Property Supplement

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Property 27.08.2011

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& Interiors

Shore thing

House design incorporates a stunning vista to create a light, bright home

Photo by Denis Scannell

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PLUS • MARKET MOVERS • STYLISH HOMES • GET THE LOOK • ANTIQUES • STEP BY STEP DIY

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PROPERTY

HOUSE WEEK OF THE

Tommy Barker reports

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TRADING UP A three-story house in Carrigaline has a clean, attractive symmetry.

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STARTER HOMES With a little TLC, this Blackrock Road home could be base for life.

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FEATURES A Tramore home returns market bringing along some spectacular views.

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COVER STORY In the haven of Glengarriff, Shoreline House embraces the water’s edge.

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years’ flowering glories, but has great structure, including a glasshouse, crazy paving, paths and pergola over a brick barbecue, as well as having some feature sets or cobblestones.

There’s maturity all around, off-street parking, nice landscaping melding into Menloe’s central communal green’s headstart of hardwood trees, and Oriole Cottage has both an attached garage (built over for one of the front-to-back bedrooms), as well as a separate garden store room and outdoor WC. VERDICT: Always well-tended, Oriole Cottage is a classic Menloe Gardens home with cachet.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

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MIRRORS DIY IN THE GARDEN ANTIQUES CLASSIFIEDS

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PROPERTY EDITOR Tommy Barker, 021 4802221 property@examiner.ie

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INTERIORS EDITOR Esther McCarthy, 021 4802386 interiors@examiner.ie INTERIORS ADVERTISING Ger Duggan, 021 4802192 interiorads@examiner.ie PROPERTY ADVERTISING Marguerite Stafford, 021 4802100 marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

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OING publicly up for sale after a few months from a bigger west Cork townhouse and large gardens being offered quietly ‘under the radar’, this to rear her clutch in Cork’s Blackrock suburbs.

Menloe Gardens Cork house is itself a bit of a It’s managed to keep quite a lot of integrity, while rare bird. adding comfort, and a new family of owners can easily Called Oriole Cottage after a species of Oriole bird just slot right in, learn what they like most about it, by its family of owners who included a keen and then perhaps plan any future changes — if any — ornithologist, it’s a five-bed detached home dating to they’d like to make. It’s quite possible there’ll be very the late 1920s, in one of Cork city’s most admired little done at all. residential parks, with a mix of houses ranged around Best feature of the west-facing house really has to be a green graced by venerable the fact there are four rooms, chestnut trees, and some all with a double aspect, the Location: Menloe Gardens, Cork later 1970s planting too. two main ground floor Price: €695,000 With its timbered Tudorreception rooms, one 20’ by effect facade, it’s guided at 12’, the other 18’ by 10’ with Size: 156 sq m (1,680 sq ft) €695,000 by Clare O’Sullivan immaculate original steel Bedrooms: 4/5 and Catherine McAuliffe of frame French doors to the Savills, and comes on top of gardens.

BER rating: D1 the recent sale of a detached Two of the five bedrooms Broadband: Yes house here also in Menloe directly overhead also have Gardens on a great site, the west/east aspect, bed Best asset: Setting and style needing literally everything three is a good double, and redone, but fetching around the other two are decidedly the €700,000 mark, via Frank V Murphy & Co. singles.

The current family came here to Savills’ offering in There’s a quality feel throughout, so any changes the 1970s, did some renovations and improvements, will be personally motivated, but it’s probable most with a second bout of work in the 1990s, which families at least will expect to add more bathrooms to included adding on effective kitchen/dining garden the current tally of main family bathroom, with room to the rear. And, as it was prepared for sale this pristine blue suite and crisp tiling, and understairs year as part of an executor process, it has had further guest loo. work done to the heating and plumbing, with a new To the back, the kitchen/dining room with its roof efficient condenser gas boiler, and insulation, which and glazed central section sloping up to a max 10’ has brought its BER rating from the lowest level to a height by the back wall, is very bright for its easterly highly respectable (for its age) D1. aspect, units were specially made in light oak, while It’s all in spotless, polished and honed condition, the floor’s a warm hue, in marmoleum. inside and out, added to by a 75’-long back garden that The immaculate and private back garden has been was the apple of its owner’s life after she moved here trimmed back just a little right now from previous

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PROPERTY

TRADING UP

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STARTER HOMES

Winning combination of location, potential and convenience

We scan a selection of trading up homes around the country

Glenbeg on Blackrock Road, Cork, could be base for life with TLC, Tommy Barker reports

COURTMACSHERRY, CORK €245,000 MIDLETON, CORK €395,000 Sq m: 121 (1,300 sq ft) BER rating: B2

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

THE price might seem on the high side for a period townhouse needing some finishing off, but No 5 The Rock in Cork’s Midleton town is a bit special — worth a view, and maybe a bid.

There’s a strong air of a quality renovation/conservation to the twostorey home just by Main Street, done by a couple who’ve now headed to the US due to work ties.

Insulated to current standard, and reroofed, it has new double-glazed sash windows, and underfloor heating in bathrooms, original wood was retained wherever possible and treated, and fireplaces and stairs with mahogany handrail are all original too.

Selling agent Adrianna Hegarty says “there’s a sense of grandeur and old world charm that flows throughout the entire home,” and work done so far is certified by an engineer, while there are architect’s plans for an extension, to the sunny rear. Inside, there are two reception rooms, kitchen (not yet fitted), utility with guest WC, main bathroom and one of the three bedrooms is en suite. There’s an enclosed rear courtyard behind, with separate access.

VERDICT: Nearly there, but the inside needs flooring at ground level, painting and a kitchen, so you can put you own stamp on the final look. Expect to budget another €20,000 to complete it.

Prepare to haggle.

KILMALEY, CLARE €395,000 Sq m: 278 (3,000 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband: Yes

RURAL tranquility and very spacious modern accommodation are on offer at Foxhaven at Kilmaley, 11 kilometres from Ennis.

The owners built it in 2003 and fitted out the second floor four years later, creating a five-bed family home which has in the region of 3,000 sq ft. Selling agents Philip O’Reilly Property Plus say the accommodation is stylish and the surrounding are peaceful and rural.

Accommodation includes a large, timber-floored reception room with a floor-to-ceiling cut stone fireplace as well as a kitchen/dining room with pine units and integrated appliances. The ground floor also has two bedrooms and a wet room. Upstairs there’s a bathroom and three bedrooms, including a master bedroom which has ‘his and hers’ walkin wardrobes and an en suite with a Jacuzzi bath.

The owners are willing to sell the furniture, which unusually for a modern house includes four poster beds.

The spacious pink property has a covered veranda at one side and a large area of raised decking at the rear. Set on a site of one acre, it has extensive lawns, a pebbled driveway and a stone boundary wall at the front.

VERDICT: This has all the space a large family could want , it’s modern and well kept and has a few extra creature comforts.

OVENS, CO CORK €449,000 Sq m: 246 (2,637 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

CARRIGALINE, CO CORK €520,000 Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

ONE of the last self-build sites at the Grange Manor scheme at Ovens, Co Cork — no 5 Valley View — has now been sale agreed and small wonder, as the asking price did not cost substantially more that what was asked for its serviced site in the first place.

It would be almost impossible to buy a site and build and finish a house to this level at the asking price of €449,000, says Frank Walsh of Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh, who is now selling no 6 Valley View, Grange Manor.

This will be built to a similar style, but if sold now, will be amended to owners specification and with some negotiation, a buyer could get their dream house without any of the fuss or bother.

Similar in size to no 5, but with a different design, no 6 is the last in a row of detached houses on large sites.

Which creates a good opportunity for those trading up in the area — especially for those working in Ballincollig or even, greater Cork, as Valley View is close to the Ballincollig bypass and the main Cork/ Killarney road.

The layout is generally similar with a range of living rooms, four to five bedrooms and the grounds come fully landscaped and heating is by gas.

VERDICT: New houses are ready to go, so no extra expense involved.

CARRIGTWOHILL, CORK €265,000 THERE’S a bit more to this house at 34 Beech Road than meets the eye.

