A chance to join high society

There is plenty of room to roam in this one-off home set high above Cork city, writes Tommy Barker.

A chance to join high society

Montenotte, Cork €650,000

Sq m 410 (4,400 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 5

Bathrooms: 5

BER Rating: B3

Almost two houses in one is No 1 Woodlands Demesne, loftily placed above Cork city on a sloping site at Montenotte.

Why two houses? Well, it’s got both a full basement level, almost out of sight and mind, along with an attic level three floors higher above, and in between these there’s about 2,500 sq ft of high-end living space, more than the size of most family homes in its own right. Plus, it’s effectively got a turret as a design signature counterpart in a sunny south-west corner.

It’s one of eight one-off homes built on a section of the grounds of a former Crosbie family home called Woodlands; this section of one-offs is called Woodlands Demesne, while McInerneys built about 60 other houses in the separate Woodlands section.

Although titled No 1, this wasn’t the first to be built in the demesne, and was finished about 2002, to a top specification by cautious owners. : apart from things like CAT 6 cabling for high-speed IT connectivity, it has features such as a pressurised water system, sensor external lighting, and alarm, four-zone gas heating, a decent B1 energy rating and has been wired up to run off a back-up generator electricity supply if needed.

No 1 comes up for sale this month with agent Michael O’Donovan of Savills who seeks offers around €650,000 for its family owners who are relocating having upgraded and redecorated during their tenure here. In fact, Mr O’Donovan expects market interest to come from buyers who are themselves relocating to Cork and notes they have the house andits quarter-acre of grounds all in top order, and are selling in a recovered market.

It shows like a showhouse such is its condition and clearly the space has been much enjoyed: it’s a testament to the sheer size of the house that a full-size snooker table down in the basement looks almost lost, there’s just so much more floor area down here, open to lots of uses, but (as there are no windows) best as a play space/gym or home cinema, as well as pantry/utility, laundry and services and, or course, it is an immense storage boon. There’s external as well as internal access to this basement, the latter is routed via a carpeted stairs from the coolly-contemporary kitchen, with white-painted solid oak units.

Even despite an overall floor area of 4,400 sq ft, this is going to be a family home that’s easy to fill and make maximum use of, as all rooms are generous-sized instead of compartmentaled into smaller spaces for specific uses. Thus, the hall is wide and airy, with a very detailed classic Victorian-style tile pattern, complementing the dark wood of the main staircase, and the three sets of double doors off, all with bevelled glass. Off to the left is a full-depth drawing room, at least 30’ from the turret-like front corner’s many windows to the rear where it links to the (full-depth) kitchen/dining. The multi-sided turret can be used for small dining gatherings, or as a curl-up and read niche, with harbour views to be had down towards Blackrock — although the similar space directly overhead in the master bedroom has even better views thanks to its extra elevation.

Still downstairs, across the hall is a bright family room, with a double aspect and the same high-quality, impeccable London oak floor as the main, larger living/dining room. There’s back garden and terrace/patio access from the back, via the kitchen/dining room, which has a cream-tiled floor, and shining white units, made and cased in solid oak. Unusually, the many units continue right up to ceiling height, with a top tier of small, glazed sections — ideal for storing rarely-used kitchen appliances, as to get at them, you’ll need to be about 7’ tall, or else use a stool. Great use of space, though.

The back of the kitchen, by the sink, pushes out to a shallow protruding bay — a bit like the bridge of a ship — looking over a landscape terrace, with tumbling stone waterfall feature shaded by a mature ash tree, and fringed in shrubs. The pure whiteness of the units contrasts with the darkness of the expanse of granite tops — the bobs haven’t been spared, and auctioneer Michael O’Donovan bills the finishes and house-keeping as impeccable.

There’s a robust, hardwood stairs wending by a tall side wall return window up to the house’s first floor, which is home to four double bedrooms, two of them with en suites, and the main/master has the rounded bay/turret window/viewing point, dressing room and en suite with both a power shower and a bath. There’s a further corner, jetted bath in the main, family bathroom, and even further plumbing up at the attic level, where there’s a sort of open plan bedroom No 5 or teen den wrapping around a stairwell and bathroom. This top floor has a Velux to the front, and scope for a tucked-away home office (or dressing room) to the back, and even though most of the ceilings slope, there’s plenty of headroom and scope for eaves storage as well — just in case the enormous basement ever overflows.

That out-of-sight basement level was of course facilitated by the fact the house is on a slope, so it means the grounds (c0.25 of an acre) are on different levels. You sort of drop down off the Middle Glanmire Road and slalom around a bend to No 1’s entrance (you might also

note No 8, a different big build, is for sale too, guiding €950,000 with Woodwards), and there’s good off-road parking at the bottom of No 1’s site for several cars, on a brick-paved drive.

The entire grounds are well planted up, for privacy and looks, with broad, limestone steps (14 of them) up to the front door, framed at the top by large round clipped bay trees. A side path winds to the eastern boundary, first to the basement entrance and to the back patio, and higher up again is the quite level rear lawn area, in a wedge-shape, all walled in, and landscaped.

It all makes great use of its site, managing to get space, light and even harbour views, all within a mile or so of St Luke’s Cross and a very short spin to the city centre, while Glanmire and business parks are just east of the city.

VERDICT: A great-sized family home in tip-top order, and designed/engineered to last generations.

Best Feature: Build quality

More in this section

Property & Home

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly update on residential property and planning news as well the latest trends in homes and gardens.

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited