Chance to have plenty of irons in the fire

YOU can have quite a few irons in the fire at the Old Forge, a West Cork renovation job with a three-bed main dwelling of 1,600 sq ft, a one-bed guest apartment, and a large 800 sq ft workshed/out-building as well, still used as a working forge and metal works.

Kilnameela Forge is close to Ahiohill, in that inland hinterland between Enniskeane and Clonakilty, and is described as a picture postcard property by estate agent Martin Kelleher of SWS Property Services in Clonakilty.

Set just on the edge of the village, on a small roadside site, it has essential services to hand, and in fact would have been one of the local essential services of the locality when built back in the mid 1800s.

Thanks to its French metal work owner Jacques Hovarth, it has had a tasty makeover, one that has kept faith with building’s past and material used, so that there are lots of high ceilinged spaces, exposed beams, rough stone wall painted white for brightness, and indeed light does seem to flood in this home when the sun is out. (When the sun is gone, the house has oil heating for comfort, as well as several solid fuel stove options, in the living room, kitchen and guest apartment, while the tall ceilinged lounge has a corner fireplace with sloping chimney breast.)

The old world look is set from the pitch-roofed entrance porch inwards, with an internal glass door leading to the slate-floored 17’ by 13’ living room, with dual aspect and open fireplace.

The second reception room, the marginally-smaller lounge or study, has garden access via attractive glazed double doors, and the kitchen is country-style with stove, exposed rafters and a Belfast top space, with a scullery and utility, as well as guest WC alongside.

High vaulted ceilings and wood beams feature again in the first floor landing areas, with exposed stone corridors and some exposed stone in one of the bedrooms, and the old theme continues into the main loo, with antique fittings and old cast iron bath.

The self-contained guest apartment continues the look of old material carefully used, and this space comes with a vaulted kitchen/living room with cast iron stove,

bathroom, lofted space bedroom and a conservatory.