A detached four bed in the Fota Rock estate, part of the Murnane and O’Shea-built scheme at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, the house is in immaculate condition.

And it packs in more bedrooms because the attic has been converted to a large bedroom and an en suite master with two other bedrooms and bathroom on the first floor.

The property is tastefully furnished with a large kitchen/dining room extension at the rear, including utility. Other rooms include a family

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Sq m: 250 (2,675 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 5 Broadband: Yes

FRESH off the presses — this three story house has a clean, attractive symmetry and a design that will pass the test of time.

Architect-designed and with buckets of space for a family, Chapel House, Church Hill, Carrigaline is a new listing with Kevin Silke of Kevin Silke Ltd. It is pitched at €520,000, which makes it firmly upmarket in today’s terms.

Set on a large site, the property is just a short walk to Carrigaline town centre and to local schools.

Surrounded by mature trees, Chapel House comes with five large bedrooms, four of which are en suite, as well as a guest bathroom and main bathroom.

The house has three large reception rooms and a pine fitted kitchen with a range of units on three sides — a new coat of vanilla paint would bring the units bang up to date.

Meanwhile, there’s a formal living room, with high ceilings and deep windows on two sides, as well a bright dining room, lounge and playroom/ study on the second floor.

And then, the walled gardens include a garage and plenty of green space.

VERDICT: This house is ideal for a family looking for that special buy — one to view for those looking for privacy and accessibility close to Carrigaline.

Sq m: 140 BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

room, lounge and ground floor guest bathroom.

There are good gardens to the front and at the rear, while the patio area is also a foundation for a sun room addition.

Finbarr Roche of ERA Downey McCarthy is the selling agent.

VERDICT: A fine, modern house with lots of extras in attractive condition and detached.

Within a short walk of Carrigtwohill village too and, more importantly, on the rail line for commuters.

Sq m: 137 (1,470 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best Feature:

Bedrooms: 3/4 Broadband: Yes

LIKELY to be open to offers shy of its €245,000 asking price with west Cork agents Hodnett Forde is this Ramsey Hill, Courtmacsherry coastal home.

The detached modern build has a high specification (LED stair and landing lighting, Jacuzzi bath, surround sound, etc) and mainly open-plan living space, plus the option of a ground floor study or fourth bedroom.

VERDICT: Courtmacsherry has seen a series of new developments in the past decade, but this is a one-off.

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SET right on the Blackrock Road in Cork, by the old Cleve Hill, and so an easy walk to the city, the 1960s bungalow home Glenbeg is set for quite a bit of foottraffic given its further scope.

New to market with Clare O’Sullivan of Savills, the two/three bed detached home needs modernising and TLC, she admits, but could be a base for life thanks to “its winning combination of location, potential and convenience”.

Those property-speak buzz-words are well deserved, though, and its size, and relatively compact site, mean money won’t be swallowed up unnecessarily.

Glenbeg faces back west towards the city, and has its

Blackrock Road, Cork €230,000 Sq m 93 (1,000 sq ft) 2/3 Pending Cracking good location

gable to the Blackrock Road, with parking for a couple of cars. There’s two front rooms, identically sized at 15’ by almost 11’ each, both have bay windows, and the one on the right could be used as a third/main bedroom if needed. There are two other smaller bedrooms, and kitchen, plus bathroom.

Heating is gas fired and windows to the front are fairly recent double glazed additions, as is the flushfitted front door.

VERDICT: Options include just smartening up, or extending into the roof, so as to preserve as much of the site as possible.

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

“The Property Auction Experts”

Tivoli Cork €239,000 Sq m 110 (1180 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes

CREATING LIQUIDITY IN THE PROPERTY MARKET

ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT IT WILL BE HOLDING A

Property Auction On Oct. 4th 2011 In the Imperial Hotel, Cork City We are now accepting registrations of entries for properties to sell in our next auction

Closing date for Property Registration September 16th 2011 (Subject to Terms & Conditions)

For Registration and Further Information

Denis A Barrett Auctioneers 81 South Mall, Cork Tel: 021 4278455 Fax: 021 4278522 Email: auction@denisbarrett.com

www.denisbarrett.com

Three-bedroomed semi is part of modern scheme in Silversprings Quiet location, and showhouse condition big plusses at No 62 Ashmount

IT’S almost brand new and in showhouse condition, according to FML’s Matt Fallon who’s selling 62 Ashmount, Silversprings, for offers in the region of €239,000. The three-bed semi is part of a modern scheme in the Tivoli location which means it’s close to the North and South Ring road system Set in a quiet location overlooking a large green, the house comes with a kitchen/dining room with separate utility, a large living room, with glazed doors

from the hallway and a lounge/study with sliding doors to a rear patio.

The master bedroom is en suite and the house has a guest and main bathroom. Outside, there’s a large deck and parking to the front of the house.

VERDICT: Fully fitted with a good kitchen and range of flooring, as well as a good fireplace, this semi is well worth a look.

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Dome sheds light on cottage An old Waterford forge has a lovely thatched roof and one bedroom, Trish Dromey reports

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ITH A bedroom with a glass dome to let in the starlight is quite a remarkable feature AT this traditional thatched cottage at Kinsalebeg in west Waterford.

Located five miles from Youghal town, the property is an old forge which was on the route to a local mill back in the 1800s and at some point was a rambling house where people came to share news and gossip.

The last smith to own the Old Forge

died in the 1950s and the current owners bought and renovated it around 20 years ago. They put in a kitchen and a bathroom, but preserved the traditional character as much as possible and used timber panelling from an 18th century house to line some of the walls and ceilings.

The section of the cottage where the smith worked was converted into a bathroom and a bedroom, and the bedroom is lined with rectangular white timber panels, giving the

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best feature:

appearance of a room in a much grander residence than a traditional thatch. The dome was added recently, for sky and star viewing.

Sherry FitzGerald Reynolds have just taken on the one-bed cottage, and say it’s cosy and charming and would make a great holiday home or rural hideaway. The current owners live just five miles away in Youghal town and use this as a weekend cottage.

Accommodation includes living room with a large traditional fireplace and

View to kill for at a knockdown price Tramore home is back on the market but the views are still spectacular. Trish Dromey reports

Kinsalebeg, Waterford €129,000 71 sq m (760 sq ft) 1 Pending Unexpected features and charm

timber-panelled vaulted ceiling. There’s also a timber-panelled bathroom and a kitchen with units and appliances, a fireplace with a stove.

Set on a site of around a quarter of an acre, the cottage has a small lawn at the front and a large garden at the rear which has an orchard with apple, plum and cherry trees.

VERDICT: Close to the church at Pilmore, the Old Forge is within a few miles of the sea and Ardmore.

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

Tramore, Co Waterford €490,000 205 sq m (2,200 sq ft) 4 C2 Yes

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The interesting, no-hassle home This extended three-bed in west Cork is spacious but homely, as Rose Martin discovers

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UMBER 8, Abbey Heights, Abbeystrewry, has an interesting combination of attributes — for a west Cork property, at least.

It’s detached with large gardens, but is part of a small development set about a mile outside of Skibbereen in a country setting — and the views are stunning, according to Pat Maguire of Pat Maguire Properties, who is seeking offers in the region of €238,000 for the extended three-bed.

The home of a young couple, it’s an ideal starter or retirement property because it’s small enough for two, but has plenty of space and good grounds.

The vendors are up-sizing and have developed the house as much as they can, says Maguire, making it a great buy without any of the work.

Attractive and vernacular in style, the additional sunroom is a generous 5metre by 5-metres and comes with a wood-burning stove.

Views are panoramic and yet the

Property � ��������� Every Home has its unique selling points...

PROPERTY Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

house is still a short drive to Skibb and has immediate neighbours, although detached.

Coming in with over 1,400sq ft of space and with mature gardens, (including a glasshouse, garden shed, patio and vegetable beds), there’s enough room to be getting on with and while bedrooms are on the slender side, the living space is great.

The sitting room opens through to the extension, giving a large circulation space, which is floored in oak. The

West Cork €238,000 130 sq m (1,400 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes

sunroom element also has a vaulted ceiling with velux windows and French doors outside. The kitchen/dining room, meanwhile, is country cute with hand-built units a larger than average utility and there’s a wash room included at ground floor level too.

