Luxury in the forest

FANCY going out to Farran this autumn?

Forest walks, lakes and the Lee are part of the package offered and the Killumney stretch of the Ballincollig bypass is the newly laid runway to this pastoral paradise.

And, although it's been said to the point of boredom, buying an existing property here is the only way you'll get to live in what the signs describe as 'the beautiful Lee valley'.

Which makes family homes in Farran exclusive on that basis alone, but when you take in the depth, breath and location of Forest Lodge, you get the whole upmarket, trading-up package.

Glittering marble floors, an intricately designed and turned mahogany staircase and a facade that's certainly not run-of-the-mill should bring in the buyers for Con Dennehy and Lara McCarthy of Property Choice.

They're selling this 3,500 square foot house near the National Park in Mid-Cork for offers in excess of €690,000.

First off, this is a timber-frame house and is highly insulated which means heating bills will be low for the footprint involved: after all, Forest Lodge has six bedrooms, two living rooms, a study and kitchen/diner.

But that's too anodyne a description for a house that has an unusual internal layout.

Entrance is from the side, (because orientation and sunlight were a major part of the requirements in the build), and leads onto a split level hallway with this huge, central staircase. Drop down one level and you come to the main lounge: accessed through mahogany double doors this faces west and has two bay windows taking in views of Inniscarra Lake.

Flooring is cherrywood and ceiling heights here are 10', with recessed lighting. All of the floors in this house have sound-proofing and are top of the range with an acute attention to detail.

The family room is off the kitchen and has a oil burning stove and an elm beam across its mellow brick hearth. It leads off the main hallway and the kitchen/diner which is hand-built in elm and granite and has a walk in larder. To the front double doors lead onto a deck of 20' by 15' which has a majestic view over the entire valley.

And while there's a utility off the kitchen there's that rather posh, but very sensible extra, a mud room, leading out to the back garden.

There are three further rooms on the ground floor, but they're up one level from the living rooms, which gives a physical break to the discrete areas.

One is an ensuite bedroom, the second is a study and the third, one of the bedrooms, is used as a playroom.

The next level has four really big bedrooms ranged around a landing with a separate balcony area, overlit with a large Velux.

Narrow board pine runs everywhere and there are at least two walk-in storage areas with a walk-in wardrobe and separate bathroom in the master suite.

The attic is floored and ready to go for more space, but you'd hardly need it in this large house.

Cleverly, the detached garage is connected to the main house by a continuation of the roof and here, there's full planning for a 1,200 square foot granny flat with two bedrooms.

Forest Lodge is exceptionally well finished: this is a house where you won't want for an extra socket it's got a place for everything and everything in its place.