Nampara brings Mahonhattan to the skyline

CALLED after a fictional cove in Cornwall, which featured many years ago in the Poldark TV series, Nampara is a house down by the water’s edge, in Cork harbour.

Given the sheer size of Cork harbour and estuary, its sweep and miles upon miles of shoreline, the surprise is how few houses relate in any way to the expanses of water: Nampara, off the Rochestown Road, does relate, though.

Looking out over a bird sanctuary, the estuary and over to Mahon Point and the lofty printing press building too, residents down this way quip that at night time it is lit up like the Manhattan skyline — though they jokingly call it Mahonhattan.

Nampara is house number 4 in the niche Rochestown Riverside development, just below the main road by the Clarkes Hill turn up to Mount Oval, and was built in the 1990s by Kieran Murphy of Murphy Construction. It has stood the test of time over a decade and half very well, thanks to good building levels to begin with, allied to the fact one of the owners (John Linehan) is an interior designer, who has tipped away at its interior and exterior along the way.

With two children reared well into adulthood, John and Marie are on the move, as they say the five-bed house is too big for their needs.

There’s over 2,000 sq ft of space here, and you’d get a double bed into any of the five bedrooms, which is no mean achievement as the first floor is also home to a well-specced en suite, a very good main bathroom with corner jetted bath, and a warren of a walk-in wardrobe/dressing room, with yards of hanging space for literal and metaphorical clothes horses or shoe collectors.

Needless to say, given the owners’ background, Nampara aka No 4 is a walk-in job, with a good flow of ground floor rooms — ideal for parties, they say — with quality finishes, and an eclectic feel (John said to say that last bit.)

Landscaped front and back and not overlooked, the back faces south and is a bit of a sun-trap. This aspect of it is added to by John’s creation, a raised patio/BBQ/al fresco dining area, finished with non-slip white tiles which reflect the heat and the light, almost glaringly so. The back garden spot is tiered and trussed, with some feature and specimen plants; there’s the almost obligatory water feature, and side access to a storage shed and a honeysuckle-clad screening arch.

The front garden is equally well-planted, there’s off street parking for a few cars, and the road outside is as clsoe to private as you’ll get in a location lie this, used only by the handful of residents. One even keeps a boat here at the end of the cul de sac, pulled up into the reeds and rushes.

There’s interconnecting main reception rooms front and back, (formal living to the fore, family room behind,) a kitchen/breakfast room with timber units and tiled worktops, a study/dining room off the hall to the left, and flooring at ground level is a mix of Kahrs oak and beech, and creamy porcelain tiles. Most of the downstairs doors have a clear, glazed section on top to allow extra light through and to create an air of extra size.

The look is an easy mix of part contemporary, part classic, with attention paid to light fittings, and finishes. Decor is essentially lots of neutrals, with the odd more personal accents created by things like colourful rugs, a feature wall of wallpaper, or mirrors and art pieces. a unique piece in the hall is the entirely mirrored radiator cover, designed by John and which, eh, reflects well on the place.

Selling agent is Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald, who seeks offers around €675,000 and who also underlines Nampara’s other strengths, like location, ease of access just 200 yards from the south ring road junction and proximity to Douglas, and the fact the essential design ticks all the boxes, with good storage, proper utility, guest WC, and quality main bathroom and en suite, and a favourable back garden aspect, with outside lighting, and front water aspect. Boxes ticked for buyers, and vendors ready to box up and go.