Overhead are three bedrooms, all with great views, and including an en suite bedroom and main bathroom.

VERDICT: A pristine property and a move-in proposition at the price.

Victoria Station,

Victoria Cross, Cork City

...let us tell yours to over 175,000* readers, it’s the easiest way to showcase your property

The Green Forest Estate, Cork • Four bed detached home fitted out to the highest standard • Guest WC, 2 Reception Rooms, Superb Kitchen, Utility, Four Beds (Ensuite) & Bathroom • Mature walled in garden

RT E DV A LE P M SA Price on Application B,O’B&S

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HE view from 10 Carrigeenlea on the Cliff Road is just as good as it was when it went on the market the first time early last year but the price is now very substantially reduced.

Originally priced at €650,000, the four-bed detached house has now come back on with a guide of €490,000. Selling agents, Property Partners Herterich say

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the address may be one of the best in Tramore but the views are without doubt the best selling point. Perched above the cliffs, the house has a firstfloor living room with veranda which looks right out across Tramore Bay. Built in 2001, it’s one of row of individually-designed detached houses on Cliff Road. Interesting interior features include glass blocks which are

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

used on a curved stairway and also a divider in the kitchen.

On the ground floor the house has a huge kitchen with fitted units and integrated appliances and extras which incl ude sea views and a built-in TV. There’s also a bedroom, a large living room and a utility room.

Upstairs there’s a maple-floored sitting room with the balcony, a shower

room and three bedrooms, including one with an en-suite and a walk-in wardrobe.

Solar panels and a Jotul stove help give the house a C2 energy rating.

Outside are landscaped gardens with decking, a water feature and a patio.

VERDICT: This offers space, creature comforts and great views.

Bowen, O’Brien & Sheehan Crossfield Orchard, Cork.

T: 021 4802100

Why not advertise your property for sale in the Irish Examiner Properties On the Move page on Saturday, September 3rd For further details please contact your selling agent or the Irish Examiner, Property Advertising Department Tel: 021

4802100

*Source: JNRS 2010

STUDENT LETTINGS Modern three-bedroom apartments situated between U.C.C. and C.U.H. Secure intercom access. All bedrooms ensuite. Power Showers. Gas heating. Shared living and kitchen area. Bike racks. Lifts. Free Laundry Facilities and refuse collection and broadband. Bus-stop adjacent. Fully-managed complex.

Full details on

www.victoriastation.ie Email: info@victoriastation.ie

021-4273038

Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:

Grange, Cork €225,000 98 sq m (1,050 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes

Smart, manageable and new to market THE smart, three-bed semi-d 28, Ardfield Crescent View in Cork city’s Grange/outer Douglas suburb is new to market with estate agent Jeremy Murphy.

He seeks offers around €225,000 for the Fleming Construction-built home with good-sized garden.

No 12 is in very good overall condition, says Mr Murphy, and has a 15’ by 10’ front lounge, and open-plan kitchen/living/ dining room.

VERDICT: A manageable three-bed, three-bath home in a well-served suburb.

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

Something special situated on the Shoreline Located in the tourist haven of Glengarriff, Shoreline House, designed

by Ken Wigham is perfect in every way. Margaret O’Brien reports

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HERE are thousands of houses up and down the coast of Ireland that enjoy sea views, but few have been designed to embrace and seamlessly marry the house with the sea like this stunning holiday home on the water’s edge in Glengarriff.

The views over the bay at Glengarriff are serene, with moored boats gently bobbing, and the ferry to nearby Garnish Island cutting a swathe through the water at regular intervals.

Owned by a New York-based businessman with roots in Kerry, this exceptionally welldesigned house is the creation of architect Ken Wigham, of Wigham McGrath & Partners, Waterford.

Explaining how the brief arrived at his door, Ken says: “I had a relationship with the client for some time having previously designed a neoclassical, renaissance-style house for him near Clonmel.

He was very happy with both the result and the working relationship and that’s what gave our firm the edge when pitching for this project.”

You can tell by Ken’s enthusiasm for the Shoreline House that it was a project that excited him and he is justifiably proud.

A 1970s-style bungalow had occupied the site when the owner purchased it some years ago. The property was bought for the beauty of the setting and it was always the new owner’s intention to replace the bungalow with a completely new structure.

Ken says: “It was a difficult site to work with, long and narrow with a northeasterly orientation. However, the stunning vista overlooking the bay more than compensated.

Our task was to pull as much natural light into the house while also capitalising on the views.”

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Pictures: Denis Scannell The structure comprises three pitched volumes, which the architect explains “were designed to slide past each other, thereby drawing in more light and offering more opportunity for the inside spaces to engage directly with the outside space”.

He continues: “The use of these three single room deep buildings harks back to the era when houses in Ireland were built using simple spans, about 5 metres deep, to get light in

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both sides. We joined the single room deep volumes with welllit corridor space.”

Ken adds “We used sophisticated roof lighting between the corridor beams to achieve brightness without trading that light gain for heat loss.”

Approaching the main entrance to the house you get a sense of its confidence and assurance. The finishes are pristine, yet low key. Large, solid double-doors painted a

cool green/grey, perfectly complement the stone facing around the entrance area. The external render is painted soft off-white, a shade also used throughout the internal space, to impart a sense of light and calm.

The lobby area and living room occupy a huge part of the ground floor and sweeping curved windows run from floor level to the roof space, which is a heady 7.5 metres high.

The design of the house creates the illusion of it being on the water — like an infinity pool, though instead of the still waters of a pool, you are at one with the pleasantly busy waterway that is Glengarriff Bay. “The wonderful height of this reception room is a great attribute,” says Ken. “The stunning chandeliers have the effect of drawing the ceiling down, yet also managing to emphasise the height of the room.”

Apart from the magnetic view that claims you once you cross the threshold, the other eye-catching feature is the sleek stairs that seems to float its way to the first-floor lobby and viewing area.

Designed from scratch by Ken, he is pleased with the simplicity of its detail. “It’s a single beam string staircase with cantilever treads and an integral cantilever glass barrier. It is totally custom made in steel and we even employed a car bodywork professional to finish it off by using his skills to sand, grind and fill.”

While this might sound overly fussy, the level of attention to detail pays dividends — no snags here.

The ground floor is completed with a capacious sauna and wet room suite, the kind you might expect to find at a luxury spa retreat, plus an integral garage and boathouse.

The furniture throughout the house is streamlined and uncluttered, the carefully chosen pieces, all in neutral tones, are as tasteful as they are considered.

At ground-floor level the centrepiece is undoubtedly the LC 4 Chaise Longue, originally designed in 1924 by Le Corbusier and made by Cassina. It looks invitingly relaxing and occupies a prime position close to the window.

Ken Wigham worked with Dublin-based furniture and lighting consultants Minima on the interiors. According to

Helen Kilmartin, founder of Minima: “Both Ken and his client guided us on this project and selected from display items in our showrooms at Hanover Quay as well as from the additional suggestions we made. We met up on a few occasions and ran through ideas and decided on the colour palette. Both the architect and client had a good knowledge of the brands we sell, so the decision-making was straightforward.

“We proposed pieces from our exclusive suppliers known for their excellence and

timelessness, in particular Flexform, Cassina, B&B Italia, Flos, Ingo Maurer and Foscarini,” Helen adds.

Upstairs a ‘bridge’ corridor links the first-floor family room with the kitchen. Also on this level is the first of the four bedrooms and the spacious utility room. Built-in storage is a strong feature in this house.

It’s mostly floor to ceiling, uniformly made from white oak with plenty of grain. “The owners requested generous storage and I believe we gave them a very attractive solution,” states Ken.

The exclusive Poggenpohldesigned kitchen has, as you would expect, very crisp, clean lines, with integrated state-ofthe-art Miele appliances. The kitchen table is made from glass and chrome, with a wonderfully eccentric and oversized light fitting suspended overhead.

Helen explains: “The kitchen light fitting is the Sonora by Vico Magistretti for Oluc, originally designed in 1976.”

