Timbers away as home shows its American influence with open layout

THERE is a strong American influence in this hand-built house near Kells, Co Kilkenny.

The vendor was also the builder here and native and imported timbers are used on a large scale, along with attractive arched windows and an open-plan layout.

So, the fascia boards and wide, baronial doorway are made from Douglas fir and windows are teak with glazing bars.

Wide-plank floor boards in fir are also used in the sitting room and maple is used in part of the kitchen. The upper floors have deal flooring and the main staircase is in pine.

There are just two main living rooms on the ground floor, but these fit the open-plan style of the house. The sitting room is a large space with a pine and cast-iron fireplace and the kitchen is a big, L-shaped room.

The attached garage allows access through the utility room to the house, so shopping can be unloaded in comfort: this comes with remote control roller doors.

One of the four bedrooms is located on the ground floor and could be pressed into use as a playroom or living room, if necessary.

Upstairs, are three bedrooms and a bathroom and the master has walk-in wardrobes, space for a balcony, with double-door access, and ensuite bathroom.

Rosenarra comes with a finished site of half an acre, oil heating and an alarm system.

Priced at €250,000, it is, according to Peter McCreery of Sherry FitzGerald McCreery, one of the finest houses to come on the market in the area for some time.

Kilkenny city is a 20 minute drive and Clonmel and Waterford city are less than an hour away.