saw the potential in it," says Tanyia. "It was built in the 1970s and I don't think anything had been done to it since then. It wasn't exactly falling down, but it needed a lot of upgrading and updating. We liked the open plan, which you see in many of the houses built then, so we kept that."

The work has transformed the property beyond all recognition.

"We re-plumbed and re-wired, there are new doors, new bathrooms and a new kitchen. New everything really," she laughs.

Four years ago, recognising there was a demand in the market for creatively, well-designed properties, the couple decided they would enjoy a challenge. Their first project was an apartment in Tullyvale in South Dublin, which they furnished and sold on. A successful first sale encouraged them on to a more ambitious project -- a cottage in need of complete renovation. When the work was completed it sold in just four weeks. Tanyia now admits she's bitten by the renovation bug and is eager for more projects.

"It was the first time I'd done this kind of thing and I found I could actually do it, I really enjoyed doing it and it was profitable," says Tanyia, who is now considering renovating properties as a career. She is also the managing director of a lighting company, Lumitech, while Stephen is the director of a flooring company. Naturally, particular attention was paid to the lights and flooring, and it shows. Light-coloured Sienna-oak floors and chandeliers imported from Italy help create an impressively bright property.

The large picture windows in the living room, which features a gas fireplace with Portuguese Limestone surround and mantle piece, offer views over the manicured garden. The attractive oak kitchen hosts a breakfast bar and doors out to the garden. The bright and airy master bedroom's en suite features mosaic-style tiled walls and a large shower. And location is without doubt one to boast about.

"It's pretty spectacular," smiles Tanyia. "We're five minutes from Killiney beach and five minutes from the Dart. We can see the sea from the living room and bedrooms and every weekend, we walk into Dalkey and have lunch. I'm tempted to stay but I like to keep moving."

The couple admit they're now on the look out for their next project. And it's that drive to keep moving that's pushing the couple to give up the new attractive oak kitchen, professionally landscaped garden and sea views.

"When I'm in the middle of a renovation, I sometimes wonder what on earth am I doing, why don't I just buy a house that's ready made," says Tanyia. "I keep all the brochures from when I bought them and then when we're selling I look back to see all the changes. It's then I get a nice feeling of satisfaction."

Collier Jackson-Stops 01 6333700. Asking €1.395, reduced from €1.5m.