Helen also draws our attention to the large light fittings in the double height areas, by Ingo Maurer.

The kitchen enjoys direct access to a generously sized outside terrace, with hypnotic views of the sea and garden.

The first-floor family room links the living space on this floor to an additional volume housing three more bedrooms, including the master bedroom.

The bedrooms are all ensuite, spacious and at least double aspect, with views over the garden or sea, or indeed both. Each room is floored with salvaged wide-plank American oak boards, sourced and imported by the owner. The walls are slightly off >>>

“The kitchen light fitting is the Sonora by Vico Magistretti for Oluc, originally designed in 1976.”

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COVER STORY

COVER STORY

GETTHELOOK

Some great ideas for you to use in your home and where to get them

1 A design classic can make a room, and a statement. This is the Le Corbusier’s ELC 4 Chaise Longue.

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2 Stairway to design heaven: this cantilevered example is outstanding.

3 A bedroom chair adds extra relaxation to the room, if you have the space.

4 Make use of nature’s bounty, here a few simple slices fashion a step from stone.

5 Fine finishes in natural materials, like this stone hearth, can be almost sculptural

6 Roof windows are always worth considering, giving light with privacy.

SOURCEBOOK

>>> white, with a hint of warmth. The curtains are cool icy blue silk made from fabric sourced from the Baumann collection.

The low beds in each bedroom, dressed in crisp white cotton, are essentially the same, apart from one design nuance. While they share the same shape, and low, extended and upholstered bed head with matching base, the interior design team used different coloured fabric in each room, from a palette that included a rich aubergine, slate blue, and shades of green.

“These are our own designs made here in Ireland using Kvadrat fabrics,” notes Minima’s Helen Kilmartin.

As you might expect, the bedroom with the best views is the master bedroom which also features the largest en-suite bathroom,

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

including double sinks and a Jacuzzi the size of a small boat.

Outdoors, the sensitive use of gravel and indigenous planting will permit the area to revert in time to a ferny, sylvan and natural shoreline.

This spectacular house, which was shortlisted for an RIAI award last year, proves that fine architecture really does matter.

Ken Wigham’s original brief from his client was to create “something special”, appropriate to the site and locale. He has certainly delivered on the brief.

Leaving the final word to Ken, he emphasises that a valuable lesson learned on this project is that “the quality of construction and finish available in west Cork can match the finest worldwide”.

Architects: Wigham McGrath + Partners, Adelphi Quay, Waterford, T: 051-873444, ken@wmp-architects.com ................................................................................................. .

Furniture, Lighting and Interior Consultants: Minima, The Waterfront, Hanover Quay, Dublin 2, T: 01-6337716 www.minima.ie ................................................................................................. .

Building Contractor: Noel Kearney, Skibbereen, T: 087-2510409 ................................................................................................. .

Structural Engineer: Frank Fox Associates, Waterford. Tel: 051-872999

PRACTICE PROFILE

The award-winning Waterford-based architecture practice Wigham McGrath + Partners was established at the start of 2005, having originally formed as Kenneth Wigham Architects. The company comprises four directors — two architects and two technical staff — who share responsibilities across projects. In addition to a multi-faceted work load, Ken Wigham says “we also specialises in the conservation and

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Quantity Surveyor: WA Curtin & Associates-Dunmore East, T: 086-8301423 ................................................................................................. .

Electrical Contractor: Barry Brothers, Skibbereen. T: 086-8225644 ................................................................................................. .

Steelwork: Declan Donovan, Skibbereen.

T: 086-8202255 ................................................................................................. .

Joinery: Glenwood, Tullamore.

T: 057-9341285

restoration of protected structures, heritage buildings and bespoke one-off houses.” In the recent past, the practice has completed a major reconstruction of the Theatre Royal, Waterford and has completed substantial renovation works to Christchurch Cathedral, Waterford.

They are currently working on a purpose-designed Facilities Building to the rear of the Theatre Royal.

Completion date is May 2012.

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INTERIORS

INTERIORS

We take a peek at ...

MOST APPEALING

Mirrors

September is fast approaching but we’ll continue to barbeque through wind and rain and, if the sun god looks on us kindly, through a much anticipated and longed for Indian summer.

A very clever little item to appeal to lovers of a barbeque for two, or apartment-dwellers dependant on a balcony to provide the necessary outdoor space, is the HotPot BBQ from design duo Black & Blum. Looking like a terracotta plant pot, the top half is a container for herb

Carol O’Callaghan says mirrors, especially on opposite walls, enhance space by illusion and provide reflected glory Distressed timber frames soften the coldness of mirrors. Hung together in a bedroom this selection increases the feeling of light and makes a striking feature (Fjord mirrors from M&S €55-€120).

growing and can be removed to reveal a little grill beneath.

Price €119 from www.black-blum.com.

REFLECT ON YOUR OPTIONS Consider mirror options other than wall-mounted versions, like free-standing and mirrored furniture.

Try mirrored lettering as a bathroom wall feature (€23 M&S).

A free-standing mirror is a lovely feature in a bedroom, and if space allows it works in a large hall too. The Metro

by Bo Concept is a contemporary take on this traditional type of mirror (€469).

Give careful consideration to wall colour when hanging multiple mirrors. Too much white and they’ll fade into the background, while too vivid a choice will bounce more colour around the room. Consider a mid-grey like the Dulux Gallant (€25.99 for 2.5 ltr).

Left: Set a free-standing mirror on a bedroom table, or on a hall console (Myken from Ikea €9.99) Right: Mirrored doors on bathroom cabinets get a new treatment with this free-standing cupboard (€350 from Next).

EYE-CATCHING SHAPES A new mirror, especially round versions, can make a lovely eyecatching wall feature and help reflect light around a room.

Mirrored wardrobes are ideal for spaces that rely on roof windows for natural light, making them seem more spacious and lightsome (from Slide Glide www.slideglide.ie €1,000-€3,000).

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emember Feng Shui? For a while, we couldn’t get enough of it, of the easy-to-do Western version that convinced us all we needed was to buy a money plant, and by positioning it in the south-east corner of our home we’d win the Lotto.

Not that simple, and neither is this complex and ancient approach to our environment.

For anyone who wants to organise their home efficiently and comfortably, Feng Shui’s rules of furniture arrangement make sense: use mirrors to create the illusion of expanding a space by reflecting it.

Hotels do this cleverly with mirrors on opposite walls, though Feng Shui says to avoid mirrors in the bedroom.

The hotel technique works effectively as an illusory space-enhancer.

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In the dining room, Feng Shui encourages mirrors and a long version hung above the sideboard can ‘widen’ what often seems to be a narrow space because most contain a rectangular table.

But mirrors don’t have to be about enhancing your interior space; they also have a cosmetic function, which is why we have one in the bathroom and often in our bedrooms, if that is where we store our clothes and apply make-up.

Consider a lovely, free-standing, fulllength mirror for a corner of the bedroom, the sort of thing that you can turn and swirl in front of, and which will also make an attractive piece of furniture.

In the bathroom, consider replacing your sensible square or rectangular mirror.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

Opt for something more expansive on the wall, that will be multi-functional by allowing you a good view of your reflection and also the illusion of space in what is probably the smallest room in your house.

One of the new approaches to hanging mirrors that we’ve seen in the last few years is to use three or four of the same type hung side by side. This has now gone a step further, feeding from the current vogue for vintage, and takes frameless mirrors of different shapes and sizes from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s and hangs them together to make a wall feature.

This assemblage has less to do with the practicalities of using the mirrors as looking glasses or light reflectors, but as decorative hanging objects composed for aesthetic purposes.

If you have a particularly lovely collection of mirrors to hang, give attention to the wall colour behind as this can make a significant difference to the overall effect.

Art galleries have fallen in love with mid- to dark-grey tones as a backdrop to art and it is a very successful union.

Greys work just as beautifully behind these mirrors, providing a lovely blend of contemporary and vintage trends, and for anyone planning to re-do their paintwork, grey is the absolute on-trend colour of year.

■ Next week, we organise the home office or study space to help apply teenage student noses to the grindstone.

