Stylish extension adds to appeal of pristine home

This detached four-bed offering near Douglas will tick a lot of boxes for a lot of people, says an impressed Rose Martin

Sat, 17 Sep, 2011 - 01:00

Rose Martin

HARD-EDGED minimalism doesn’t really cut it in the real world — truth be told, Séan and Síle Citizen lean towards the traditional in their choice of home style, more bright, clean and cosy than bright, clean and brittle.

And, there’s no better example of the former than this week’s property market offering on the south side of Cork city which should perk up some jaded viewers. No 5, The Lawn, Moneygourney is that elusive thing, a quality detached house in the Moneygourney/greater Douglas area which is offered in pristine condition.

This home is the house of a woman who doesn’t sit still, and a man whose business is engineering — so the result is a well-built, well-finished house with a layer of interior design and housekeeping that’s second to none.

The property has just been listed through Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald who’s seeking offers in the region of €480,000 for the substantial dormer, which also comes with a fine sun room/living room extension.

Built by the couple some 16 years ago, they have continually upgraded and improved the house.

Set off Maryborough Hill, and tucked in a little enclave off Fort Hill (called after the ring fort that’s still in existence at the rear) this crescent of self-builds pre-dates all the other developments that shot up in the boom and is now, conveniently, just a couple of minutes from the South Ring Road.

Set on a good, but not very large site, the property has one important element — its south, south/west facing sunroom addition which makes the most of the aspect, getting day-long sun.

The new extension also allows a modern flow of rooms at the back — kitchen, dining, living, while at the same time, there’s a formal living room and separate study/playroom to the front.

Good impressions start at the gate and here, that’s sorted with a graveled courtyard, inset concrete sleepers and a sensible entrance portico — perfect for Irish weather.

The hallway is finished with white painted panelling which runs up the stairs and contrasts nicely with the warm wood of the traditional staircase.

Off to the left is the formal living room — a good rectangular space with a classic look. The main fireplace is cast iron, with tractional dark furniture, wooden flooring and cream sofas and this room also has a bay window which adds space.

At the end of the hallway there’s a door through to the kitchen while on the right, a corridor leads through to a range of rooms, including a proper, fitted study and a fine playroom with access to an adjoining, full bathroom.

This is also the house’s fourth bedroom — three are on the upper floor — and this room could function as a good double with a private location at the western end of the house.

The utility also has access from this corridor directly outside and then through to the kitchen.

Originally fitted with oak units, the kitchen area has been refinished in soft white paint and units have a solid oak worktop with hob and oven in a corner position. This is probably the area where new owners will change the layout, but the kitchen works well as it stands.

Originally fitted with double doors, the opening through to the living room has been widened to an arch and flooring changed so that there’s a continuous run through both rooms all the way to the house’s south-eastern side.

Fitted with a pretty fireplace and with a bay window onto the leafy boundary, this is a comfortable, family-sized space and big enough for Christmas dinners. The piece de resistance, however, is the new addition, which projects into the garden and connects on the perpendicular to the kitchen/ diner.

A vaulted, multi-windowed space, it has generous dimensions — enough to fit a large sofa and accessories and it opens directly onto a south-west patio.

Because it’s been here a while, No 5 has good screening boundaries whose wind shelter creates a cosy micro climate. The garden is well tended and planted and while it’s attractive and above average, taking care of it shouldn’t be too arduous. It also comes with a pretty bower and includes a garden shed.

Back inside and upstairs there are two perfectly cute bedrooms, decked in pink and blue and with high quality built-ins. Again, the level of finish can’t be overstated and that includes the main bathroom, which includes the airing cupboard.

The master bedroom has a lot of space, with more than enough room on either side of a six foot bed and it’s also very bright, courtesy of windows on two sides, and that excludes the en suite bathroom.

Set in a quiet enclave with safe green space for children and so close to Douglas, this house ticks a long list of boxes. Go see.

Location: Moneygourney, Co Cork

Price: €480,000

Size: 223 sq m (2,400 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

BER rating: Pending

Best feature: Sun room extension

Broadband: Yes

SOURCEBOOK

- Contractors: Joe Hallissey Developments Limited, Cork. Telephone 021-496 2655

- Consulting engineers: John McCarthy BE & Partners, 16 Mary Street, Cork. 021-4317576

- Joinery/ windows: Munster Joinery www.munsterjoinery.ie