House of the week

YOU might have to live in the suburbs for an easy family life - but, if you don’t want the full, predictable suburban house package that goes with it, cast an envious eye over this home called the Hedges.

One of the original farmhouses in Cork’s now much-enclosed Bishopstown suburb, it once had acres of productive lands stretching out behind it. But, they got sold off and developed, in the mid-1900s, leaving this, ‘the original of the species’ behind on a prime, corner quarter acre site.

Now up for sale, it has of course moved with the times, has been extended, and has — once again — productive plots beside it, albeit raised veg and herb beds. Yet, while surrounded by housing estates, it has proudly, and tastily, done its own thing. And it has kept some faith with its farmhouse past and character, being given a sort of salubrious Laura Ashley decor twist.

Its original hedges have now been replaced by 6’ high walls, planted on the inside with mature trees once again giving lots of privacy and screening from the Curraheen and Melbourn roads, where it sits at their junction. It has modest electric access gates by a municipal-planted raised bed announcing the start of the Melbourn Road; appropriately, the planting is rich in ferns and grasses, a sort of a doffing of the horticultural cap to The Hedges’ country past.

Those private gates open to a graveled parking area for several cars, and to the kitchen door — handy for off-loading shopping. The feature gardens also have mature apple trees, raised beds and — a recent addition — a sandstone flagged patio and outdoor dining spot on the sheltered western end, with some rich fossils visible in the flags.

This new, much-used terrace now has hardwood patio French doors into the large 24’ by 14’ kitchen dining room, with triple aspect and a strong country flavour, and rich, dark-hued green painted walls.

This is part of an extension added on around 1990, which gave extra bedrooms and a bigger bathroom upstairs, with roll-top bath and separate shower, and now the house has five bedrooms in all, two with double aspect, all with garden views thanks to the house being set in the middle of its very mature grounds.

The Hedges comes up for sale with estate agent Dennis Guerin of Frank V Murphy & Co, who guides it at €475,000. That’s about €100,000 off the asking price it had two and a half years ago when it went ‘sale agreed,’ but that deal collapsed and the vendors took it off the market. With fresh heart, and in fine fettle with extra spending evident, it’s on the market with excellent timing — there’s so little quality stock on the Cork city market right now, and practically nothing of such individuality as the Hedges.

Symmetrical in front, it has reception rooms left and right of the central hall and stairs, both have fireplaces, and one has double doors to the kitchen/dining room for a pleasant flow of rooms, while the heart of the kitchen is the large range cooker and central heating boiler — very country-house.

It’s all spotless throughout, decked with some striking family artworks, and the fresh decor has worked with the country farmhouse origins, with lots of feature timber panelling, especially upstairs.

For new occupants, there’s the sheer convenience of schools, sports grounds, swimming pool and amenities all to hand, as well as shops galore, third-level colleges, workplaces/CUH and the south ring road.

The Hedges is a walk-in job, you can make yourself at home immediately, and if you want to consider future amendments, possibly a sun-room, trim the trees, maybe upgrade windows to double or even triple glazing for energy efficiency.

VERDICT: It’s the suburbs. But, not as you know it.