Get that retro feeling in Vermont

Rose Martin steps back in time in a groovy 1970s bungalow.

THE term ‘museum piece’ would give an immediate but the wrong impression of Vermont, a 1970s bungalow that hasn’t changed since it was built.

Designed by architect Stephen Hyde, it has those quintessential ’70s touches such as a split-level living room and stand-alone fireplace.

And the curious thing is that all these fittings remain and have come back into fashion — so this house’s roof line and gable garage attachment are bang up to date again.

A simple enough three-bedroom bungalow, it was designed to track the sun all day and has a really private seating area, with fishpond, on the sunny side. All of the living rooms and the master bedroom overlook this area.

Rooms open up to the apex and include oak stained beams — windows are in teak and so is the kitchen, which has hand-fired tiles in orange and brown.

The kitchen table and chairs were handmade in Galway by Al O’Dea and work well: the sugáin chairs are very comfortable and the room has a sit-up island/ breakfast bar, all very groovy at the time.

The main living room is dominated by a Picasso copy, the work of the vendor, whose abstract and bright style works well with the design of the room.

Here, the egg-shaped fireplace acts as a divider in the split-level room with the upper level giving straight onto the garden. The lower and cosy level faces the fire.

Entrance is at the side and via a bright, square hallway which also gives access to the amazing, timepiece bathroom.

Tiled in wine, with burgundy bathroom fittings, it’s a one-off room that adds a dash of panache to the overall look.

Vermont has a cosy, almost cottagey feel and the orientation adds to this: backup heating is very noughties however, as the house has a zoned and pressurised central heating system.

It stands on a half-acre site, on high ground between Monkstown and Douglas and is in a great location for commuters.

The garage area could easily be absorbed into the house and used as a master suite: it already comes with a bathroom and small utility area with a main room of 15’ by 10’.

The site size, of course, would also allow for an extension on the three-bed, two bath layout.

Malcolm Tyrrell of Cohalan Downing is the selling agent for the property and he’s looking for offers in the region of €725,000 for this cute time-capsule property.