Water features and stars for neighbours at Ahakista

OLD or new? The design lines have been deliberately blurred at this west Cork home, a spot on three acres with stream and ponds, and which has Graham Norton and Christy Moore as relatively near neighbours.

The property at Maulnaskeha, Ahakista (trying saying that after a few jars in the nearby tin-shed public bar, one of the area’s other novel features), was initially planned as a lodge, to suit the naturally-formed shelf on which it sits, say the owners, but that design was amended to suit local planning restrictions.

However, the overall result is a house that appears timeless on gardens cultivated over the past eight years in keeping with the area’s natural mild micro-climate.

With an architect’s input, it is largely open plan inside, in its living areas in particular, and the kitchen is a big and traditionally styled farmhouse affair, 25’ by 18’, with Belfast sink, brick-surrounded Rayburn oil-fired stove, rough plastered walls and terracotta tiled floor.

It opens to dining area/conservatory with gardens just outside, and the glories of Dunmanus Bay and surrounding hills as a dramatic backdrop. The old-world lounge is also large, at 25’ by 18’, with fireplace, pine floor and French doors, as well as a utility, porch, guest WC and hall with teak stairs.

This house — for sale with John O’Neill of Celtic Properties, who seeks €895,000 — has three first-floor bedrooms, one with an en suite and walk-in closet, and there’s an optional fourth/studio room at ground level, in effect a studio apartment with en suite. The main loo has a cast-iron roll-top bath, with a sink set into an antique and marble unit.

A distinctive feature of this well-tended home is the gallery/library at the top of the stairs, with an A-shaped study area in a glazed gable.

The three acres (one landscaped) has a river/stream meandering though, with ponds created, and planting includes mimosa, Japanese tree ferns, acacia and there are some very old pine trees, of similar vintage to those gracing the water-fronting Ahakista House a kilometre away, home to TV’s Graham Norton.