Monkstown house is a lifestyle buy

A combination of grand drawing room elements with a country house kitchen makes this a winner, says Rose Martin

IS lifestyle the key to enticing in the buyer? Is the way in which you arrange, manage and live in your house the key to a successful sale?

Or is it down to location, depersonalisation and aspiration?

Who knows, it’s a moveable feast, down to that gut feeling a buyer gets going through the door, (one well-known designer calls it ‘the 30 second rule’ — you know if a house is for you within 30 seconds).

And sometimes, it doesn’t matter about extraneous stuff, it’s how a property feels. And end of end-of-terrace, period no 1 Sydenham Tce, has instant appeal. High above Monkstown village in Co Cork, it had an offer of the asking price within a blink of going on the market.

And it defies all the usual rules: the vendors had only just decided to go to the market, were readying the house, when agent Barry Smith walked viewers through the door. They weren’t prepared, they say, but truly, the charm of the house was immediate — hence the fast offer and it’s down to the feel, the energy of the house, (not to be too new age about it) as much as its quality and location.

You see, these vendors have a lifetime’s collection scattered all over this fine period house and it groans with auction finds, family heirlooms, quality furniture and just stuff. The well grown and gone children have also left behind their lifetime’s collection too so this house is certainly not the depersonalised space advocated by some — and it’s a joy.

A combination of rather grand drawing room elements with a country house kitchen, old nooks and crannies, extra high ceilings and all against the backdrop of lush gardens, bay views and an untouched, period interior.

Even the main entrance is good: the short gravel forecourt is tropical forest dense, and even in drenching rain the house shines. There are three gardens here really, the first at the main entrance and the second off the rear of the houses, dropping down to another, secluded space, lower down the incline. And all the while there are views of the bay from the house’s location on Monkstown’s steep hills.

Sydenham is a cul-de-sac with tight spaces, (turning relies on good technical ability), but no 1 has a stand out attraction, a side entrance with parking for two cars, and its also the first house on the row, which makes access a doddle.

Back in the boom, there were million-plus sales here, but this time round Barry Smith of Rose Property has pitched the house squarely as the half million mark, or €495,000, to be exact, and having received an offer of the asking, will perhaps expect higher bids.

The house, despite it’s grandeur and Regency provenance, (it was built in 1820), is a very easy, liveable family home. Spread over three floors, the basement level was originally the servant’s quarters and remains relatively unchanged. There’s the anonymous door off the main entrance hallway leading downwards and into a large, country house kitchen with Stanley range where an old cast iron number would once have stood. The old clothes airer above it is also original, while the large dining table was built from old pine by Bruce Perkins and is surrounded by good quality, Victorian chairs.

Units flank two walls and behind the kitchen/diner is a run of littler rooms, one of which was the maid’s bedroom, and although it includes a fireplace, must have been rather grim in its day. Now, it’s been brightened up and with a bit more work and could be ideal as a home office.

There are at least four cubbies off the main room — various larders, one presumes — but it’s the wine cellar built into the back of the room that gives an indication of how well the house was built. The suspended floors can be viewed from here, as can part of the foundation of the property, and it looks and feels good and dry.

Decoratively, colours are on the putty, Farrow and Ball range to blend with the old nature of the building — the candle holder over the table is particularly attractive. Flooring is in quarry tiles and access to the garden is through the utility room at the side. The deep walls of the house provide a handy porch effect from the rain, and the rear walls are covered in climbers. The gardens drop down below and are lush, well planted and, considering the open nature of the terrace, remarkably private.

Sydenham is one of those quietly sought after areas in Monkstown, because it’s a walk to the village, but also very secluded with good views and a quiet, wooded ambience.

The difficulty in parking is also a good preventative strategy and means only those who live in the terrace come in and out.

And with all of the rooms facing east and south-east over the water, the main living goes on at the back of the houses.

The main entrance hallway is a busy node: to the left is a ground floor cloakroom, then the door to the kitchen and next in line is a fine, Georgian staircase which wends its way upwards along the house’s gable wall. The immediate right hand doorway leads to the formal dining room, a quaintly papered, Victorian room with high shelves, an ancient table and various objets d’art. The room’s original fireplace in gone, however, and in its stead is another wooden frame and an efficient, wood burning stove — the perfect library. Behind it, and connected by marvellous double doors, is the relaxed, blue room with its distinctive wallpaper and complimentary pelmeted windows and dark grey, original marble fireplace. This is a much-used family room with relaxed atmosphere.

The piece de resistance of the house, however, has to be the main drawing room with its delicate, cream to beige furniture, dove grey wool carpet and large, Regency fireplace. This is a hushed, ladylike room with fine and interesting pieces — a hand written and decorated page from the Qa’ran is framed in one alcove and there are some interesting, 18th century paintings and sculpture thrown in with four to five generational family photos and paintings. The mix is homely and impressive all at the same time. High, high ceilings, original cornicing and deep sash windows with shutters make this a bright room, which also has great views over the garden and the bay — perfect for a Sunday G&T while watching the sails below.

The bedroom floor overhead offers similarly high ceilings and original windows and the landing is a bright, well lit space with views onto the side of the house.

At the top of the stairs a corridor leads through to the four bedrooms, three of which face over the water with one facing over the front garden.

There’s also a cloakroom off the landing, which at one stage housed a WC and is now used for storage, but it could easily revert, if needs be.

The main bathroom is delightfully old fashioned while still addressing modern requirements, and it’s a good space that manages to pack in a bath, shower and full complement suite, with space left over for hot press and cosmetics storage.

The bathroom serves all four bedrooms, so there is scope to add one more room, or even to convert one of the bedrooms into an en suite room with closets. However, the installation of modern bathrooms where there are none might interfere with the layout as there has been little tinkering with the no 1 in all of it’s nearly 200 years standing.

The modernisation achieved by the present owners has sat lightly on the old building and comprises mostly a new kitchen and the rest is just good quality wall paper and paint and complimentary, antique furniture. All of the bedrooms are large and there’s more than enough room for a family here. One in particular has a fine brass bed and sprig-patterned paper and the master bedroom is restrained and simply finished, with a good fireplace and two windows overlooking the bay.

VERDICT: This Regency house has been continually occupied for two hundred years and it would be nice to think that new owners would carry the responsibility for its preservation further.