City to Country: Extended Dublin 3 Victorian redbrick for €625k or rural and spacious bungalow in Cork countryside 

Space inside or outside are home options, writes Trish Dromey

21 Nottingham Street North Strand Dublin

North Strand, Dublin 3
€625,000
Size	210 sq m ( 2,260 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4
BER	B3

The owners 21 Nottingham Street, North Strand in Dublin 3 have probably doubled the size of their Victorian redbrick end-of-terrace home.

A property which most likely had two bedrooms when it was built in the 1890s, now has five and a total of 210 square metres of living space. Selling agent Wayne O’Brien of DNG Fairview says the owners who bought in 2017 have renovated, upgraded the energy rating to a B3 and extended it very significantly.

“It now has a 10-metre long modern kitchen/dining/living room with modern quart-topped units, a large skylight and bi-folding doors opening on a patio garden,’’ he says, quoting a guide of €625,000.

Previous owners also carried out some extension work and the layout is a little quirkily. In the older part of the house, there’s a living room with exposed brick and a bedroom/utility room with an en suite while the newer section has a kitchen/dining/living room, a contemporary bathroom, a bedroom and a utility room/gym.

The upper floor has a bathroom and three bedrooms including one which is currently being used as a second kitchen. The property also has an en suite attic room with a large Velux window.

“No expense was spared in the upgrades – it has underfloor heating, triple glazed windows and is very well maintained,’’ says Mr O’Brien.

VERDICT: Unexpectedly spacious.

Sixmilebridge, Co Clare
€650,000
Size	279 sq m (3,000 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	4
BER	B2

When they owners of The Cowfield at Cappanalaght near Sixmilebridge in Clare built this spacious five-bed home in 2002 they seem to have pulled out all the stops. 

Finding a 3.76 acre site with views of surrounding forestry and of the Shannon estuary in the distance, they constructed a 279 sq metres steeply pitched dormer bungalow with a games room, a gym and also built a 149 sq metre garage/workshop.

“When it came to energy efficiency, The Cowfield was ahead of its time. Fitted with Geothermal underfloor heating, it has 16 solar panels and a B2 BER and, according to the owners, costs just €6 a day to run,’’ says Gillian Dunne of DNG Cusack Dunne seeking offers of €650,000.

The generous-sized property has two reception rooms, a large kitchen/diner, a utility room, an office, a guest WC and an en suite bedroom. The upper floor has a bathroom, four bedrooms including two en suites and a nine-metre-long gym. A second staircase in the living room leads to a high windowed mezzanine room used for playing pool.

Describing it as a haven of peace and tranquillity, Ms Dunne expects it to attract buyers from both Limerick and Shannon.

VERDICT: Rustic, scenic, spacious and energy efficient.

Castleconnell, Co Limerick
€595,000
Size	185 sq m ( 1,990 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	B2

With its improved B2 BER and stylishly redecorated interior, this detached four-bed house at 15 Rathlinn in Castleconnell village could look awfully attractive to a Limerick city family looking for a change of scenery.

A corner house in a cul de sac development of 19 detached properties built in the early 2000s, it’s a 185 sq metre house with a guide of €595,000.

Describing it as a turnkey home which has been thoughtfully and stylishly upgraded, Brenda Mulcahy of Sherry FitzGerald Limerick says current owners have renovated and redecorated extensively since buying it in 2016.

“Three of the four bathrooms have been upgraded and one of the en suites has been fitted with an infra-red sauna,’’ she says, adding that the kitchen and flooring were also replaced.

Occupying a corner site, it’s an almost triangular-shaped house with a slightly unusual layout. At the front, it has a spacious living room with polished hardwood flooring, a fireplace with a stove and a set of double doors connecting it to a family room at the rear. At the side there’s a long kitchen/diner with cream shaker-style units and off the hallway there’s a utility and a guest WC.

The upstairs has a contemporary bathroom and four bedrooms including two with en suites and one with a sauna cabin.

Located 15km from Limerick city the property is 10km from the University of Limerick.

VERDICT: A trade up buyer might appreciate the space and comfort and the opportunity to try village life.

Coppeen, Co Cork
€395,000
Size	173 sq m ( 1,862 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	4
BER	B2

This three-bed detached dormer bungalow at Coppeen East near Enniskeane is going to appeal to a first-time buyer who wants a rural lifestyle with space for cats and dogs and for children to run around in.

That’s the expectation of Brendan Bowe of Bowe Auctioneers who believes the 173 sq metre property could with its €395,000 guide price prove attractive to young couples in Ballincollig, Bandon and Macroom which are all within a 30-minute drive.

Built in 2011 by current owners, it’s a well-maintained family home with a B3 and a three-quarters of an acre site.

Accommodation at ground level includes a timber floored living room with a stove as well as a kitchen/diner with high gloss units a centre island and a set of double doors opening onto a raised decking area with scenic views of green rolling countryside.

Also on the ground floor, there’s a utility with black gloss units, a guest WC and an en suite bedroom. The upper floor has two en suite bedrooms and a gallery area with a sloping ceiling which could be used as a home office.

Surrounded by a garden and field, the property has a large detached garage at the side.

VERDICT: A modern country home.