A few nips, tucks, and other cosmetic work transforms a €375k St Luke's townhouse

No 4 James Place is a smart pick in a lively neighbourhood

St James Place, St Lukes

St Lukes, Cork city
€375,000
Size	79 sq m (850 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	B3

IN a neighbourhood where many of the residential terraces date from the 19th century, No 4 St James Place in St Luke’s Cross is most likely a centenarian, but excellent cosmetic interventions have reversed the wear and tear.

4 St James Place, St Lukes

A bit below par when the current owner bought it six years ago, it has benefited greatly from having its dated insides smartened and modernised. It emerged from the process a far better-looking specimen than its pre-sale state.

To create this buff townhouse involved electricians, plumbers, and window suppliers, who each did their bit: Re-wiring, re-plumbing, and installing new glazing — all of which went a long way towards achieving the commendable B3 energy rating it can lay claim to today. The upshot is a warm, comfortable living environment, where utility bills are not off the Richter Scale and the chance to avail of a lower green mortgage rate.

New kitchen at No 4

Inside its composite front door, No 4 is as Instagrammable a property as you might see in a glossy home brochure.

 High ceilings — very much a feature of older homes in St Luke’s Cross — get the hallway off to a good start, and there’s an original internal archway with decorative plasterwork at the stairwell.

The occasional period feature aside, No 4, with yellow ochre facade, is very much a contemporary home, from the tasty plantation shutters, to the bespoke timber panelling surrounding a feature electric fireplace in the living room, to the extended kitchen/dining room — more New York loft vibe than terraced home off Ballyhooley Rd.

Extending the kitchen — done by a previous owner — helped with light levels to the rear of No 4 because the renovation included the installation of a large Velux.

 A second Velux over the rear downstairs bathroom has the same beneficial effect. It’s an attractive bathroom, with a generous walk-in corner shower area and a bath — as well as a feature vertical radiator and wall-mounted mirror with integrated storage.

The owner’s eclectic style and eye for good interior design is reflected in the stone-effect wallpaper in the hallway, at the top of the stairs, and as a feature wall in two of the three bedrooms. A warm rustic redbrick effect wallpaper is used in the kitchen.

Selling agent Garry O’Donnell of ERA Downey McCarthy points out that the flooring, kitchen, and bathroom at No 4 are all new and that the owner took the sensible step of also installing an upstairs loo — after all, who wants the inconvenience of a midnight dash to a downstairs-only bathroom?

The current owner bought No 4 for €170,000 in 2019 and it’s up for sale now — refreshed and looking ever so much better — with a guide price of €375,000.

Mr O’Donnell points out that the compact, 79sq m property comes with its own outdoor space, which is across the laneway that runs along the five-home terrace.

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 It’s a raised patio, that faces south, overlooking an adjoining community garden: A volunteer-led green space used for informal meet-ups, workshops ,and seasonal events, run by local residents, who transformed it from an underutilised, scrubby patch of land.

Their collaborative work is indicative of a strong community spirit in St Lukes, where you can buy a pint in venerable Henchy’s Pub and bring it in next door to enjoy with a Wine Tavern pizza. The crossroads itself has secured some solid commercial offerings in recent years, to add to long established shops like O’Keeffe’s (artisanal food) and Sheehan’s craft butchers. Newbies include Cork Coffee Roasters and a second pizza restaurant, called The Good Hood.

There’s also the attraction of a live music venue, the de-consecrated church at the top of Summerhill North, now known as Live at St Lukes.

Given the good neighbourhood vibes and the turnkey quality of the property, Mr O’Donnell was expecting more than two dozen parties to the first day of viewing during the week.

He says there’s “savage interest”, which he attributes to both the attractiveness of the house and to its super location: It’s just a 10-minute walk to Cork city centre.
What’s not to like?