A new-style country home where small is not an option

THE modern country house takes a different form from its predecessors, particularly the discrete Georgian variety.

A prime example of the new approach to country house architecture is this property on the Scarriff Road in Mountshannon, Co Clare. In an area where small is not an option, this behemoth tops them all.

Quirky and unusual, the house has 5,200 square feet, seven bedrooms, five ensuites, a four-acre site and top quality fittings. But the list doesn’t stop there - knacky stuff like a central vacuum system, zoned heating and a wired sound system are installed. All natural materials are used in the construction: the roof is slate, fascia board is Scandinavian larch and windows are double glazed teak.