The striking floral shape of the Petal mirror can make a dramatic feature in a hallway or landing (€193 Next Interiors).

Mirrored table tops are the next step on from glass tops, and provide a striking background for dramatic table decorations (Maxine mirrrored cube table €405 at House of Fraser).

Bespoke furniture designer Shane Holland uses steel as the framework for his ultra-contemporary Mild mirror (€1,190 www.shanehollanddesign.com).

Floral and leaf patterns frame Woodies’ round mirror making it both practical and decorative, and give it a traditional touch (€69.99).

Chic, metallic framed circle mirror can bring some light relief to the long hard lines we associate with bathrooms (Broadway from House of Fraser (€144).

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DIY

DIY

SEVEN SINS AGAINST HOME COMMON SENSE

DIYTIPS

How to create a mood board

Success is all down to good forward planning. Mood boards are a planning tool used by interior designers and savvy amateur decorators to get a visual and arrange their ideas on colour, design and scale. There are a host of ways to assemble a board, but here’s a simple way to take your imaginings into something tangible.

WHAT YOU NEED: ■ Swatches of fabric and sample paint pots. Ask for generous samples from the retailer ■ Picture from magazines. Don’t stick to interiors. If there’s a nature shot or a picture of a painting you love, rip it out

Kya deLongchamps gives sensible advice to DIY people who want to tackle jobs at home that they feel must be done

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HE home-made look — charming in a woolly jumper and the terse kiss of death for many home improvement jobs.

Here are my top seven sins against domestic common sense.

1. NOT FINISHING Neglecting a house improvement is surpassed by one thing — abandoning the work once started. Written large and on full display these orphaned adventures can be deeply upsetting. You start to furnish the room around the devastation. Children tip-toeing past the splintered wreckage wonder why Mummy tersely refers to Daddy as ‘That Man’. Even if you have to stop and start over a pre-determined period, have a timetable and finish date to work toward. If there are skills you’re trying for the first time, allow yourself more time for a learning curve. If you become overwhelmed, ditch your pride, wrap things up as neatly as possible and consider employing a tradesman.

2. AN AMATEUR DOING A PROFESSIONAL’S JOB The best form of DIY is sometimes filling out a cheque. Tasks we blithely take on are generally executing by trade professionals who have served several years of apprenticeship. Complex plumbing and electrical work and detailed carpentry are not for the faint hearted. Incidentally, quite apart from skills, builders have an inside track on good deals on materials you simply won’t be party to at the local DIY hypermarket. The area of building trades has become easier to manage than ever with dedicated websites where you can put projects up for tender, and read real customer reviews of the individual’s performance on actual jobs. Top sites include: Clevermike.ie, Findatradesman.ie, Workbidder.ie, and JustTradesmen.ie.

These sites do not guarantee a good job — you must still research in the standard old fashioned route of referrals, qualifications, insurance and competitive quotations.

3. LACK OF PREPARATION Almost every DIY job around the house should take as long to prepare for as it does to execute. It’s easy to become over-excited at the prospect of buttering up and placing those wall tiles, but if you haven’t bothered to plan where to start and get your guide lines level, you will be haunted by the sight of that cock-eyed splashback every time you

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■ Photographs of inspirational spaces you’ve visited here or aboard

plonk yourself down on the loo. The receiving surfaces for many decorating materials have to be made ready with sanding, priming, levelling or even a bit of re-plastering. Measure twice, cut once. Forward planning includes breaking the project into achievable steps.

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4. GOING CHEAP ON TOOLS AND MATERIALS OR USING THE WRONG ONES! If you paint woodwork in flat bogstandard emulsion in the bathroom or put good carpet down on cheap underlay, you will be paying a price.

Quality materials are generally more durable, so for fixed ingredients such as flooring, tiling, carpeting, plumbing, electrical fixtures, anything getting a sound daily bashing, invest in the best materials you can afford. The extra spring of good underlay not only caresses your joints, but preserves the pile of the carpet. For an extra euro a metre, why be stingy? The internet provides a fantastic learning resource for every conceivable domestic bit and bob, from the ceramic discs in your prospective tap to the means to seal a crackle glaze paint job. A budget for a DIY effort is often drop-kicked into disaster by not having the arsenal of tools boasted by a reputable tradesman.

Buy or hire good tools, and secure them safely when they are not in your hand.

5. INJURY TIME In August 2005, Nigel Kirk, a DIY warrior, tripped over a towel while securing floorboards in his bathroom.

He was holding a nail gun and shot himself in the heart with a 2” nail. By some miracle he’s still alive in Leicestershire. Curiously August is the most dangerous month around an Irish home too, (www.cso.ie). According to British research, out of 220,000 DIY related accidents, ladder and stepladder accidents send 41,000 people to hospital in 2010 — often resulting in serious injuries and even death. Use common sense moment to moment. When you muck around with the electrics, you take responsibility in leaving behind a safe utility. Plastic bodied power tools reduce the chance of shocks. Use foot ladders properly and never lean out. Tie long hair back, remove any dangling jewellery, and dress in close fitting clothing and shoes with a good grip.

Materials containing VOCs (volatile organic compounds) include most ‘low odour paints’ and dear old MDF produces hazardous dust when cut.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

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6. NOT BEING COVERED The best laid plans and intentions can go to pot. Flood your kitchen hardwood flooring, or burn the house to the ground (yes, it can and did happen in Canvey Island, Essex, in 1999 when four

gouged by a falling ladder. Accidents are regarded as a sudden or unexpected happening. You may be covered for falling over an open paint can or putting a nail through a pipe, but don’t expect a payout for outright bad workmanship where you really are the architect of your own downfall. www.citizensinformation.ie.

7. DOING YOURSELF TO DEATH Your house will always be an on-going project, but you can do too much as

easily as too little. Many grand enterprises shot through with dubious personal taste have not only yielded dissatisfying results, but have compromised the aesthetics and potentially the desirability of the house at sale. If you’re going to muck around with the layout of a standard floorplan without the advice of an architect, stay well away from structural walls. The more expensive and substantial the materials, the more likely it is you should get help.

■ Paper glue ■ A large rigid piece of card or cardboard if you’re stuck.

Accessory ideas, for example a glittering piece of chrome, can go anywhere, to catch the eye Think scale. If you have a wall colour in mind, do a generous daub of it on the board to represent the metres of wall it will occupy Shift the materials around, adding and subtracting as you work.

Put the board in the room and study the colours in the altering light of a single day. Consider texture as well as colour when making your final decision.

Make another board if you have an alternative nagging you.

Do you have a DIY question you would like answered?

Send it to interiors@examiner.ie

Q. I made a few insignificant changes to my plans during the building of a small extension and it’s made a massive change to my final invoice from the builder. What should I do?

homes where razed by a homeowner torching exterior paintwork) and costs could run to thousands of euro.

‘Accidental Damage’ is an extra batten of security you can nail on to on to any home insurance policy to protect yourself from — well — from yourself actually. Some insurers offer it free with your building insurance. Ask the agent if they offer what is termed ‘Contents Accidental Damage’ (for your stuff rather than fixtures) and what is included, for example if your wall is

■ Dimensions of the room to refer to.

Lay your materials out as they would appear in the room, floor colour at the base of the board, wallpaper a little higher.

Q&A

When changing a tool part, such as a drill bit, unplug the tool from the wall and set it up properly before turning it on again. Cut anything away from your body keeping your hand clear of the blade.

■ Found materials you can lay flat or photograph or use photographed and printed from your PC.

A.You say the changes are ‘insignificant’ but you can’t expect the builder to pay for them, however small.

Changing your mind after work has started and orders have been made for materials will obviously alter an estimate. Ask your builder to sit down and itemise his extra costs to you.

Q. I’m having a wood burning stove put in and will need a flu installed, going through the roof as there’s no fireplace. It’s a small job. Do I really need a contract if I’m going directlabour?

A. Yes. Penetrating the roof and putting in a flue to carry hot smoke and ash is a significant piece of work.

Ensure your builder has experience in this area and have a full contract drawn up detailing the work, and signed by both parties. Blank contracts can be found at most Irish trade finder sites online.

