Old-time luxury with touch of rock ‘n’ roll
IF the walls of Dunowen House could talk, they’d sing. They’d rock and roll. And they’d have an auld lament too.
This 18th century early Georgian West Cork farmhouse is linked to ancient Kerry landlords the Sandes, and the nearby beach Sands Cove (it’s erroneously mis-spelled, as it’s a stony, sheltered but utterly picturesque little inlet) recalls their tenure when the house swelled to the considerable size and large L-shape that it is now.
Its second-last owner was Noel Redding, the bass player with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Redding lived here at Ardfield six miles from Clonakilty for the best part of 30 years, and died in 2003: his home, the hospitable Dunowen House, sold the following year to a consortium.
The group who had fallen for it’s then rough and ready charms and antiquity included 1980s singer Nik Kershaw, and they did it up to the nth degree, in a costly makeover that came on top of its initial €1 million purchase price.
One of the more detailed Munster house makeovers of the boom years, it has been given everything buzzy, - such as two kilometres of wiring for CAT 5 IT and sound system, has six en suite bedrooms, and five themed reception rooms, most with a music decor theme as well — rock chic, and hordes of old Rolling Stones magazines: think Dublin’s Gotham Cafe-style.
Designers Heather Miles and Marie Hayes of Clonakilty-based Love Vintage Interiors gave it the final eclectic look as it’s seen here, mixing Persian rugs with recovered old chairs, some winsomely outre lighting, and selected fine art from Susan Montgomery (www.susanmontgomery.net)
‘Plan A’ had been to rent it out for very exclusive functions and private accommodation, with chefs supplied. ‘Plan B’ came in 2007/08, when it was offered for sale, first for €3.75 million, later reduced to €2m and then €1.5m.
Pending the arrival of a suitable buyer, and an overall property market recovery, the owners have gone back to ’Plan A’ the executive let route, and gone the extra mile to finish out the details and get some return on their time and money.
Dunowen’s now decorated with a funky elan, and suitable eccentricity and it is now available to let (see www.dunowenhouse.com) and is being marketed on US and European rental websites too, while word-of-mouth is expected to flow after this summer’s first rentals.
With a big dining room off the kitchen opening to a sweep of sun terrace overlooking lawns and ponds, it’s a great house for parties, and entertainment, and walks.
Even though all of Clonakilty’s best beaches are within an easy strike, with woodland walks and wild headlands to explore, if for some reason you were holed up in the house for days on end, you’d knock fun out of it; it’s relaxing, comfortable and full of quirks.
It had a brief walk-on TV part when the kitchen was made use of for filming some of chef Trish Deseine’s programmes, and that’s the sort of expansive grand dining tone the owners hope to hit in private rentals for its forseeable future.
Location is 10 minutes out from Clonakilty, near Ardfield village, where a plaque by the pub recalls Noel Redding’s years here, and the times he played live gigs for local annual Sands Cove fishing festivals on the back of a truck trailer: this is a community that doesn’t stand on ceremony.
Fully restored Dunowen House now spans 4,500 sq ft on four acres, with separate three-bed guest cottage, and old stone coachhouse ruins, plus a bell-tower whose bell would summon the seven gardeners to work.
Modernising work includes bathrooms done to top hotel standard, with a carved stone bath outstanding in the main bedroom, a bridal suite by any other name.
There’s underfloor heating downstairs with flagstone floors and solid timbers, (there are two staircases), with new sash windows made by local man Dan Calnan.
Conservation and renovation work was overseen by Patrick McCarthy of PMC Architects Dunmanway to make sure musical Dunowen House’s makeover hit the right restoration drama notes.
Some great ideas for you to use in your home and where to get them
1. Furniture: Love Vintage Interiors, Spillers Lane Clonakilty, 085-7238005
2. Paint Fired Earth Dublin.
3. Lighting Hegarty Lighting Clonakilty B&Q Cork.
4. Bedroom furniture: Solomons Outlet Dublin www.solomonsoutlet.ie.
5. Bathrooms: Sally Anne McCoy Mint Interiors www.mintinteriors.com.
6. Tiles for Kitchen and Bathrooms: Tile and Bathroom World, Mahon Point Retail Park, 021-43590449.
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