House of the week

Pared down minimalism is all very well, but when the cold bites, we do love a cosy fire, a warm sitting room, and a house that wraps itself around you.

And that’s what’s you get at 82 The Lawn, Coolroe Meadows, Ballincollig, Co Cork — a house that’s at the right end of cosy, but fresh and bright too for spring.

According to it’s selling agent, Andrea Whelan of Sherry FitzGerald, the house as a sort of ‘New England’ aesthetic and she hopes it will wow the viewers at her ‘Open House’ viewing today, Saturday, from 12pm to 1pm.

No 82 is a four-bed semi, but it’s different in that it’s the end of a row, has an old field ditch as a boundary, and faces onto a large green directly to the front.

The house is certainly going to pass muster with potential viewers as it has that Irish take on that classic, light, fresh look — especially as it has a Céad Míle Fáilte. And that’s not just the sign on the door, this is a welcoming, lovely house that’s neat, organised, comfortable — but not off putting.

A keen eye has made the most of its design and now it’s time for the interior decorator owner to move on to something more challenging, leaving a house that’s move-in ready. It’s been cleverly extended at the rear to provide a bright, west and east facing sunroom. The various gables have windows to three aspects and it’s perfect for kids too, as double doors lead directly to a safe, enclosed garden. (This is fully finished with sandstone patio, granite kerbing, sleepers, a luscious full bay hedge, and old stone boundary with rose border — a carefree job).

The main living room is a good, rectangular space finished in Farrow and Ball’s ‘Stoney Ground’ with highlights in duck egg and curtains by Laura Ashley. Flooring is oak and it runs through the dining to the sunroom. A simple sandstone and cast iron fireplace forms a centre piece and an old glass cabinet in the corner was made over with a matt off-white paint and Laura Ashley wallpaper used as backing in a clever, decorative touch.

The living room connects through double doors to the dining area, which in turn connects through to the sunroom and also opens through to the kitchen on the left — there’s direct access too from the hallway, where a guest bathroom is tucked under the stairs.

What would have been a narrow galley is cleverly designed to include a breakfast bar and even the fridge and freezer fit under a long run of counter.

The dining room has some nice, hand-painted furniture and walls are jasmine white with Laura Ashley paper on feature walls.

The sunroom has a range of plantation shutters from Agate Shutters that really set off the room, while making it cosy at the same time — even the double doors are screened. And then, there’s the strategy of putting the garden shed just within reach of the sunroom door, putting the washer and dryer inside, and putting the washing line just outside. Clever.

Upstairs there are other little storage touches, too many to mention, but guaranteed, the tidiness of this house is not down to compulsion, more precision in storage - a much more relaxing approach.

There are four bedrooms overhead, two doubles and two singles and the master and second room have great built-ins while the master is en suite and plenty big enough for a 6’ bed. The back, child’s bedroom is beautifully decorated and the smallest, front bedroom is now a study. The main bathroom is between the guest and master bedroom and is a decent size.

The grounds live up to the standard of the house, with a fine, wedge-shaped space at the side that would allow a two-storey extension, but for the vendor, this wasn’t necessary.

You get the feeling she needs to move on to keep up momentum — and it’s a buyer’s gain.

VERDICT: If you’re in the market for a lovely, above average house in a good, accessible area, definitely go and see.