Property 05-11-2011

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Property 05.11.2011

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& Interiors

Splendour Falls Poetic preservation of period property PLUS • TRADING UP • STYLISH HOMES • GET THE LOOK • ANTIQUES • STEP BY STEP DIY Photo by Denis Scannell

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TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:08:05Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:2

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PROPERTY

HOUSE WEEK OF THE

Tommy Barker reports

XP1 - V1

Pictures: Denis Scannell

“The Property Auction Experts�

FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION “On Instructions Of Owners�

(unless previously sold)

Tuesday 15th November 2011 @ 2.30pm The Imperial Hotel, South Mall, Cork

WILLIAMSTOWN, WATERFORD â‚Ź389,950 Sq m: 185 (2,000 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

N

ORTH Cork’s medieval town of Mitchelstown No 9, dating to 1798 and newly up for sale in 2011, and was cleared and laid out afresh between the in very good overall condition for its venerable age.

1770s and the 1820s, when Kings Square arose, It is a classic home and townhouse, with quality, accordingly, in some splendour. albeit not over-fine, formal rooms, lots of period More than two centuries later, the classic Georgian detailing, and up to seven bedrooms thanks to its lofty square with its large residences retains its dignity and attic accommodation. gravitas.

Selling agent for No 9 is Michael O’Donovan of A large portion of the square is taken up by Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, who says the King Kingston College (the ‘college’ name is misleading, Square houses are always prized, and guides no 9 at a it had no modesteducation seeming Location: Kings Square, Mitchelstown links, and â‚Ź410,000.

Price: â‚Ź410,000 King was the “They family name always Size: 370 sq m (4,000 sq ft) of the Earls create a Bedrooms: 7 of Kingston). bit of Houses were interest BER rating: Exempt built here for when one Broadband: Yes elderly becomes members of available,â€?

Best asset: Located on one of the country’s most the Church he architecturally admired residential squares observes. of Ireland community, It’s very and much building renewal went on here in the early much a large town-house, street-aspected over the 2000s. well-kept square, lawns and avenue of lime trees in Credit for the square’s existence, created to frame an front, while behind is a useful, long, well-kept and entrance to the original 1,250 acre Mitchelstown walled-in garden, facing south with glasshouse and Demesne, is given to designer John Webb, who had sheds, plus rear access. been an assistant to the great English landscaper, Windows in front were replaced in recent years by Capability Brown. In its heyday, the demense included PVC double glazing, in a faux Georgian look, there’s three artificial fishponds, farm buildings, walled central heating and an alarm, but interventions gardens, stables, an ice house, bridges, woodlands and haven’t spoiled its feel. avenues all enclosed by a six mile long, 10’ high According to Mr O’Donovan, “no 9 has many of its limestone wall. original features, such as plaster cornicing, original One of the larger of the private houses on King wide floorboards, internal panelled doors and internal Square is the double-fronted, five-bay and symmetrical fanlit hall arch, as well as shutters and picture rails in

CONTENTS 4

TRADING UP A stone-faced attractive family home is on offer east of Limerick city.

6

STARTERS A property in Carrigrohane has an excellent location in a quiet cul de sac.

8

FEATURE An imaginative interpretation of a high cottage extension is for sale.

10 COVER STORY A property redeveloped with impeccable taste has come on the market.

12 14 19 22 23

all ground and first-floor rooms. Its front door is also thought to be original�.

Accommodation includes two reception rooms to the front, kitchen with oak units, Aga and copper canopy overhead, pantry, sun room with garden access, main bathroom, separate shower room and seven bedrooms, three at attic level with Velux windows, and four bedrooms have fireplaces.

The south-facing back garden is beguiling, sheltered and home to a large apple tree, along with flower beds, fruit and vegetable garden, gravelled walkways and there’s a big storage shed.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

A SUBSTANTIAL family home with a very good address is on offer at 16, The Anchorage, Williamstown in Waterford.

New to the market with a guide of ₏389,950, it’s a four-bed house with approximately 2,000 sq ft of living accommodation. Selling agents Purcell Properties say it’s 15 years old and has been decorated and maintained to a very high standard.

