Property packed with surprises

WHEN it comes to house extensions, there's a place called stop - and stop was eventually called at this Leamlara, Co Cork home.

An original 'cottage on an acre,' it was bulked up in size from an original home of perhaps 800 sq ft to now stand and spread out at about 3,000 sq ft.

Called Mountleader, this country pad is on an acre of roadside site 11 miles from Cork city, six from burgeoning Midleton and four miles from satellite/commuter village Watergrasshill.

The home of builder Padraig Coughlan, it is packed with surprises, but the big surprise is just how sizeable it all is.

"It is a place you just have to see, you have no idea of how big it is until you get inside, and the work is all done to a very high quality," says Glanmire estate agent Don Murphy who expects it to make over €500,000.

It has things like a 'parent's suite,' a large mezzanine bedroom up on top of a private TV room or lounge. This lower room has a gas stove, french doors, and open tread stairs to the masters suite where the unexpected continues.

There's a roll-top slipper bath in the corner of this bedroom, with ball and claw feet, the en suite bathroom has a Jacuzzi bath and shower, and there are his 'n' hers dressing rooms to boot.

In all, Mounleader has five bedrooms (two en suite,) and the main family bathroom has a sunken bath. Other rooms include the private lounge, a kitchen/dining room with cream painted units, utility, a TV room, a sitting room and a sunroom/games room, and the living areas are all of a good size. In addition, there's a double garage, workshop, kennels and extensive paved area.

The interior is fresh in appearance, with wood and tile floors, natural materials are used liberally 'though glazing and fascia, and chutes are in low-work PVC, the house has oil heating throughout and an alarm, and built-ins are generously scattered about.