Elmgrove a safe haven for kids at play

Homes don’t get much more child-friendly than 17 Elmgrove. Tommy Barker reports

HOMES don’t get much more child-friendly than 17 Elmgrove, in Cork’s Sallybrook, Glanmire.

Grown ups might ooh and aah about the interior and finish of this former development showhouse in the Hayes-built scheme, but for the kids, it will be out in the garden and get stuck in.

Not only are there slides, climbing frames, a treehouse and trampolines, they’re all corralled into an almost enclosed fenced “fort” at the far end of the long back garden, almost secret but wholly safe — and there’s lots of dividing lawn to kick a ball on too, plus patio, decking and barbecue space for the grown-ups. Thanks to the low wood fence divider, the panoply of plastic play toys and bikes can be left lying about, but are nicely screened from sight from the house — a clever touch.

Estate agent Frances O’Brien of Don Murphy Associates seeks €250,000 for the house at Elmwood which is only a mile from schools, shops and services, in a popular development.

“It’s going down really well in viewings, it is in walk-in order and as the owner is a carpenter he’s added a lot of tasty extra touches in panelling, rad covers and in the kitchen. It is already under offer after just a week, at €245,000 and I’d hope to have it sold quickly enough. We’ve sold six here in Elmwood in the last year-and-a-half.”

No 17 is an ideal home for a young family, and viewers with children have had trouble getting them away from the toy-stocked playroom, she laughs.

This ticks lots of requisites, a good location, top-notch finish, large site with south-facing back garden, mature tree boundary, three bathrooms, two reception rooms, plus play room/bedroom four and a quality kitchen.

VERDICT: There’s a feel-good factor about this house and mix, it is the sort of package that gives estate living a good name for families when it all comes together like this.