The two-storey property includes a timber-floored living room, a sitting room and a kitchen dining room with tiled flooring and fitted units. There’s also a separate dining room, a lounge with a raised fireplace and a utility room. On the upper level there’s a Jacuzzi bath as well as four timber-floored bedrooms including two with en-suite bathrooms.

Part of an estate of large detached houses, it has a good sized garden. To the front there’s a large tarmac parking area, to the side there’s a large area of raised timber decking and the property also has a large patio. In the landscaped gardens at the rear there’s also an outhouse and a timber archway.

Within easy reach of the outer ring road and Waterford hospital it’s within a 10-minute drive from the city centre.

304 River Towers, Lee Road, Cork

Superb 2 bed rental/owner occupier property.

Finished to high Specification.

Primrose Hill, Tower, Blarney, Co. Cork

4 Bed Detached House. Exceptional family home or investment opportunity.

Silverdale, Ballinlough, Cork

Former Medical Centre/Commercial Unit. 5 offices/rooms. Parking area to front. Unlimited Potential.

Castleisland, Co. Kerry

3 Bedroom detached property on large site

Eyeries, Beara, Co. Cork

Traditional farmhouse newly renovated on C.0.5 acre. Panoramic views of Coulagh Bay.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• For Further Information & Viewings Contact The Auction Team Denis A Barrett Auctioneers, 81 South Mall, Cork Tel: 021 4278455 Web: www.denisbarrett.com Email: info@denisbarrett.com

VERDICT: This could tick a lot of boxes for a buyer looking for extra space for a family especially since it’s close to primary schools, shops and amenities.

VERDICT: The real deal, on a genuine Georgian square of note.

" " $ " $

"

SUNDAY’S WELL, CORK ₏200,000 Sq m: 89 (960 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

INTERIORS DIY HOME ECONOMICS ANTIQUES CLASSIFIEDS

PROPERTY EDITOR Tommy Barker, 021 4802221 property@examiner.ie INTERIORS EDITORIAL Sue O’Connor, 021 4802386 interiors@examiner.ie INTERIORS ADVERTISING Ger Duggan, 021 4802192 interiorads@examiner.ie PROPERTY ADVERTISING Marguerite Stafford, 021 4802100 marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

2

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Bedrooms: 2 Broadband: Yes

FIRST they were sold in the mid ₏500,000, around peak in 2006, then is 2008 they hit ₏450,000 and now, these apartments at Lisín, Convent Avenue, Sunday’s Well are pitched at ₏200,000.

Or rather, this unit, no 2 LisĂ­n is, with agent Niall Cahalane. And while there are rental properties here, Cahalane says they are high end, with good demand from nearby hospitals and so this apartment could also suit someone who needs to park some cash and rent the unit out.

The accommodation includes an en suite master bedroom, a second double room, main bathroom and open plan living/ dining/ kitchen area. It is a ground floor unit and there are management fees.

VERDICT: Great for young, urban professionals who want quality accommodation but without maintenance or the blandness of regular apartment living.

!

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

3

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:08:05Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:2

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

PROPERTY

HOUSE WEEK OF THE

Tommy Barker reports

XP1 - V1

Pictures: Denis Scannell

“The Property Auction Experts�

FOR SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION “On Instructions Of Owners�

(unless previously sold)

Tuesday 15th November 2011 @ 2.30pm The Imperial Hotel, South Mall, Cork

WILLIAMSTOWN, WATERFORD â‚Ź389,950 Sq m: 185 (2,000 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

N

ORTH Cork’s medieval town of Mitchelstown No 9, dating to 1798 and newly up for sale in 2011, and was cleared and laid out afresh between the in very good overall condition for its venerable age.

1770s and the 1820s, when Kings Square arose, It is a classic home and townhouse, with quality, accordingly, in some splendour. albeit not over-fine, formal rooms, lots of period More than two centuries later, the classic Georgian detailing, and up to seven bedrooms thanks to its lofty square with its large residences retains its dignity and attic accommodation. gravitas.

