House of the week: Saleen, Midleton, €225,000

SOME people buy standard homes, others build individual ones but some — like the owners of 21 Woodview Lawn in Saleen near Midleton — transform standard homes into highly individual ones.

From the front it’s still the same three-bed end-of-terrace house it’s been since 2004 but the original interior has been replaced by one that’s stylish, modern, open plan, and bright.

The transformation was carried out by a Belgian/Israeli couple who bought it five years ago.

“It was a standard house with a small kitchen, a separate living room and kitchen and a standard bathroom. When we moved in the first thing we did was knock down the wall between the living room and the kitchen to let in the light,” reveal the owners.

Three years later, after much planning, the couple set about giving themselves the contemporary kitchen and the living space they had their hearts set on.

“My husband found a photo of a white kitchen with a breakfast counter which he really liked.

“We used this as a base template to create the kind of kitchen we wanted.”

The first step in creating the space they wanted was adding a 10ft deep extension, the second was to equip it with some highly individual features. Following much internet research and multiple trips to shops around Cork, they bought from both far and near.

“We ordered a small circular sink for the breakfast counter from France — it’s hand cut stone and weighs 35 kilos and is one of the features that makes the kitchen stand out. We got taps with LED lights which change colour with the temperature of the water from Northern Ireland and ordered a hob from Italy.’’

Buying a high gloss white kitchen with grey worktops in Cork city they individualised it with local stone from Carrigtwohill to line the walls above the units and placed spotlights above it for illumination.

They spotted a stone floor tile in a flooring shop which they used to create another feature wall by the patio door at the other side of the kitchen.

The open plan kitchen-sitting-dining area they created is 36ft long, has timber flooring and a Velux window in the extension over the kitchen.

The colour scheme is mostly grey and white but there is a strikingly orange lampshade by the kitchen door.

In the interests of light and brightness all the walls are white except for one in the living area which has been painted grey to match the kitchen countertops.

In the area by the patio door the owners have placed several tall plants which give the effect of a small garden area. Alongside this is the dining area which fits in between the kitchen and the living space.

The couple didn’t like the standard fireplace which was in the living area so they took out the surround and built a stone-fronted chimney-breast around the original insert.

They put the major share of effort into the transformation of the kitchen living area but also spruced up and modernised the rest of the house by changing the colour scheme and the flooring.

The ground floor guest WC has been redecorated and upstairs bathrooms have been given a contemporary look with new tiling. Brighter colours have been used in the three bedrooms — two doubles and one single which is currently a home office.

The couple have also made quite a few changes to the garden.

At the front they added a stone patio and at the rear they planted flowers for every season and, at the bottom of the garden put in a raised, decked area and an insulated shed. In one corner there’s a stone water feature which the couple built themselves.

The final step was to stone face the rear exterior to match the front.

Seeking offers of €225,000, Adrianna Hegarty of Hegarty Properties, Midleton, describes 21 Woodview Lawn as spectacular.

Last week it had more than 2,000 online viewings in a few days so she’s expecting a lot of actual viewings when she starts showing it this week.

Enthusing about the stylish, bright interior of the property she notes that the Woodview development is very popular with first-time buyers.

“It’s with a few minutes’ stroll from the local crèche, church, and primary school and it’s only four miles from Midleton”.

VERDICT: Really cool kitchen

Saleen, Midleton

€225,000

Size: 106 sq m (1,150 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

BER: C2

Best feature: kitchen style