Carrigaline family home is a home to nest in

Tommy Barker says there is a lot of quirky charm to Raven’s Rest and an independent granny flat too.

Ballyfeard, Carrigaline €450,000

Bedrooms: 4 plus 1

Bathrooms: 3 plus 1

BER: D2

Best Feature: Fully enhanced

THERE’S been lots of effort and spending done at the unusually named Raven’s Rest, at Ballyfeard a few miles from Carrigaline in south Cork, out toward Oysterhaven and the sea.

In fact, there’s been so much done, inside and out, it’s sort of a home to crow about.

Simply put, Raven’s Rest is a 2,400 sq ft dormer home with detached 400 sq ft one-bed granny flat, on a landscaped and enhanced acre with seating spaces, veg patch, paths ... and yet it’s more than that.

There’s been a quirky eye applied to parts, and a mason’s ability too, in things like an interior chimney breast, and in a head-high outdoors sheltered seating and BBQ spot by a raft of decking, constructed in old rubble or field stone and integrating salvaged windows.

It’s arty, and done with a good eye.

And, even the house’s name-plaque has a twist: there’s a cartoonish image of a raven, balming out on a hammock slub between twopalm trees, so no standing on ceremony here.

Inside, the house has a contemporary edge thanks to an upgraded wine-coloured gloss kitchen with lots of stainless steel in appliances and sink/drainer, with Fisher and Paykel dishwashers, and the main bathroom has also been upgraded, with a large corner bath, while the master bed upstairs has its own en suite.

Decor’s assured too, not afraid to use strong colours and papers, and it’s a refreshing change from all-cream neutral and safe homes. Here, there’s even an extra lift thanks to collections of African and ethnic art.

Raven’s Rest has two linked reception rooms plus family room, kitchen/breakfast room, ground floor bedroom by a guest WC, and its high-hat dormer roof fits in three bedrooms, with one en suite.

There’s a lean-to glazed shelter behind for clothes, log and dogs drying, and the 400 sq ft detached granny flat is entirely independent of the main dwelling, with its own services.

VERDICT: The owner’s no rookie - there’s practical personality put into Raven’s Rest.