Selling agent for No 9 is Michael O’Donovan of A large portion of the square is taken up by Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan, who says the King Kingston College (the ‘college’ name is misleading, Square houses are always prized, and guides no 9 at a it had no modesteducation seeming Location: Kings Square, Mitchelstown links, and â‚Ź410,000.

Price: â‚Ź410,000 King was the “They family name always Size: 370 sq m (4,000 sq ft) of the Earls create a Bedrooms: 7 of Kingston). bit of Houses were interest BER rating: Exempt built here for when one Broadband: Yes elderly becomes members of available,â€?

Best asset: Located on one of the country’s most the Church he architecturally admired residential squares observes. of Ireland community, It’s very and much building renewal went on here in the early much a large town-house, street-aspected over the 2000s. well-kept square, lawns and avenue of lime trees in Credit for the square’s existence, created to frame an front, while behind is a useful, long, well-kept and entrance to the original 1,250 acre Mitchelstown walled-in garden, facing south with glasshouse and Demesne, is given to designer John Webb, who had sheds, plus rear access. been an assistant to the great English landscaper, Windows in front were replaced in recent years by Capability Brown. In its heyday, the demense included PVC double glazing, in a faux Georgian look, there’s three artificial fishponds, farm buildings, walled central heating and an alarm, but interventions gardens, stables, an ice house, bridges, woodlands and haven’t spoiled its feel. avenues all enclosed by a six mile long, 10’ high According to Mr O’Donovan, “no 9 has many of its limestone wall. original features, such as plaster cornicing, original One of the larger of the private houses on King wide floorboards, internal panelled doors and internal Square is the double-fronted, five-bay and symmetrical fanlit hall arch, as well as shutters and picture rails in

CONTENTS 4

TRADING UP A stone-faced attractive family home is on offer east of Limerick city.

6

STARTERS A property in Carrigrohane has an excellent location in a quiet cul de sac.

8

FEATURE An imaginative interpretation of a high cottage extension is for sale.

10 COVER STORY A property redeveloped with impeccable taste has come on the market.

12 14 19 22 23

all ground and first-floor rooms. Its front door is also thought to be original�.

Accommodation includes two reception rooms to the front, kitchen with oak units, Aga and copper canopy overhead, pantry, sun room with garden access, main bathroom, separate shower room and seven bedrooms, three at attic level with Velux windows, and four bedrooms have fireplaces.

The south-facing back garden is beguiling, sheltered and home to a large apple tree, along with flower beds, fruit and vegetable garden, gravelled walkways and there’s a big storage shed.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

A SUBSTANTIAL family home with a very good address is on offer at 16, The Anchorage, Williamstown in Waterford.

New to the market with a guide of ₏389,950, it’s a four-bed house with approximately 2,000 sq ft of living accommodation. Selling agents Purcell Properties say it’s 15 years old and has been decorated and maintained to a very high standard.

The two-storey property includes a timber-floored living room, a sitting room and a kitchen dining room with tiled flooring and fitted units. There’s also a separate dining room, a lounge with a raised fireplace and a utility room. On the upper level there’s a Jacuzzi bath as well as four timber-floored bedrooms including two with en-suite bathrooms.

Part of an estate of large detached houses, it has a good sized garden. To the front there’s a large tarmac parking area, to the side there’s a large area of raised timber decking and the property also has a large patio. In the landscaped gardens at the rear there’s also an outhouse and a timber archway.

Within easy reach of the outer ring road and Waterford hospital it’s within a 10-minute drive from the city centre.

304 River Towers, Lee Road, Cork

Superb 2 bed rental/owner occupier property.

Finished to high Specification.

Primrose Hill, Tower, Blarney, Co. Cork

4 Bed Detached House. Exceptional family home or investment opportunity.

Silverdale, Ballinlough, Cork

Former Medical Centre/Commercial Unit. 5 offices/rooms. Parking area to front. Unlimited Potential.

