Stone built in an idyllic spot
SPEND the €850,000 or so sought for 4, Cuan Dor Haven and you get to look down on a castle.
The modern-built, stone-faced house overlooks Kilfinnan Castle in super-expensive Glandore the tiny village has more millionaires than you could shake a stick at as locals are fed up to the back teeth of hearing and seeing in print.
There's a wealth of contrasts in coastal Glandore, and wealth or the shortage of it isn't the only divide. In winter, the place is whisper quiet, in summer it is roaring busy.
What doesn't diminish is the physical beauty of the place, and the views of Glandore Harbour, guarded by Adam and Eve, the two islands known to the yachting community as the gates to the harbour.
Meanwhile, Cuan Dor Haven has its own gates, much more restrictive than those in the harbour, to ensure maximum security and privacy for the 12 Victorian-style houses in the exclusive development.
Number 4 is being sold by Charles McCarthy auctioneer, and is the first of the 12 to come up for resale since it was bought new five years ago. In that time, the price has more than tripled.
Besides the views, the privacy and the well to do neighbours, is a four bedroom detached home with all the extras.
The house, with stone front and feature fascia, is set on landscaped grounds with stone paved terracing at the rear on two levels. The gardens are mainly in lawn interspersed with a small selection of plants and flowering shrubs.
Inside, wood is the feature of the day, with the interior pine joinery designed and custom built by Glenline Furniture.
Their handiwork can be seen in the fully fitted and integrated kitchen, built-in desk and display unit in the study, and wardrobes and dressing tables in the bedrooms. The interiors are definitely traditional, with natural materials the order of the day.
The first room for mention in the house is the pine cloakroom, with an adjoining bathroom. Next up is the kitchen/dining room, with slate floor tiles, pine units with granite worktops, and French doors to the rear terrace.
There is also the sitting room, with French doors to the terrace, a hand-cut stone fireplace, oak floor and built-in pine cabinets. Among the traditional features is one hi-tech concession in the name of entertainment the room has been fitted with surround sound.
Last but not least on the ground floor is the study with the aforementioned pine furniture. This level has underfloor heating, while the upper floors have electronic ceiling heating installed.
On the next level up is the sleeping accommodation, which consists of four bedrooms, two en suite, all with built-in wardrobes and dressing tables in pine, plus the main bathroom.
The top floor, the attic, has been floored and can be accessed via a Stira stairs.
When the Cuan Dor Haven development first went on the market, sales were slow. Now it will be interesting to see what happens with number 4, which is triple the original price but has a location and social status second to none.
Glandore is eight miles from the market town of Skibbereen, 45 miles from Cork city.
