Look at this colourful Ballinacurra house with rose-tinted glasses

WHEN we were rich and sophisticated (or at least thought we were) Irish house decor went all pale and creamy neutral, minimalist and, dare to say it, a bit bland and boring.

But, in a recession, there’s nothing like a blast of colour to give a welcome jolt of life to the senses and bring a bit of comfort home. Enter 40 Rosehill West.

The owners know their business, and the colour spectrum too. A working couple, Michelle O’Neill is a paint colour consultant at O’Connell’s paint shop in Carrigaline, while her husband Sean has a flooring business at the upper end of the market.

They’ve owned their home in Ballincurra, near Midleton for seven years. While it was being built first off, they asked the builders to make the master bedroom more of a suite, and to reduce the overall bedroom tally from four to three.

Just a year or two ago, four-bed detacheds like the three-bed specced No 40 were selling in Rosehill for around €480,000, now values have dropped back like everywhere else, and for that reason, plus the reduction in bedroom count, this is a new market offering at €345,000 via Hegarty Properties in Midleton.

It has about 1,750 sq ft of space done to a high standard, with dramatic walls of bold colour, softened by contrasting walls in paler whites. Even the front door is a mulberry shade of purple, just a hint of what’s to come further inside.

But the confidence with colour spills over outside, where even the garden furniture is strongly coded in primary colour ranges of reds, blues and yellows, spread around three distinct landscaped patio areas.

Adrianna Hegarty bills it as a house not to be missed, and once visited, there’s no forgetting the colour range, while she adds that the entire Ballinacurra package is a quality one.

Rooms include sitting room, kitchen/dining room, utility, play room/family room, guest WC, main bathroom and en suite, plus three bedrooms, the largest 19’ by almost 11’, with en suite.