Cover story: Fully reworked Brelon is ideal walk-in semi-d

Location: Douglas, Cork

VIEWINGS at the Ballincurrig Park, Douglas Road semi-d listed with agents Timothy Sullivan called Brelon should be hectic. After all, another house in the same mid-1900s Cork suburban estate has had over 50 viewings alone since late summer with agent John D Sullivan (no relation), and has since gone ‘sale agreed.’

That semi-d needs a fairly full renovation, it has a smaller (but, handily, south-facing) back garden — and it is being bought for over its initial price guide, for more than €355,000.

In contrast, this new-to-market arrival called Brelon has already been fully reworked, and clearly done to a very high level. With front and back gardens, an attached garage and quality finishes, it’s a walk-in job, within a walk of the city centre, and/or Douglas village, with the Briar Rose as a locational marker.

Thanks to its extras, Brelon has its 1,775 sq ft of internal space on three levels; however the top floor conversion doesn’t fit planning criteria to properly allow it be termed habitable or bedroom space.

But, given the quality of what’s done at the upper most layer, with an en suite shower room and permanent staircase access to this attic level, many casting an appreciative viewing eye over Brelon will look on it as an optional or guest/fourth bedroom — or maybe office space.

Brelon had a very good makeover by its owners who’ve been here since the 1990s and who extended and upgraded about seven years ago, delivered to the level throughout as seen here in these images: it’s more than a match for the good first visual impression it makes.

It has been owned by a builder and family who are now trading down and has a very bright and usable ground floor plan, in particular, which is going to suit traders up, traders in and perhaps even others trading down from far grander-sized homes, without feeling they are compromising on quality or location.

A different styled semi-d at the corner of Ballincurrig and the main Douglas Road sold extremely well earlier this year for over €450k, via Sherry FitzGerald as there was very strong bidding and cash buyers in pursuit, while inside in this sought-after cul de sac park, a couple of other houses have had very major extensions/ rebuilds added on in the past couple of years; the location’s bullet-proof, even if site sizes are tight.

Brelon’s top-notch main living space now runs almost 40’ from the sitting room’s front wall, to the kitchen extension’s back wall, and finishes here are reassuringly expensive, from herringbone-laid oak parquet to large porcelain tiles, and with a cream, oak and walnut kitchen and island topped with black granite, with more matching granite up the wall as a splashback for the gas hob.

It’s a keen cook’s kitchen, and as good for entertaining as for casual family dining. It’s given an extra lift as well thanks to a vaulted ceiling, from which hang three black pendant lights with cut-glass strips, lighting the black granite topped breakfast island which is set at a splayed angle in this accommodating, family friendly room. Continuing the dining options, there’s even a granite topped dining table.

Off the kitchen, towards the garage, is a decent utility, and a small home office, and the basic structure garage holds further, future extension/ conversion potential if needs be.

Internal doors at ground level have plain, beveled glass, and so light truly bounces from the west-facing front to the back, and the kitchen’s best placed for morning sun.

Apart from the series of interconnected living/dining/ kitchen areas, back off the bright hall there’s a separate family room, with a gas insert fireplace and this room has a maple floor, in a bit of a hardwood contrast with the bulk of the ground floor’s superb oak parquet.

Brelon was a standard four-bed, but now the first floor is home to a reduced three good, carpeted bedrooms, one with shower en suite, and to a decent family bathroom with bath. There’s a winding stairs to the bright en suite attic room with rear Velux, and eaves storage.

En route around the stairs, any leftover space has been colonised for storage presses, with a few recessed wall-spaces and alcoves for art display downstairs.

VERDICT: Walk-in jobs in Ballincurrig Park are highly valued, so expect bidding over the €395k guide which reflects the ‘official’ three bedroom tally — but Brelon’s got more than initially meets (and gladdens) the eye to offer.