City to Country: Extensively modernised Dublin yellow brick or views of the Atlantic at €475k Kerry holiday home

Urban and rural choices among a diverse range of Irish homes

Wed, 30 Oct, 2024 - 06:05

Trish Dromey

Ranelagh, Dublin 6
€625,000
Size	73 sq m (785 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2
BER	C3

While the Victorian yellow brick exterior of 17 Rugby Villas, Ranelagh in Dublin 6 hasn’t changed much since the 1900s, its interior has been extensively modernised.

Current owners have remodelled, renovated and redecorated since buying it four years ago.“The house had already been extended so the work carried out by them included rewiring, replumbing, as well as putting in a new kitchen and bathrooms, adding extra insulation and installing a stove and sash style windows,’’ reveals Michael McDonagh of Young’s Auctioneers.

On the market with a guide of €625,000, it’s a two-bed end-of-terrace house with 73 sq metres of living space.

To make maximum use of the space available, owners have opened up the ground floor to create a stylish modern kitchen/dining /sitting room with herringbone flooring, handleless contemporary grey kitchen units, a rooflight and a large window overlooking a small courtyard at the rear.

The ground floor also has a contemporary shower room while the upstairs has two upgraded bedrooms including one with an en suite.

Located in a cul de sac, it’s on a terrace of just two houses situated opposite one of 12 and is within walking distance of Ranelagh village and also of Rathmines.

The Property Price Register shows it selling for €385,000 in 2021. More recently, in 2023, No 16, the end of terrace house directly across from it sold for €560,000.

VERDICT: Small but stylishly upgraded and very conveniently located within a seven-minute walk from Ranelagh Luas station.

Ballinskelligs, Co Kerry
€475,000
Size	103 sq m (1,108 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	D2

For the owners of Draoícht na Scealg in Ballinskelligs, it was the two huge triangular-shaped bay windows with views of the Atlantic and the Skelligs that gave their holiday home its magic.

“From these windows, you have uninterrupted, breathtaking views of the sea and Puffin Island and of the Skelligs,’’ says Ron Kruger of Engel & Voelkers who says that the property’s coastal location, within a short drive from St Finan’s bay, Ballinskelligs and Portmagee makes it ideal for holidays.

Built by current owners in the 1980s, it’s a three-bed bungalow which because of its triangular-shaped windows, which include three smaller ones at the sides, looks quite different from standard bungalows.

The main living spaces are, as you might expect, located behind these large windows - one belongs to a sitting room with a stone fireplace and the other to a kitchen with shaker-style units. Behind the three smaller triangular windows at the sides are three bedrooms which include one with an en suite. The property also has a utility room and a bathroom off the hallway at the front.

Guiding at €475,000 the 103 sq m bungalow has a D2 BER rating and is likely to require some updating and an energy upgrade.

Set on a site of over an acre, it’s attracting interest from holiday home buyers but Mr Kruger believes it might attract a relocator who wants to enjoy the views all year round.

VERDICT: Buyers will want it for its windows and its views.

Fethard-on-Sea, Co Wexford
€400,000
Size	237 sq m (2,551 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	3
BER	B3

Because the sign over the door still says Fethard National School, those who go to see this property on the main street of Fethard-on-sea could be quite surprised to discover that it’s now an attractive and distinctive four-bed home with a B3 BER.

The high-ceilinged former school room has been repurposed into a huge kitchen/dining/ living space with tall windows, terrazzo flooring and some exposed stone walls The living area at one end has a fireplace with a stove while the kitchen at the other has white modern units and a breakfast island.

An exceptionally spacious home with 237 sq metres of accommodation, it has a utility, a bathroom and two bedrooms at ground level as well as a bathroom and two bedrooms including an en suite on the upper one.

“It has bags of character and all modern comforts,’’ says auctioneer Joe Bishop of DNG McCormack Quinn explaining that the 1900s-built school closed in the 1970s and was bought and converted into a residence in 2015 by a builder.

“Renovations included polished concrete flooring, underfloor heating reproductions sash windows, new bathrooms and a modern kitchen as well as an air-to-water heat pump," he reveals.

Quoting a guide of €400,000, he says the property would make a fantastic family home. “ “ It’s in the centre of the village close to amenities and within easy reach of several South East coast beaches,’’ he adds.

VERDICT: Attractively repurposed, it has ample space for remote working.

Mourneabbey, Co Cork
€595,000
Size	258 sq m (2,777 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	4
BER	C1

This stylish and striking architect-designed property at Ballyhillogue, Mourneabbey stands out because of its steeply pitched roof and its windows.

Taller than typical dormer properties, the spacious four-bed home has a multi-gabled roof and an interesting range of windows which vary in size and shape and include a high number wide full height ones as well as corner ones.

On the market with a guide of €595,000, the property is listed with John Singleton of SOC Property who says this is an exceptionally spacious, contemporary home which could attract a trade up buyer from Cork City.

“It’s located off the Main N20 Cork Road and is just a 20-minute drive from Cork city and a ten-minute one from Mallow train station,’’ he reveals, noting that the 2006 built house has 258 sq metres of living space.

Stretching from front to rear is a long kitchen/diner with cream gloss units and an island unit and there is also a spacious lounge with a fireplace and two bay windows. The ground floor also has a home office, a family area used as a gym, a playroom/bedroom and a guest WC.

A stylish open-tread spiral staircase leads to the upper floor upstairs has a bathroom and four bedrooms including two with en suites one of which has a Jacuzzi bath.