Home is where the heart is with this one of a kind

THERE’S a lot to be said for leaving well enough alone, and Glanleam is a perfect example of that philosophy.

An untouched family home par excellence, in a setting to match, it will get the pulses racing among aspirational traders-up in Cork’s Blackrock suburb.

However, as it is for sale with a €1.2 million guide through agents Sherry FitzGerald, it is going to come under heavy viewing, and most probably bidding, too.

Many will be factoring in further sums to spend to modernise, but the good news is that unless you’re a committed slave to fashion, any further spending is fairly discretionary — so blow your budget as you won’t get many offerings like this again. Then, once its yours, you can always save for any upgrades (OK, the kitchen is going to go), as you savour the setting.

Edwardian, and with a doff of its hat to early Victoriana, Glanleam is full of pleasing little features, from oak, tiled and stone fireplaces to wooden fretwork arch dividers on its first floor landing, with high ceilings and original pine floors.

It will suit a range of buyers looking for a next-step family home. It is detached, has five bedrooms and immediate scope for more; it has off-street parking and security, private gardens, easy-going planting and pond, and it is south-facing to the rear, where its best face or facade is.

The location is stellar — right next to Blackrock village, with its trendy bakery and outdoor weekend market doing a roaring trade, and it has schools, pubs, shops, churches, sports amenities, walks and more all on its doorstep.

Recent nearby sales show the trend and demand: we reported last week on the quick sale of the period Chiplee, which achieved €200,000 over its asking price via Frank V Murphy & Co, fetching €2.6 million, while the latest Janeville Blackrock/Ballintemple house is closing a sale at €1.4m via Cohalan Downing.

Now, Sheila O’Flynn and Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald enter the upper end of the Blackrock sales fray with Glanleam.

It is only being sold because vendors Sandy and Mary Hyland’s own gang have flown the coop and with 2,400 sq ft of space and more, it is just too big to keep up. You get the feeling if they could boil it all down, reduce it and keep it, they would.

It is a family home with real heart, and open fire hearths, with an unapologetic use of primary colours in its decoration and, yes, it is of an age and style which necessitates upkeep and a maintenance budget. But, heck, if you manage to buy, and have a handy bit of extra cash, you’d also gladly lavish it on this house in the coming years.

It has two grand attic level bedrooms, filled with light from the big box dormers set into the slate roof (with a home study or store in between, with old skylight), the main first floor bedrooms are also fine bright rooms and the master bedroom has two sash windows and a working open fire. There are two other first floor bedrooms plus a bathroom and separate WC, and the ground floor has a grand selection of rooms.

The formal reception is to the left of the hall, with its original bay and sash window, across the hall is a front-to back kitchen/dining/family room — there’s also a study/den to the back, which is a real evening retreat — and a pantry leading to a laundry/utility, with guest WC.

Beyond, in the surfeit of service space is the annexed (in more ways than one) big games room, with steep stairs to a sixth bedroom, which is private enough for adult offspring, au pair or other user.

Glanleam has that warm patina of age and loving care (the camerawork here doesn’t lie) and while there’s space galore for the children, the garage and store, which act as a buffer between the house and Blackrock Road, will hold precious cars, motorbikes, boats, quad bikes and other grown-up toys .

Once past the old steel gates, its gardens are all pretty much to the private south-facing side, and creepers soften and decorate the walls.

Sherry FitzGerald’s own brochure, aptly enough, sums up this offering as “charming and unspoilt by progress, opportunity lies waiting within the gates of this impressive property in this great location”.

Just don’t spoil it by overgilding it with any renovations.