Dormer delight at Ar mBaile

THEY do dormers designs well down around Clonakilty, and the elevated Ardfield setting near the sea and overlooking the west Cork coastline has many examples to prove the point.

At the risk of finding crude reasons for refined results, it is partly because the lack of sewage treatment facilities has capped development in the hinterland. This means most new builds are one-offs, and on large enough sites to take septic tanks or bio-cycle treatment plants.

Because the area is considered a bit of a property hot-spot, it has high property values, so to secure their investment people spend a bit more on house design.

Case in point on the modern dormer front is Ar mBaile, one of three broadly similar dormer designs in a row in the village done by local man Michael O’Leary.

The owners bought it new about three years ago, and are relocating nearer to Cork city, hence its market arrival with John Loughnan of Sherry FitzGerald.

He says the interior finish and lay-out truly is top-notch, and with over 2,000 sq ft of space and a site of half an acre it is most likely going to be bought as a permanent home, or else as a holiday base for a family with future retirement options to the area. There’s a detached 280 sq ft studio/home office/play room with WC to the side.

There are beaches and coves aplenty, with a wide selection close by.

The house has four first floor bedrooms, with a fifth at ground level, the kitchen is an up-market affair by the Italian company Scavolini, whose built-ins feature in the ground floor bedroom.

Living accommodation includes a open plan kitchen/dining to the left, opening to a sun room, there’s a sitting room behind, plus large hall, utility and guest WC.

Upstairs the sanitary ware is by Villeroy and Boch, there’s a Jacuzzi bath, the attic has pull-down stairs and is floored for storage, and heating is zoned and oil fired.

Other features include a pressurised water system, surround sound wiring, chrome electrical sockets, teak doors... in other words, a pretty high-end specification, with the sea beckoning.