Picture perfect hideaway

AN ARTIST’S pad in a picture-perfect setting is on offer at Cooldurragah, near Castlehaven harbour in prettiest west Cork.

The restored and enhanced farmhouse got a brush with visual flair, as it is a tasty looker inside and out, with painterly garden planting as a backdrop. Add in the fact that it is on eight acres, elevated and with water views, and the package is a bit of a scene-stealer for those looking for a quality hideaway – and who have around €600,000 to spend.

The Union Hall area home has views down to tidal Rineen creek, and the upper reaches of Castlehaven harbour, and the L-shaped extended house has a sun-room added on a gable to catch the water and westerly colourful garden views.

Estate agent Maeve McCarthy of Charles P McCarthy auctioneers, a few miles away in Skibbereen, says the setting is secluded and quiet – and having eight acres ensures privacy.

The couple who bought this are a painter/artist, plus a plasterer, and as they’d previously worked on other renovations, they came to this spot eight or nine years ago looking for a do-er up challenge. The view, and the land, were the clinchers.

The original farm cottage was close to derelict, they say, and apart from doing the main 2,000 sq ft house, they also made over a former cow shed, now a 400 sq ft studio with further use potential.

After extension and upgrades done in phases, it has an overall air of brightness, quirkiness and quality, says Ms McCarthy.

Rooms include a central 21’ by 16’ living room, with staircase along a side wall, there’s a large L-shaped dining room with solid fuel stove, ground floor study or bedroom three, kitchen in country style with beech worktops and Belfast ceramic sink.

Upstairs, both good-sized bedrooms have vaulted ceilings, one is en suite with dressing area, and the second bedroom (with shower room nearby) has a dormer access to a viewing balcony.

The sun room opens to a terraced and decked area, nicely planted up, and steps lead through greenery to a sloping lawn area, with a willow tree and ringed in colourful borders. The remainder of the land, about eight acres, is in paddocks, and is said to be good grazing quality, and faces east.