City to Country: Architect-owned Dublin 7 redbrick or West Cork farmhouse with modern improvements

Keep it compact in the city or go large on the coast, writes Trish Dromey

Tue, 03 Sep, 2024 - 06:03

Trish Dromey

Phibsborough, Dublin 7
€525,000
Size	85 sq m ( 914 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	D2

Part of an attractive redbrick development built for railway workers in the 1880s, No 18 Great Western Square in Phibsborough, Dublin 7 has been renovated and restored by a couple of architect owners.

“They retained the original features including coving, wall detail and cast iron fireplace and exposed a section of the original plastered wall on the staircase- which they discovered under layers and layers of wallpaper,’’ reveals auctioneer Michelle Keeley of DNG Phibsborough.

In addition to preserving old features they also rewired, replumbed and fitted a new boiler and double glazed windows including sliding sash ones at the front.

Inside the 85 sq metre property there’s a sitting room with a high ceiling with coving and a fireplace as well as a kitchen/diner which combines modern white handleless units with a cast iron fireplace and original floor tiles. A single story section houses a utility and a guest WC.

Upstairs there’s an upgraded bathroom and three bedrooms including one used as a home office. To the rear there’s a south facing gravelled patio garden enclosed by high redbrick walls.

At the front the property overlooks a green park with mature trees which occupies the centre of Great Western Square.

Guiding at €525,000, the property is located within a short walk from Phibsborough village and within easy reach of Smithfield village and the Phoenix Park.

The Property Price Register shows it selling for €374,425 in 2019.

VERDICT: Offers a nice mix of original and modern features.

Tramore, Co Waterford
€535,000
Size	155 sq m (1,668 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	B1

The addition of 15 SV solar panels and a battery storage unit has made quite a significant improvement to the BER rating this modern detached four-bed house at 3 Cúil na Gréine, Ard na Groí in Tramore.

“It now has an energy efficient B1 BER,’’ says auctioneer Michel Griffin explaining that other upgrades included insulation and a new boiler and radiators. “The owners also modernised the kitchen and added on an 11 sq metre conservatory,’’ he adds, quoting a guide of €535,000.

Attractive to trading up buyers living locally or in Waterford city, it’s an early 2000s built property situated in a cul de sac of ten detached houses.

The owners favour strong colours and have painted the walls of the living room, the dining room and the conservatory a deep shade of red. The upgraded kitchen has been redecorated in pale grey and fitted with contemporary grey gloss units.

The 155 sq metres of living space include a small home office, a guest WC, a utility and, on the upstairs level, a bathroom and four bedrooms including two with en suites.

The property has generous sized lawned garden with a decked patio at the rear and a slabbed one at the side in addition to a large steeltech shed.

Located within two km of Tramore town centre and beach, Cúil na Gréine is 12 km from Waterford city centre.

VERDICT: A very well-looked-after family home with a new improved BER.

Rosscarbery, West Cork
€450,000
Size	116 sq m ( 1,248 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1
BER	G

Ceol na n’Éan near Rosscarbery is every bit as traditional as you would expect a hundred year old farmhouse to be, but includes quite a few modern improvements.

A prettily painted two storey property with pale blue window sills and a pink door, its traditional interior features include beamed ceilings and a fireplace. But the grey and cream kitchen units are modern and the strikingly vibrant orange, art covered sunroom wall is most unexpected.

Auctioneer Pat Maguire says the three-bed property was renovated by previous owners who built a two storey corrugated-iron building used for a sign writing business. Redecorated by current owners, the farmhouse is charming and characterful but the G BER will need to be looked at.

Accommodation includes a traditional sitting room with a fireplace with a stove, a bookshelf lined wall and an open staircase. There's also a slightly modern kitchen with a breakfast bar and a brightly decorated sunroom with garden views while the first floor has a bathroom and three bedrooms including one used as a home office.

Listed with a guide of €450,000, Ceol Na n’Éan is on a site of an acre and has extensive tree lined gardens and two stables. “It’s tranquil and rural and you really can hear birds sing,’’ says Mr Maguire.

Located at Inchanoon, it’s within five km from Rosscarbery and Leap and around 14 km from Clonakilty.

VERDICT: An opportunity to live a rustic West Cork lifestyle and listen to the birds sing.

Castleconnell, Co Limerick
€445,000
Size	91 sq m ( 980 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	A3

The transformation of this 1920s built cottage at Woodpark, Castleconnell into a modern energy efficient three-bed home has involved the addition of a burnt cedar clad extension and the installation of a heat pump.

“It has been renovated and modernised to a high standard and now has an A3 BER and some superb features including a handmade oak staircase and kitchen as well as terrazzo tiling”, says auctioneer Michael Roberts who recently listed the house and its one acre site with a guide of €445,000.

By converting the attic and adding an extension the owners have extended the once tiny cottage into a 91 sq metres property and provided additional space in a detached larch clad building at the rear which is used as home office/ utility.

The ground floor space in the old cottage has been used for contemporary terrazzo tiled kitchen/diner with a timber panelled ceiling and oak fitted units. In the larch clad extension added at the rear there’s a modern living room, a bedroom and a bathroom, all with terrazzo flooring. The upstairs now has two small bedrooms with sloping ceilings and a bathroom.