Twice as nice: Cork bungalow has wide appeal

• Boreenmanna Road, Cork
• Price: €375,000
• Size: 164sq m (1,765sq ft)
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 4
• BER: C1

The scope offered in this extended semi-detached bungalow should appeal to a diverse range of buyers, according to Trish Dromey

Hiding behind high stone walls on the Boreenmanna Road is a semi-detached bungalow called Coolmaine which is almost twice the property it used to be.

When Garry O’Donnell of ERA Downey McCarthy sold it to its current owners in the mid-2000s, it was a standard 1950s-built two-bed bungalow. This time round he’s selling a thoroughly modern two-bed property with bright open-plan living space, four bathrooms and three attic rooms.

“The owners built on at the back and they also converted the attic, which now has three rooms. They modernised the interior and upgraded the BER rating with solar panels and put in underfloor heating at ground level,” says Mr O’Donnell quoting a guide of €375,000.

The selling points include the privacy provided by the high walls, the space and the location on the Boreenmanna Road. “Coolmaine is in a mature, sought-after residential area close to amenities and schools and within a short drive from the city centre,” says Mr O’Donnell.

Double doors at the front open into a huge open-plan living/dining room interconnected with a modern kitchen at the rear. The living-dining area has timber flooring and a wood-burning stove. It is separated from the kitchen by a breakfast counter. Behind this is a long kitchen with a red, white and black colour scheme. The high-gloss units are a mix of red and white, while the appliances and the countertops are black. Off the kitchen at one side is a door to a utility room.

The main bedroom is at the front and has a shelved walk-in wardrobe and a tiled en-suite with an impressive-looking high-tech Jacuzzi bath/shower unit. The second bedroom is at the rear and also has an en-suite.

Stairs lead from the hallway to the converted attic, which has a bathroom and three timber-floored rooms with Velux windows. One of these is particularly spacious and has a built-in study area and wardrobes.

Building right up to the boundary wall at the rear, the owners have landscaped the south-facing front garden and minimised maintenance by putting in a patio and artificial grass.

Mr O’Donnell believes Coolmaine is likely to attract a diverse range of buyers. “Because it’s a bungalow it will appeal to downsizers, but because of the space it offers it’s also perfect for a family,” he says.

The property is situated one-and-a-half kilometres from Cork City Hall. Ashton secondary school, St Anthony’s boys school and Our Lady of Lourdes girls school are within a 10-minute walk.

VERDICT: Spacious, modern, and versatile.