The west wing: a luxury bungalow with two wings

IT’S hard to believe this rangy bungalow at Waterfall, Cork, has been standing for 20 years — it looks new.

Located off Corbally Cross, in a rural location, but minutes from Waterfall and Ballincollig, the house is in pristine condition.

It’s had a major overhaul in the past year, has been significantly extended, and has a heady range of features, including a stand-alone gym, a drying area, patios, (in Indian sandstone), two wings and a large amount of living space. The work undertaken has been enormous and the attention to detail superb — the owners, bitten by the building bug, are off to start again.

The asking price, via Norma Healy, of Sherry FitzGerald, is €820,000 — two years ago, it would have made €1m. Close to Waterfall, which has a number of million-plus houses and within a short commute of CUH, UCC, CIT and the Bon Secours, this is an ideal buy for professionals with a family.

Measuring 3,200 square feet, this large house is in immaculate condition and has a cream-and-caramel colour scheme that won’t offend. The kitchen is finished in hand-built ash units, by Wishbone, and their work can be seen throughout the house in built-ins and furniture.

Room size is generous. The main entrance is via a hexagonal porch set between the houses’ two wings, (the eastern side could be a self-contained unit) and the western wing has the main living rooms and bedrooms.

The kitchen/diner runs south to south-west and has windows on two sides, with the kitchen area at one end and the dining room, floored in bamboo, on the other. The family room can be accessed off the main hallway or through double doors from the kitchen/diner, and this is a fine TV room, with recessed lighting and sprawl couches.

Double doors lead through to the main living room, a hexagonal space with windows facing south and west. This combines the brightness of a sunroom with the comfort of a sitting room. It has a built-in fireplace and TV unit in ash.

Behind the living rooms are three en suite bedrooms, including a long master suite. This faces west on one side and the aspect is maximised with French doors and a small, private patio. The room has lovely bedroom furniture, a separate shower, and en suite with Jacuzzi bath. All three bedrooms on this wing are ensuite and finished to a high standard with bright, spacious rooms.

The eastern wing has a separate lounge — also with hexagonal walls — which gives onto a large, double bedroom with bathroom. The utility is off the main corridor, along with the bathroom, and has access to the rear. To the rear, there are store rooms, a dog kennel and a clothes-drying area. A huge amount of hard standing is laid to the front of the house, with parking for five to six cars. The rest of the property is surrounded by grass and patios.

This Corbally house offers a lot of space for the money and it’s very well presented. A headache-free purchase for buyers.