Light, lots of light, in extended kitchen of €615,000 Ballinlough home 

A good many upgrades have been carried out at Phoenix House, aka No 47 Marble Hall Park, in the past year

Phoenix House, 47 Marble Hall Park, Ballinlough

Ballinlough, Cork city €615,000 Size: 132 sq m (1420 sq ft) Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 BER: C2 

Ballinlough, Cork city
€615,000
Size	132 sq m (1420 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	C2

PHOENIX HOUSE in Marble Hall Park didn’t quite rise from the ashes, but it has been given a good going over in the last six to 12 months.

In the ownership of a West Cork-based family since 2003, it operated on and off as a rental.

The plan had been for a family member to move in, but a change in circumstances sees it come to market instead — so the next owner will reap the benefits of the past year’s renovations.

It’s not the first time Phoenix House has been worked on.

Extended kitchen

 When the current owners bought it 23 years ago, they made a bigger and better job of a small kitchen extension, avoiding the “dark tunnel” scenario that celebrity architect Dermot Bannon regularly warns against: “Bigger isn’t better if it kills the light”.

The supply of light to the extended kitchen is commendable, helped by a large Velux, side windows, glazed patio doors, and a generous window overlooking the patio.

Differing ceiling heights add volume.

It’s a bright, airy space, recently modernised, fitted with new kitchen presses, a new island unit, and new flooring.

All rooms benefited from upgrades. Bathrooms were re-done. Replacement window panes smartened the outward appearance of Phoenix House and improved its energy efficiency.

Selling agent Keith O’Sullivan of Hodnett Forde says insulation work brought the energy rating to a C2 — a solid performance for a mid-20th century property.

Modernising the house did not mean sacrificing all of its original features. A coloured glass window has been retained inside the porch.

Pretty red clay roof tiles — a nice contrast to the crisp white exterior — remain in place. Decorative detailing on the facade, a feature of most homes in Marble Hall Park, was touched up.

Inside was re-painted too and rooms were re-floored.

Daytime accommodation includes a large living room with box bay window and barn-style sliding doors to the kitchen/dining room.

There’s an option for a fourth bedroom on the ground floor, or new owners might have other ideas — playroom/home office etc.

The downstairs guest loo, which is off the utility, has a shower, while the main bathroom is overhead. None of the three upstairs bedrooms has an en suite.

Outdoors, new gravel was laid to the front and there’s scope for off-street parking for one car. The rear garden — which faces south east — is low-maintenance, mainly patio paving, with attractive raised beds around the periphery.

Phoenix House is a good-looking property. Among those viewing it are families planning to relocate. Some potential buyers are local to the area; others are from further afield, such as Dublin and Belfast, with a Cork connection. Everyone viewing it appreciates the location: At the city end of Ballinlough Road and Douglas Road; within a 10-minute walk of Cork city centre and close to hospital campuses such as St Finbarr’s and the South Infirmary.

Access to schools, retail, and public transport is guaranteed. The setting is compelling too: A cul-de-sac in a mature residential area, with an attractive mix of house styles and types, including semi-Ds and detached homes, such as this one, at No 47 Marble Hall Park.

Mr O’Sullivan reports “strong interest” in Phoenix House. His guide price is €615,000. Last year, Arline, 12 Marble Hall Park, sold for €645,000, setting a new price level for the park. Like Phoenix House, it’s a detached three-bed, albeit bigger (158q m) and has a garage.

VERDICT: Renovations have given Phoenix House a new lease of life. The location, close to the city centre, on good public transport routes, shores up its appeal. A rock-solid family home, with downsizer appeal too.