Q. We are preparing to knock two rooms into one. How can I protect my floors and furniture from the coming mess?

A. Invest in a roll of thick polythene (DPM) and cut to size with a craft-knife, use it to cover furniture you can’t move, seal up doorways and cover windows. Tape it up over open shelving units and cover the floor where needed, ensuring it’s well secured to skirting. Set a traffic path for the builders and ask them to stick to it.

■ Answers by Kya deLongchamps

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

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WISH LIST

Esther McCarthy checks out some desirable interior goodies from wooden hearts to wooden kitchen islands

Reflect on your lovely interiors with the Juliette mirror, €124, available from Littlewoodsireland.ie.

Add some girly touches and fall in love with this quirky wooden hearts sprig from Next, €21.

Feast your eyes on this walnut island unit with a gorgeous hanstone and walnut worktop, one of Ronan Power’s many bespoke pieces. He has a showroom and workshop in Midleton, Co Cork, where he designs and creates one-off kitchens and cabinetry. See ronanpowercabinetmaker.com for more information.

Looking for a splash of colour? The Rolf Benz red leather Ego club chairs will be reduced from €3,731 to €2,798.25 in houseworks annual Rolf Benz discount event. From today until Saturday, September 24 the complete Rolf Benz range will be available at 20% off. www.houseworks.ie.

Pour with style with this ultra feminine Debenhams floral teapot, €26.

Get spotted with this perky Dotty Rose set from the House and Home collection by Lisa Stickley.

Mug, cereal bowl, dessert plate and dinner plate from €6.50- €7.50 each, available at Debenhams.

Chase away the blues with the Toronto chair set, €80 for two from Marks & Spencer.

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

Indulge in some classic pampering with this freestanding bath, part of the Jasmin suite available at Next from €909.

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INTERIORS

ASK THE

DESIGNER

Q

We’re thinking of adding a sunroom to the rear of our kitchen — do you think it’s a good idea?

A. A sunroom is a wonderful addition to any home — however, there are a few vital questions you must answer first.

Location: Will it have a negative impact on existing rooms, for instance, by creating a room with no direct sunlight except through the sunroom?

Orientation: On a wet, wintery day, your sunroom may be pointless if it’s facing south or west. Given natural light, heat and solar gains, it should be just as comfortable on warm summer days as cold winter night. Construction and Materials: Triple-glazed elements should be used for north-facing glazing and double-glazed for south. Design: Your new sunroom should complement the style of your home, so it doesn’t look like an afterthought.

Q. Our hallway is long and dark, with a glazed front door — would putting a mirror at the end help make it less gloomy?

A. Basically, you need to find ways to make your hallway appear wider and brighter. However, putting a tall mirror at the end of the hall will only exaggerate the problem. While mirrors are a great way to create the illusion of space, you have to be careful where you position them. My advice would be to place mirrors on the side walls instead.

If you have enough room, position a narrow table and lamp just below or in front of the decorative mirror — the reflected light will help enhance the hall’s width. Switching to a lighter paint

on the walls and ceiling will also help.

And consider changing any solid doors in the hallway to semi-glazed ones.

Q. I’d like to create a raised dining area in my dining room, which is next to the garden, but as the ceiling height is only 8ft, is it possible to lower the room by digging down first?

A. Although a raised dining area looks great, in this case it might not be possible. For safety reasons, the raised area would have to be at least 300400mm high and have two steps.

Lowering the floor first may work — but it can also create problems. If the garden is lower than the finished dining area, there should be no problem. But if it’s higher, you’ll have to go down steps into the dining area and back up again into the garden, creating the type of safety hazard most people would be trying to get rid of. There may also be hidden problems under the floor, so have it checked out by a professional before making your mind up.

Q. My living room is looking a bit jaded and needs a lift, but as I’m on a very tight budget what will give me the best results for the least expense?

A. Lighting, colour and furniture layout are the easiest components to spruce up any space on a shoestring. And as they’re relatively inexpensive to change, don’t be afraid to experiment — you can always paint over it if you don’t like the end result!

My advice is to choose a neutral colour such as Dulux Canvas, Linen or Wicker for the walls and a more

WEB WATCH 1

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Niamh Barry

Interior architect Gerry Condon of Gerry Condon Design answers your questions.

Email: interiors@examiner.ie

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dominant colour in accents (feature wall, artwork, throws, etc) throughout the room.

Just as colour can transform a room instantly, so can lighting. This is especially true in the living room. As well as the three basic types of domestic lighting (local, accent and background), pay attention to candle light and firelight, cheap, atmospheric ways to enliven your living room.

Gerry Condon is a lecturer at Griffith College Dublin and Home Makeover Design Course in Fermoy. gerrycondondesign.com

�� �� ��� ��� ��� ������ ���������� Embossed candles, €3 each, available from Penneys.

Every week Esther N McCarthy spotlights three interiors sites. If you have a favourite you’d like to see featured, email: interiors@examiner.ie

Muse Interiors

This site showcases just how beautiful lighting can be. A small, artisan company, Barry specialises in bespoke and limited-edition lighting and furniture. She gets her inspiration, she says, from observations in nature and from the human form. The site gives a nice insight into her design process too, from concept to completion. Barry’s work is all handcrafted. This site is worth a look just to enjoy the artistry of the designs and maybe to get a bit of inspiration for your own lighting needs.

Run by Nuala Durkan and Michelle Glenny since 2003, this interior design company is based in Co Kildare. It’s a nice site that shows off their room designs, window treatments and house fit-outs. They also list all the products they carry, handy if you’re looking for something specific. All the top fabrics like Zoffany, Osborne & Little, Nina Campbell and Romo are there, and they supply furniture along with advice for signature pieces. The gallery is pretty extensive and gives you an idea of the ladies’ style.

■ www.niamhbarrydesign.com

■ www.museinteriors.ie

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

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Left: Switching to a lighter paint on the walls and ceiling can help combat with a long, dark hallway.

Right: Use candlelight as a cheap and atmospheric way to enliven your living room.

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Digsdigs

The tagline on this site urges the visitor to “improve and decorate your home to make it a better place to live”, and you certainly come away from it inspired. It’s a huge site with loads to see and read — and covet. I like their study-room designs archive and check out the house in Sweden under the Dream Home Designs tag — stunning. Beware though, the site is chock-a-block with adverts, but is also full of gorgeous products and ideas so it’s worth putting up with.

There’s also a kids section, with everything from clothing to gadgets.

■ www.digsdigs.com

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�������������� One of designer Niamh Barry's bespoke lighting pieces.

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

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IN THE GARDEN

IN THE GARDEN

Building in the garden

GARDENNOTES

■ As Heritage Week comes to a close this weekend gardeners, walkers and lovers of moor and mountain may be tempted to discover the managed wetland trails (or visit the archaeological sites and monuments at Millstreet Country Park, Co Cork. Guided Safari bus tours each day. The tour and bus is free at 2pm today, and tomorrow the bus and Safari tour are free at noon and 2pm. The park’s resident pianist will perform in the visitors centre on tomorrow from 2 to 5pm.

Pre-booking essential on T: 029 70810 or marketing@millstreetcountrypark.com.

Adding extra strutures in your garden needs careful planning, but can be rewarding, Kya deLongchamps reports

■ The September Farmers Market will be held at Hosfords Garden Centre on Sunday, September 4, from noon to 5.30pm. Music by Torc, all are welcome.

Autumn at Villa Marie is a mixture of changing colours especially conifers and evergreens. The bright yellow rudbeckias give a golden glow whilst dahlias, gypsophila, and aconitum play funny tricks in the diminishing light.

Indian summer may bring reward Designed and made in Ireland with American and Scandinavian roots, barns, chalets and storage from Hoard. www.hoard.ie.

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ARDEN buildings have grown way beyond the confines of a potting shed, offering us the dream of a real room in the garden to relax, entertain, enjoy hobbies and even work. The psychological remove of going even a few metres away up a garden path can provide a sense of real escape, a sylvan privacy. Set up a painting studio, evict the son’s drum-kit or stick that naughty Jacuzzi under cover — the possibilities are endless.

