Cool interiors at No 4

A NEW owner of 4 The Drive, in Lehenaghmore, might want to get stuck into the gardens — because there’s nothing at all to do on the inside.

A family home, owned by a couple where at least one side has a keen interior design interest, it’s effectively a ready-to-move into showhouse sale: its child-friendly stair gate is one of the only clues that smallies might be barreling around its insides and pristine white walls.

Built in the noughties by Ruden Homes, high above Cork city above Wilton and Doughcloyne, it’s in an airy setting, with a great sized walled-in and private back — with the garden walls here also painted white. Its far end is being screened in with a mix of interspersed silver birches and bamboos, though a bit of colour and ivies planted up against the side walls wouldn’t go astray either. Other than that, there’s a very decent sized rear sandstone-paved patio, with oodles of space for BBQs and parties, and the site size easily swallows a wooden shed out of sight to the side of the house.

No 4 is new to market with Johnny O’Flynn of Sherry FitzGerald, who guides the four-bed detached at €385,000. There’s about 1,350 sq ft of space, two main reception rooms, airy hall, and lots of light getting through thanks to cleverly-placed large mirrors that work very well. Any bidders would be well advised to get them thrown into the sale deal as fixtures and fittings.

The owners have been here from day one, about eight years ago, and tweaked the ground floor layout (especially the kitchen) for a bit more of an open feel.

Some of the neighbours have already extended, and there’s an option here to do much the same, subject to planning.

As it stands, there’s a study, living room with white stone fireplace and gas insert, which is linked via double doors to a second reception/dining room, a guest loo, and a well-conceived kitchen with island. The kitchen has a side window handily placed for extra light on work spaces near the hob, and has glass splashbacks, wideplank oak floor, and garden access (the oak floor flows from the hall into the kitchen, guest loo and study, while the main reception rooms are in French maritime pine.)

Overhead all four bedrooms have white deal flooring, and the master bedrooms has an en suite shower room, while the main family bathroom has been recently upgraded.