Ladysbridge home in Cork worth a look

Ladysbridge Cork €435,000

Sq m 202 (2,200 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 3

BER: C2

In adding a smart, stylish extension to this attractive old farmhouse at Loughane, Ladysbridge in East Cork the owners used the services of not one, but two architects - their sons.

They designed its contemporary two-storey addition which provides almost 1,000 sq ft extra space, letting in a great deal of light through a variety of windows shapes and sizes.

Even before the extension in 2008, the property, guiding at €435,000. — with its high dormer windows — is likely to have stood out from the more traditional farmhouses in the area. The owners who bought it in 1985 believe that it dates from the first half of the last century, and it has kept several old outbuildings.

Pretty with a tinge of pink at the front, and contemporary and white at the rear, the house now has 2,200 sq ft of bright, timber and tile-floored living space, painted white to enhances the light and sense of space, possibly reflecting the influence of their architect sons.

Ground floor accommodation is spacious and at the front in the older part of the house is a 320 sq ft sitting room with cherrywood flooring, with retained timber ceiling beams and a large red-brick chimney breast with stove.

Behind is a similar sized bright (part glass-walled) living/dining room and kitchen, part of the original farmhouse, with contemporary makeover with high gloss black units and stainless steel work surfaces, with Rayburn stove.

There’s also a utility room and shower room. The new fourth bedroom has an en suite, two huge windows and some narrow letter-box ones, and all have cherrywood floors.

Windows are PVC in front and Alu-clad mahogany imported from Germany in the extension, and heating is by gas, and the kitchen Rayburn, with some feature rads and trench/floor heaters.

It is a C2 BER and has two solar panels ready for fitting.

The owners put in three limestone patios, facing south, east and west for outdoor dining, and views are of green, rolling countryside with the sea at Ballycotton glimpsed in the distance from upstairs. The half acre mature grounds include three old stone outhouses, one converted to artist’s studio/living area with maple flooring and a stove.

Selling agent Colbert Auctioneers in Midleton describe it as modern and charming: It’s near Cloyne, Ladysbridge and Castlemartyr, and just a mile from Ballymaloe, which has driven house prices in the area.

VERDICT: Spanning generations with style.