Model living at skilfully updated €545k Cork four-bed 

A former show house that gets a glow-up is very special

11 Edgewood, Maryborough Hill

Maryborough Ridge, Cork
€545,000
Size	130sq m (1,399sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
BER	B

Even supermodels rely on a touch of styling, and this former showhouse also benefitted from a gentle refresh to bring out its best.

Originally the display home for the 2005 O’Brien O’Flynn development at Maryborough Ridge, this four-bedroom semi- detached property was acquired in 2022 by its current owners, who have skilfully updated and modernised it since then.

Among the standout improvements is a significant energy efficiency boost, bringing its rating from a C1 in 2014 up to a solid B today.

They also added a new Kube kitchen, changed an open fire in the living room to an in-built gas stove, and installed a Hive zoned heating system.

But the things which attracted this now family of five to 11 Edgewood in Rochestown in the first place haven’t changed much at all: “We had two small children then and there are two greens out the front and it has a lovely garden,” says one of the owners.

They also added a play area at the back of the house which is on a corner site in a cul-de-sac. The back garden also has a patio area, raised planters, and mature shrubs and greenery.

There’s artificial grass under the play set and the real lawn is closer to the house and patio.

“The artificial grass means the children could play here all year round without getting muddy,” adds the owner. “And as it had been a showhouse the planting was pretty much done. So we’ve been maintaining things like Japanese acer and maples. My aim was to get that real grass as green as the artificial grass and I think I’m doing quite well — it’s lucky that it’s a south west-facing garden.”

It’s about a kilometre of downhill walking to get to the Fingerpost roundabout in Douglas “and it’s probably easier to get the bus back up the hill” to this €545k home with a B energy rating.

The family are staying in the area... without even needing to change schools: “It’s actually our third home within a two square kilometre area.”

Schools within a convenient distance include Douglas Rochestown Educate Together National School (an eight-minute spin); Rochestown National School at Foxwood is about 2.1km away; and you’ve also got St Columba’s boys’ and girls’ schools in Douglas as well as Gaelscoil na Dúglaise.

And for secondary schools, Douglas Community School, Regina Mundi, and Rochestown College are all within around 3km.

The decor and location come in for mention from agent Jeremy Murphy of Jeremy Murphy & Associates: “It’s like a showhouse today — in fact, it was a former showhouse and they’ve only made it even nicer.

“They’ve added a new kitchen, en suite, and patio, and decorated it as well. It’s just got an absolutely wonderful standard of finish.”

Interest is coming from families already living in the area keen to trade up to a good-sized 130 sq m home where all the work has been done, and also “some [very lucky] first-time buyers”.

There are three separate living spaces downstairs — the main living room, a lounge that opens onto the back garden, and a good-sized kitchen/dining room with a cosy window seat that looks out onto the patio and garden too.

Upstairs, you’ve got the four bedrooms and the main one has its own bathroom.

VERDICT: This upgraded four-bed home could be a lovely hassle-free option for growing families wanting minimal post-purchase effort.