Victorian style with modern comforts

Tommy Barker reports on a house where no expense has been spare on attention to detail.

DON’T believe your eyes, the Victorian look of a waterside house for sale in Kenmare Bay camouflages a very comfortable and thoroughly modern home inside.

Located at Templenoe Pier, the house was built five years ago by a local couple whose successful restaurant and guesthouse business in Kenmare means they aren’t making enough use of this place, clearly a pet project and labour of love and a not inconsiderable amount of cash.

Lodge-like in appearance with high roof pitches and ornate fascias and finials, the style gives a bit of class to what is, in effect, a dormer house in more mundane terms.

Extra spending on details is the key to the cohesive look and character: there are replica hardwood sash windows, hardwood external doors, painted hardwood fascia with carved barge boards, French doors and gable porthole windows.

In all, this 1,700 sq ft home has five bedrooms with two en suites, while several Velux windows flood natural light into the house and into the double height hallway with gallery landing overhead.

The main living room is also double height with sloping ceiling and chandelier, has a white marble fireplace, chandelier and French doors with water view across the one acre of gardens.

The country-style kitchen has maple topped and hand-stained (green) units and central island, and a hard wearing Marmoleum floor.

Two of the bedrooms are at ground level, and for those who don’t need five bedrooms one is readily adapted to office/study use.

Interior design is by Tralee’s Helen Casey, who specified lots of Irish materials such as quality carpets and the house overall has a strong feminine and classical or “timeless” feel with heritage colours, lots of soft furnishing and elaborate window treatments, with pelmets, tie backs and high-quality fabrics.

The sale includes almost all of the contents, including curtains, blinds, carpets, appliances, light fittings, prints and more and selling agent Heike O’Sullivan of Key Properties in Kenmare gives it a 950,000 price guide.

Amenities nearby include golf at the Ring of Kerry course, watersports at Dromquinna Manor, boating from the adjacent Templenoe Pier, horse riding, the Kerry Way walking route and beaches at Coss Strand and further out the scenic peninsula towards Caherdaniel and Derrynane.

Location of this ready to move into home is just over three miles from Kenmare and it will suit a full-time resident or holiday home buyer, say Key Properties.