PLANNING MATTERS You generally don’t need planning permission for a non-habitable structure under 25 sq metres as long as it takes up no more than half the available garden.

As it’s unlikely you’re asking the grandparents to skip up the lawn from a two room cabin, were not talking about a round the clock dwelling, even if you

Something for the weekend or the whole week. Searing designs to building regulation standards from Get Outer Space. www.getouterspace.com.

might consign the odd visitor to its embrace. If you fall asleep on a fold-out couch one afternoon, the chief planning officer will not parachute through the shingles for a lightening arrest. If you have any idea of commercial activities, contact the local planning office before proceeding. For more: citizensinformation.ie.

Wood is the most popular choice for garden buildings and as a superb insulator

SCANDI-CHIC Wood is the most popular choice for garden buildings and as a superb insulator and sustainable material timber logs, cladding and bold contemporary sheets, nestle confidently in a garden environment. Scandinavian cabin styles are a natural development from the log house trade in Ireland.

When researching one of the many

ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDEN Getting the most from your crops This year will not be remembered for the fantastic summer and accompanying abundance of organic crops! However, some crops are still managing to shine. At this stage of the season the hard work is done and things are at their best in the garden so it is important to remember to keep plants as productive as possible.

The majority of weeding is finished now except around new plants and winter crops. Summer crops are well established and can compete with any weeds. Watch out for slugs and keep

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reputable firms, a landline, a long history in the business and finished projects available to see off the showroom site, are a good place to start.

Prices for entry level cabins as rangy as 5M X 3M start as low as €2,200 without erection, but so much depends on the profile of the walls and quality of flooring, insulation and window specs. Walls may be double skinned with an insulating layer or robust logs from 2870mm. Look out for options such as independent solar heating solutions offered with your cabin and the new family of garden buildings that step away atrophied ski chalet. www.homespace.ie and the Eco Pod from bwww.logcabinseire.ie.

Potatoes If you have not already done so main crop potatoes should be ready for harvesting anytime from now on. If they are left in the ground too long they are vulnerable to slug damage. To harvest them simply dig them gently using a fork. Remember to store them in a cool dry place and discard any

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irrespective of what it brought, it was seldom enough to satisfy us. Now, as the children return to school and holidays come to an end, there is still the hope of something better to come. In hushed and whispered tones we speak of an Indian summer, a time of flower festivals and harvest thanksgiving, of evenings full of such undervalued qualities as sharing and family gatherings, and sunsets full of decorative dahlias and scented roses. One could be forgiven for thinking that the term ‘Indian summer’ had much to do with the Far East.

You would be quite mistaken, for the Indian reference is not a remnant of the British Empire, but to the Indians of North America.

Think of of the film Dances

with Wolves, and huge herds of wild buffalo, the cry of a wolf called ‘Two Socks’, moccasin footwear, and tented tepee villages. Here in the land of the Iroquios warriors, summers were long and autumns golden, full of ripe fruit and long shadows — to be quickly followed by terrible winters of freezing snow, biting winds and frightfully long, pitch black nights. Nothing as severe ever spoils our late autumn but many garden plants react in a fashion which is regular and utterly predictable.

The most interesting change in autumn manifests itself in many evergreens as they detect cooler nights and turn from green to a kind of purplish hue. Holly does this, so too ivy, laurel, osmanthus and a host of conifers. The

WORK FOR THE WEEK

by Grace Maher

them at bay — this will also ensure that fewer eggs are laid for next year.

Watering will still be important so keep an eye on that especially if you are away on holidays.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

MODULAR WONDERS Climbing the architectural and financial vine, contemporary modular studios may boast a timber frame, but explode traditional Heidi-esque profiles in favour of glass walls, flat or single pitched roofs and sleek panelling without gingerbread fascias and doll house verandas. Prices reflect a less rustic expectation with structural integrated panels (SIPs), skimmed interior walls, double glazing, five point locks and a nod to the latest in building regulations.

Look at what Coppola Cabins. coppolacabins.com, The Garden Escape, thegardenescape.ie, and Get Outer Space, getouterspace.com (of Cygnum) have to offer.

A top quality unit, well maintained and shown off to its best, will excite a potential buyer with need for some independent work or hobby space.

EATHER is both enjoyed and endured! It can be benign or devastating. It is one of Earth’s last wild things, and although we can predict it to some extent, we cannot control it.

Autumn initiates the wettest, windiest season of the year, and it usually sees the final break-up of the flimsier components in the ornamental garden.

Generally, the season seldom fails to provide at least some fine settled spells which bring us light which is soft, a countryside that virtually glows, and temperatures which are pleasantly warm rather than hot and sticky. Since early May the weather has been the focus of our attention, and

by Charlie Wilkins

damaged potatoes as these will rot in storage.

Tomatoes To keep your tomatoes productive you can give them a regular comfrey feed. From mid-September tomatoes should be taken out, particularly if you want to plant winter crops. Harvest any green tomatoes and place them on a sunny window to ripen or get a good recipe for green tomato chutney.

Root crops Carrots, parsnips and beetroot can be

harvested as needed and will be fine in the ground until the depth of winter or, alternatively, you can store them in a cool dark place. Clamps and pits are methods of storing root crops in the soil.

Onions Bend over the green stalks and then lift the onions a few days later. Dry thoroughly in a cool dry place and plait them together using their stalks.

■ Next week we will look at maintenance of winter crops.

AUTUMN: The mood of autumn is evident in the foliage of trees shrubs and all plant life. The shortening daylight hours have crept in like the tide, unannounced, marking yet again the ebb and flow of the seasons and of life itself. There are still two months of gardening activity to be enjoyed. The garden can become ‘a cabinet of curiosities’ for shadows will increasingly deceive the eye and light play funny

tricks even during a late August noontime. Now’s the season in which to have an eye for detail, a love of the unusual, a collector’s mentality for weird shapes, and unexpected, sudden bursts of golden colour. If you garden with grasses and late perennials (rudbeckia, heleniums, aconitum, etc) you’ll have these golden treasures I speak of, and be able to rely on shape and pattern through to October.

Hebe ‘Mrs Winder’ is typical of several clones with dark stems and narrow purple leaves whose colouring is more intense in winter. If it flowers at all, it will be in winter, small purple spikelets which move and sparkle like a diamond necklace of street lights.

The purple-leafed vine is another immensely valuable plant in an autumn garden for its handsome claret coloured leaves turn a distinct shade of purple once cooler conditions arrive.

It looks wonderful with grey leafed plants or with the clematis ‘Perle d’Azur’. Sadly, the black shiny grapes are not edible.

There are dozens more which respond to the warmth and light in an Indian summer garden.

by Charlie Wilkins WIND is a more unpredictable enemy than drought, and you can do less about it. I hate wind, especially during the hours of darkness. I hear branches making little screams in the night and I lie awake wondering what damage it is doing in the garden. The victims are not always the plants that look most frail.

Clematis will stand up remarkable well to autumnal gales. A clematis leaf stalk,

like a baby’s fist, grips what it touches and hangs on to it.

As the first shoots of clematis come out of the ground, I always try to point them in the right direction, tying them into their supports. After that, they are mostly left to their own devices. If I miss out on this initial training, shoots tangle into each other and stand away from the support, in a position where they are most prone to wind damage.

■ The parish of Kilmeen, Rossmore, Clonakilty, are celebrating the Bi-centenary of Christ Church this weekend and today and tomorrow readers are invited to visit the church which has been magnificently decorated. Viewing takes place today 11am to 9pm and tomorrow 11am to 8pm. The closing ceremony will take place on Sunday evening. Refreshments will be served in the adjoining hall and all are welcome.

■ A Garden Party takes place today in the beautiful grounds and gardens at Lisellan House, Clonakilty, Co Cork. The event programme will include entertainment for all and the proceeds will aid Cork Simon.

Tomorrow you are invited to attend the Art, Craft and Plant Fair in the marquee at Burren House, the proceeds of which will aid Cork Simon. The venue is situated on the coast road to Timoleague overlooking Courtmacsherry Bay. All items supplied by local artists and garden centres. Admission €5 per car. Please support this great cause.

