Get a leg up with superb walk-in near city centre
First up, it is within a handy walk of Cork city centre, but comes with a Douglas address and setting. It is a modern 1980s interloper within the 1950s Ashdale estate, just off the south Douglas Road.
And, it is also in walk-in condition, much improved upon by its owners of the past six years, who are returning to live and work in Dublin. They were, firstly, attracted by the location when they came to Cork city. When they saw the space and clever layout of this deceptive four-bed house, they immediately plumped for it. It will do that “pleasant surprise” thing again now for the next occupants.
Don’t be fooled by the exterior of this house, and its three neighbouring semis; the dash exterior does nothing for them, colour-wise or feature-wise: look instead at the broad spread of windows in the front reception rooms instead as clue as to differences within.
That main 16’ by 12’ sitting room has a central main window, in four panes, with matching side windows for extra light. It works in creating the sense of extra space, and even the entrance hall is a foot or two wider than the norm. That hall has a dog-leg turn before it opens to the 17’ by 9’ kitchen, a recent-enough installation with painted units and beech worktops, looking very much a well laid-out spot for a keen chef.
The owners knocked a wall from here into the back reception, now used as a dining room, its open fireplace pressed into service as a wine rack, and there’s a patio sheltered by the extended kitchen’s side wall.
The stairs pop up midway along the hall, leading to a U-shaped landing, with four bedrooms off, all of them fairly sized and three have built-ins. There’s a ground floor guest loo, but no first floor en suite, while the main bathroom is a big space, with corner quadrant shower and pumped unit, with a side bath with red mosaic walls surrounding it.
It is a well-tiled, smart space in all, there’s a heated towel rail, and even the vanity mirror over the sink is heated - a real condensation killer.
Selling agent for this 1,418 sq ft four-bed is Ann O’Mahony of Sherry Fitzgerald, who pitches it at €410,000, about the value level of much older three-beds semis in the area. No 2 Palmgrove is a bit of a surprise, it needs nothing much added: its kitchen and bathroom are both finished to a good spec, well up to any modern buyer’s expectations, floors are good (the hall and kitchen are done with reclaimed tiles), colours are solid and confident, heating is gas-fired windows and the quality teak front door are recent replacements, the walled-in back garden has a westerly aspect, there’s off-street parking for a couple of cars, a bus stop 50 yards away, and both the city centre and Douglas village are walkable options.
