Character driven

Kinsale cottage was given its quality makeover about eight years ago, writes Tommy Barker

AUCTIONEERS Savills attach the descriptive term ‘bijou’ to this Kinsale town centre cottage — and, it is indeed a bit of a tasty jewel.

Done up front to back, with downstairs dividing walls taken out to free up a good run of surprisingly deep space, this new-to-market buy from relocating vendors manages to fit in 875 sq ft, and to feel every bit that size, despite being just 10 or 11 ft wide; back before its makeover, it had the name of being the smallest house in Kinsale, says Savills’ Ian Lyons.

It’s not only a clever job, now making it 40’ deep with open plan space at ground level, but it’s also tasty, front to back, and top to bottom.

Signs of that makeover of the terraced No 2 Bandon Road, can be discerned from the teak front door, with large porthole window, slate doorstep, and distinctive front window, all just a bit off-standard and marking it out as a place where someone has given a bit of thought to its look, even at kerbside.

Inside doesn’t disappoint in this two-bed tardis. Upstairs, the bedrooms each average about 14’ by 10’, but have high ceilings.

One has some exposed beams, and the flue running through from the downstairs stove, for a bit of extra warmth, while the second bedroom has a Velux and double doors overlooking the back courtyard garden.

Stone removed from the original cottage internal walls has been re-used in the long, tiered back yard, mixed with slate and brick for hard-wearing surfaces and minimal maintenance, with seating area and sheds.

Internally, the ground floor has a front living section with large wood-burning stove, the kitchen’s in the middle with a ceramic sink, the floors throughout here are sold oak, and lighting’s a bit on the funky, bejewelled side.

The cottage’s bathroom is upstairs, between the two bedrooms, and again makes best use of limited space, with a feature corner bath getting just enough headroom under a sloping ceiling to allow for a shower attachment. This slender room’s been well-tile, and has a heated towel rail.

No 2 was given its quality makeover about eight years ago, note Ian Lyons and Clare O’Sullivan of Savills who say it really is worth a look-over given its interior quality, retained character (old stone peeps out in unexpected places) ease of upkeep, handy town setting, and sheer convenience.

VERDICT: Kinsale’s known for its swanky, big show-off houses, but No 2 Bandon Road is at the ‘best goods, small parcels’ end of the tourist and gourmet town’s spectrum.