Updated Idaville is well set to please

Idaville, built by a woman who gave one house apiece to each of her four nieces in what was a quadruple gesture of generosity.

SOME houses have it, others struggle or miss entirely — but Idaville hits the target — and the market — bang on.

Original period home touches, later flourishes, a bright extension and a Shaker-like simplicity combine in this new-to-market package that’s set to please and draw in appreciative viewings. In fact, in its first week on the market, viewings were heading into double digit figures, and feedback is already good.

Dating back to around 1910, Idaville is part of a terrace of four houses on Cork’s Old Blackrock Road built by a woman who gave one house apiece to each of her four nieces in what was a quadruple gesture of generosity.

This four-bed house, number two in the neat row, is formally No 42 Old Blackrock Road. A mile from the city centre, its original name was Kia Ora, which is a Maori New Zealand greeting. It has changed hands a few times in its century of life, and has been significantly improved by its various owners. Idaville is sale with agent Timothy Sullivan who has a strong grip on sales in this locality, and he gives it a €385,000 asking price.

In a move that will surely help underpin a sale, the couple, who have a young family, really added value and utility when they secured planning permission for a rear garden entrance off the adjacent Victoria Avenue, which gives a second access and, critically, secure off-street parking for one car.

But, that’s just a practical bonus. What appeals about Idaville is its sheer pleasantness, and pristine presentation.

Despite being a hard-working family home with two small children at large, there’s a simple, evident style and entirely practical layout of rooms — in fact, it’s quite a model set-up, with high ceilings, original tiling and architectural trim, and around 1,360 sq ft of space, thanks to an attic level fourth bedroom.

Giving the modern touch is the c 10 year old kitchen/dining room extension, with the side of the original rear glazed over so light floods in on top of the dining table, reaching into the open kitchen alongside and back into the family/play room as well, thanks to a favourable southerly aspect.

There’s a more formal front room, painted a light grey Farrow and Ball shade, 16’ by 14’ thanks to a gracious bay window, plus elegant black marble, slate and tiled-inset fireplace, complete with polished brass hood and enamel grate.

All three of the first floor bedrooms (painted Colourtrend’s stucco greige) have original cast iron fireplaces, and the top floor has a 19’ wide by 12’ deep, aloof, attic bedrooms, study or home office, a calm removed from the rest of this already calm home. Carpeted, and with two south-facing Veluxes and lots of eaves storage, it has its end wall painted a strong Laura Ashley Charcoal Grey, contrasting with white walls and the white gloss used in so much more of this house’s woodwork.

The main family bathroom, all spare simplicity with a uniform, duo-tone tiled floor, is in the rear, with walls a quietly assertive Colourtrend shade called Lava Rock. The hall has intact original period tiling.

Floors elsewhere for the most part are varnished pine, with solid (and already heavily trafficked) maple in the kitchen/dining space.

This is the real heart of the home, with Shaker maple units and solid, scrubbed timber worktops on units and the island, and views to the sunny back garden and to a large, lopped Eucalyptus tree from the kitchen sink window and French doors alongside.

The back garden, a modest triangle, has all the basics, with granite sets on the patio and path, patch of grass, lots of planting and clematis, secure boundaries, storage shed and gravel car parking area, with electric access gates. Round the front of the house, there’s on-street parking as well, neat front garden and path up from the wrought iron gate, and a simple, sheltering brick arch porch.

Promising easy suburban living Idaville has gas heating, replacement sash windows and a smart, return level utility/laundry next to the bathroom with a clever ‘drying wall’ a rail/rack made up of brush handles out of sight, behind the door. It also has aspect, a handy neighbourly location and an unassuming air of restrained gentility, updated.