Trading Up
Sq m: 180 (1,940 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
KEEPING it simple is a good design motto — one used to good effect with this standard, one-off build at Killeen, Crossbarry, Co Cork.
Yes, it has a familiar style on the outside, but inside it has a fresh, contemporary feel. There are no gewgaws or unnecessary flourishes here, only simple quality fittings in an essentially, open plan layout.
The house has one separate, ‘good room’, but the second reception opens onto the kitchen diner which runs across the back of the house and is fitted in cream and black with an integrated sun room area at the dining end: the kitchen also comes with an island unit.
Another clever touch is that full panel doors can close off the kitchen area, giving more privacy, when needed to the living room. This is nicely decorated and comes with a simple fire opening and cast iron stove.
Located just around the corner from the local garage, shop and pub, the four bed includes a master suite, main bathroom and guest bathroom, along with utility and is set on a decent, acre site.
VERDICT: Good house, south-west facing garden and a price which could be negotiated. What’s not to like? Norma Healy of Sherry FitzGerald is the selling agent.
Sq m: 315 (3,370 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 5
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
NEWLY up for sale, and only recently finished, is this high-on-a-hill big dormer home — about on a height par with Cork Airport, which is visible to the north across a deep valley at this Ballygarvan location.
Called Hunters Lodge, this isn’t a property that conceals itself, and the upside of its prominence on a half acre site is the views that open up below it.
It’s new to market with Johnny O’Flynn of Sherry FitzGerald, seeking €425,000, and who says this over-basement home is built to a high standard, with underfloor heating and a pressurised water system. It has three of its five bedrooms (two at ground level) en suite, with a wet-room with large shower and bath in the main bathroom. The basement is given over to garage use — and the approach driveway past stone and brick pillars sort of sweeps down to the garage door.
The site is sloping, with lawns and old railway sleepers cut up for steps, and while the agents describe the property as in turnkey condition it will need some finishing off and tweaks yet.
Location is at Meadstown, Ballygarvan (which, finally, has a brand new national school,) about five miles from Cork city and two or three miles from Carriglaine, with swift access to Kinsale and West Cork.
VERDICT: A commanding rural site.
Sq m: 171 (1,830 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4/5
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
Set just outside Abbeydorney village at Derryvrin in north Kerry is this full-finished and well-decorated family home, on a good rural three-quarter acre site, with significant price reduction — it’s down now to €199,000 from an earlier guide of just under €300k.
Selling agents Sherry FitzGerald Stephenson Crean say the setting is very attractive with southerly views, it’s not remote as the village is nearby, and the interior is to a high specification, with four bathrooms, good living areas, a Cherrywood kitchen and cherry doors and architraves, and it has a heat recovery system for energy efficiency.
Floors in the main rooms are oak, and the stairs is in quality timber also.
The dormer home has a 15’ by 13’ living room painted in lime green, the kitchen/breakfast is 22’ by 13’, with utility and guest WC nearby, and two of the four bedrooms have en suite bathrooms, making for four WCs in all, and there’s a pressurised water system.
Externally, this part brick-faced 1,800 sq ft home has stone entrance pillars, and behind is 350 sq ft of decking, large patio, shed/garage, and a dog run.
VERDICT: The price reduction makes this good value for the level of finish and space that’s here.
Sq m: 141 (1,550 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4
BER rating: C1
Broadband: Yes
Aspiring traders-up could do well to take steps towards 38 Dewberry, a three-storey family home with four bedrooms and four bathrooms — and a few steps down to a sunken family room by the back garden.
The detached 1,550 sq ft home in Cork’s Mount Oval Village was built about nine years ago, and the current owners have kept it right up to speed internally and externally, with a contemporary decor, says auctioneer Claire O’Sullivan of Savills. She guides it at €355,000.
No 38 is in a cul de sac within the O’Flynn Construction scheme in Rochestown, and the gardens have also had lots of input and effort, she says.
The 17’ by 12’ front living room is maple floored, as is the hall, and maple’s also the floor timber of choice in the family room (with a cherry timber fireplace) down a few steps off the 20’ by 12’ kitchen/dining space which also has maple units.
The accommodating ground level manages to fit in a utility too, plus guest WC, while each of the first floor’s two bedrooms have en-suites, with a fourth bathroom at the top level for the two more, uppermost, bedrooms.
VERDICT: The house is as good as you’d hope for, and the gardens are even better, with lots of planting and seating areas.
Sq m: 93 (1,000 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 3
BER rating: Pending
Broadband: Yes
There are few probate sale houses in this area of Cork city on the market in such good condition, says auctioneer Jeremy Murphy.
Mr Murphy is referring to Rochelle, at Kilcrea Park, a three-bed house new to the market near UCC but which is in very good condition.
Better than good, in fact, and it’s a move-in buy, which means there should be no heavy investment before the house is liveable, as is usually the case with properties of this vintage.
It comes with a good sitting room, a cute living room with sandstone fireplace and small add-ons in glass out in the garden, which is immaculately maintained.
The kitchen is fully fitted with an extended utility area and shed at the side door, which is cleverly covered-in for convenience.
In fact, the attached garage could be converted to provide a large, kitchen/dining room at the side, as it gets southerly and westerly light.
The upper level has three good bedrooms and all of the rooms come with good built-ins: the main bathroom is also fresh and in good nick.
VERDICT: This is a great location for a family, it’s close to town, has a school up the road and is a minute’s walk to UCC and the Bon Secours hospital.
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