Quiet city setting for wired-up Avalon

AVALON has a sales trick up its sleeves — it is close to election-time canvassing proof.

A new-build home in Cork city’s Farranlea Park, it has electric access gates and several security cameras, making it impregnable to canvassing politicians for the forthcoming election.

At Avalon you’re in your private castle — and the name Avalon (from the Welsh for apple) is taken from Arthurian legend, as a place of sanctuary and healing.

This Avalon replaces a bungalow of the same name at The Orchard, a quiet road off Farranlea Park and the Model Farm Road.

The original bungalow belonged to owner Eddie Herrick’s grandmother and he and his wife Eilish replaced it three years ago with this far larger, 2,850 sq ft two-storey family home.

Eddie put his professional expertise as an electrician specialising in technology into this house, so it has extensive wiring and services throughout for RusSound sound/audio, CCTV cameras, alarm, TV/satellite, IT and more.

The up-to-speed timber frame house was built in 2007 and has a low-pitched roof to keep the ridge height down in line with the neighbours. It’s likely to have a good high B BER rating, and is as warm as toast, the couple with two small sons say.

They’ve put it up for sale as they are unexpectedly chasing after a trading-up/doing-up home elsewhere in the city.

Estate agent Johnny O’Flynn of Sherry FitzGerald seeks offers around the €760,000 mark. He’s confident of a good sale because of the mix it offers and with a quiet, western suburban location within a walk to UCC, the CIT, schools, County Hall, and the CUH.

Avalon has a perfect south-facing rear aspect, with fully-enclosed gardens, easy to keep and with a big patio off the single-storey back kitchen wing and a big, airy open-plan family living/dining/kitchen space.

There’s a front reception room with bay window and window seat and across the bright hall is a home office or fourth bedroom. The ground floor guest loo has a shower to serve this level, plus understairs storage and a big utility room.

Avalon’s heart is the large back portion, with walnut-floored family/TV room a walnut breakfast bar and bright kitchen, with units by Glenline, garden views and Siemens/De Dietrich appliances.

Upstairs are three good bedrooms, two with en suites, plus main family bathroom.

Decor is smart, understated, in neutrals, with pristine carpets, with Laura Ashley curtains and blinds.