■ An article on the forthcoming autumn gardening seminar at Fota House and Arboretum featuring Dermot O’Neill, Bill Wigham and Brian Cross will appear on this page next Saturday.

■ Learn all you’ll need to know about what bulbs to buy and plant for spring at a free talk on bulbs at Griffins of Dripsey on Tuesday or Thursday next at noon.

■ Waterford Garden Plant Society hold a coach trip outing to Blessington, Co Wicklow on September 10 and bookings with full payment can be made with Tom O’Brien at 051-873937.

■ Reserve the weekend of September 23 to 25 for a Flower Festival at St Luke’s Church, Douglas, Cork. Full details will appear shortly on this page.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

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ANTIQUES & FINE ART

ADVERTISING

Two sessions see collection auctioned off

Antique porcelain

A

641 lots for sale, writes Des O’Sullivan

A

rich selection of small items with a strongly Irish flavour will come under the hammer at James Adam in Dublin on September 7. The collection of the late Jill Cox, proprietor of the Beaufield Mews in south county Dublin, is to be sold over two sessions.

It is strong in Irish glass, silver, rare old Dublin prints and Irish art. The 641 lots in section one of the sale, at 10.30am include 162 lots of silver, a fine collection of glass including numerous old Irish pieces from the glass factories which flourished particularly in Cork 200 years ago, Continental glass, small furniture, paintings and collectible porcelain. The evening session (lots 700-875) at

6pm features a fine collection of Irish paintings by artists including William Conor, Harry Kernoff, Fr Jack Hanlon, Patrick Pye, Dan O’Neill, Rose Barton, Mainie Jellett, Norah McGuinness, Letitia Hamilton, Sir William Orpen, Pauline Bewick, Tony O’Malley, Jane O’Malley, Anne Yeats, Kenneth Webb, George Campbell, Countess Markievicz, Roderic O’Conor and many more.

While the antique shop at Beaufield Mews is closed, the restaurant continues to operate.

Viewing for is at James Adam, St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin, from 1pm to 5pm on Sunday, September 4, and from 9.30am to 5pm on Monday and Tuesday week next (September 5-6).

A Gibson 1960 guitar from the collection of Richard Gere which is being auctioned at Christie’s in New York on October 11.

ROUND 300 lots of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, ivory and objets d’art will be sold at Hegarty’s in Bandon on September 4 at 4pm.

The sale features part two of the collection of the late Georgette Ellison, whose husband was a high ranking US military member stationed overseas after the Second World War. The main lot at part one of the sale last July 24 was a Japanese smoker’s companion set presented to Mrs Ellison by the late Emperor Hirohito. It was bought on the internet by a collector from Hong Kong for €3,800.

The sale on Sunday week includes a one-owner collection of Irish glass including an early Cork decanter.

There is Victorian and Georgian furniture, English and Irish silver, an Irish Georgian plate bucket and a Cork longcase clock.

Viewing at Hegarty’s Auction Room at Parnell Business Park on the by-pass road in Bandon is from 11 am to 5pm on Friday September 2, and on this day week and from noon to the start of the auction on Sunday, September 4.

Top: A Cork silver sauceboat by Carden Terry c1775 at the Weldon’s stand at the Hibernian Antiques Fair in Acton’s Hotel, Kinsale tomorrow. Above: A 1968 silver sugar bowl and cream jug

by Egan’s, Cork also at Weldon’s stand tomorrow.

The Kinsale Antique Fair Actons Hotel - THIS Sunday 28th August - 11am to 6pm

OVER 30 STANDS

This is a Hibernian Antique Fair a sister event to the Silver Springs and Fota Island Resort 22

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

Top left: An early Victorian diamond cluster ring to be sold at O’Reilly’s of Francis Street, Dublin on Wednesday. It is estimated at €12,000-€14,000. Top right: This early Irish 19th century malletshaped Cork decanter with three milled neck rings has Cork Glass Company stamped on the base.

It is one of a number of Cork glass and silver pieces in the Jill Cox Collection to be sold by Adams in Dublin on September 7. The estimate is €100-€200. Above: Chinese oil painting on silk of a noble family at Hegarty's auction in Bandon on September 4 at 4pm.

DIARY

ANTIQUE FAIR Actons Hotel in Kinsale is the venue for an antique fair tomorrow.

Hibernian Antique Fairs will bring dealers from all around Ireland for the event which features Irish art, silver, furniture, books, coins, glass, porcelain and a wide range of collectible items. ..............................................................

TOP BOOKCASE The RJ Keighery sale at the City Auction Rooms, Waterford next Monday at 11am will include a four-door breakfront bookcase (€3,500€4,500), a Victorian dining table with five leaves (€3,000-€5,000), a large rocking horse (€600-€800), a Tiffany diamond ring (€4,500-€5,500) and a 1950 Austin Cambridge car. ..............................................................

SILVER LINING In Dublin there is viewing tomorrow from noon to 4pm for the sale of jewellery, silver and art at O’Reilly’s of Francis Street next Wednesday at 1pm. Lots 331 to 367 are being sold by the liquidator of Kinney’s Jewellers, Galway. ..............................................................

SHEDDING LIGHT An exhibition by 18 contemporary German artists, many showing in Ireland for the first time, has to be viewed by candlelight at St Carthage’s Hall in Lismore. It is inspired by a torchlit visit made by Goethe to the Vatican Museum in 1787.

Organised by Lismore Castle Arts the show is open to one visitor at a time on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 pm to 5pm until October 2. ..............................................................

GUITAR MAN The actor Richard Gere will sell his guitar collection for humanitarian causes at Christie’s in New York on October 11. Around 110 lots, including vintage American guitars, are expected to realise $1 million (€700,000). ..............................................................

HOUSE SALE Matthews of Oldcastle, Co Meath will hold a house sale with 450 lots at Sallymount House, Fore, Co Westmeath on Sunday September 4 at 2.30pm. Viewing gets underway next Friday.

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 27.08.2011

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GET YOUR PROPERTY SOLD

Matt Fallon Auctioneer by

FML

PROPERTIES LTD.

info@fmlproperties.ie ...The Auctioneer You Can Rely On matt@fmlproperties.ie

Tel: 021 4277877 Mobile: 086 2574864

55 Grand Parade, Cork.

www.fmlproperties.ie

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FRONT GARDEN

NEW TO MARKET

62 ASHMOUNT, SILVERSPRINGS, TIVOLI, CO. CORK Excellent 3-bed semi

BACK GARDEN

Quality 3/4 bed detached bungalow on circa 0.5 acres.

10 mins from City centre. Guide pride €329.000

27 BROOKWOOD, BALLYVOLANE

BACK GARDEN

ONLY €179,000

in pristine conditon throughout. South facing back garden with Decking Guide Price

SHOWHOUSE CONDITION

€229,000 Quality three bedroomed semi-detached residence in quality mature estate.

BELLAVISTA, 3 HIGHFIELD AVE, COLLEGE RD., CORK NEW TO MARKET

1 MANOR VILLAGE WEST, MANOR FARM, LEHENAGHBEG, CO. CORK

MULLAVALE, CASTLETOWNROCHE, CO. CORK

NEW TO MARKET

3/4 bedroomed mid tce. house in excellent condition throughout.

Guide pride €285.000

50 ACRE NON RESIDENTIAL FARM COOLYMURRAGHUE, KERRY PIKE, CO. CORK

3 NICOLAS STREET

Quality three bed semi-det. in excellent conditon.

Guide pride €275.000

3 BLEASBYS STREET, OFF WATERCOURSE ROAD, CORK UNDER OFF

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Ground floor commercial premises c.4152 sq.ft. Guide Price: €230,000

EED SALE AGR Showhouse for sale fully furnished Guide Price €160,000

50 ACRE RESIDENTIAL FARM KILLYDONOGHUE, GLANMIRE, CO. CORK

DEADLINE FOR FINAL OFFERS 31ST AUGUST, 2011

WANTED

EXPERIENCED AUCTIONEER Good quality south west facing agricultural land, set in pasture, mainly suitable for dairy and beef production

To Work On Own Initiative

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Adjacent to M8 and only minutes from the Jack Lynch Tunnel.