Castleisland, Co. Kerry

3 Bedroom detached property on large site

Eyeries, Beara, Co. Cork

Traditional farmhouse newly renovated on C.0.5 acre. Panoramic views of Coulagh Bay.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• For Further Information & Viewings Contact The Auction Team Denis A Barrett Auctioneers, 81 South Mall, Cork Tel: 021 4278455 Web: www.denisbarrett.com Email: info@denisbarrett.com

VERDICT: This could tick a lot of boxes for a buyer looking for extra space for a family especially since it’s close to primary schools, shops and amenities.

VERDICT: The real deal, on a genuine Georgian square of note.

" " $ " $

"

SUNDAY’S WELL, CORK ₏200,000 Sq m: 89 (960 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

INTERIORS DIY HOME ECONOMICS ANTIQUES CLASSIFIEDS

PROPERTY EDITOR Tommy Barker, 021 4802221 property@examiner.ie INTERIORS EDITORIAL Sue O’Connor, 021 4802386 interiors@examiner.ie INTERIORS ADVERTISING Ger Duggan, 021 4802192 interiorads@examiner.ie PROPERTY ADVERTISING Marguerite Stafford, 021 4802100 marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

2

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Bedrooms: 2 Broadband: Yes

FIRST they were sold in the mid ₏500,000, around peak in 2006, then is 2008 they hit ₏450,000 and now, these apartments at Lisín, Convent Avenue, Sunday’s Well are pitched at ₏200,000.

Or rather, this unit, no 2 LisĂ­n is, with agent Niall Cahalane. And while there are rental properties here, Cahalane says they are high end, with good demand from nearby hospitals and so this apartment could also suit someone who needs to park some cash and rent the unit out.

The accommodation includes an en suite master bedroom, a second double room, main bathroom and open plan living/ dining/ kitchen area. It is a ground floor unit and there are management fees.

VERDICT: Great for young, urban professionals who want quality accommodation but without maintenance or the blandness of regular apartment living.

!

ďż˝

" # "

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

3

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:03:14Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:4

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PROPERTY

TRADING UP

Sq m: 228 (2,454 sq ft) BER rating: C1

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

VERDICT: Easily reached off the N25 (and Youghal can breathe easy now again, after its has been by-passed) Copperalley is within a walk of both the town and the beach.

It is a good, solid traditional home by the sea, within commuting distance of Cork city.

Pictures: Denis Scannell

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

AN attractive family home with modern comforts and roaming space is on offer at Carraduff, nine miles east of Limerick city.

Selling agents, GVM auctioneers, say the 2,600 sq ft house is on three quarters of an acre of landscaped gardens.

“It’s eight years old, has been kept in pristine condition and has a very attractive timber staircase, which leads up to an attic conversion on the second floor,’’ says auctioneer Declan Barry.

Stone-faced, the four-bed house is timber-floored inside. Downstairs, there’s a sitting room and a living room, which both have marble fireplaces, and a large kitchen/dining room with timber-fitted units. There’s a playroom, a sun lounge, a utility room and a bathroom. The first floor has four bedrooms, including one en-suite, and the second floor has two large timberfloored rooms with Velux windows.

Fenced, the house has a lawn at the front and a large tarmac area around the house. To the rear, there’s an area with play equipment for the children, and a large lawn with a gazebo and a timber arch. There’s a large detached garage and an overhead loft.

VERDICT: This is an extra-spacious modern property which will suit a family looking for a country home within commuting distance of Limerick city.

TRALEE, KERRY €500,000 Sq m: 278 (3,000 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Sq m: 230 (2,476 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

AT the edge of the woodland at Ballybeg, near Ennis, is a modern fourbed house designed for family living.

The owners have put children’s play equipment in among the trees.

Built ten years ago, no 9 Silvergrove is nearly 2,500 sq ft on a site of a third of an acre. Part of a development of large, detached houses of varying styles, it’s half a mile from Clarecastle village and two miles from Ennis.

Selling agents, DNG O’Sullivan Hurley, say the estate is exclusive and the house is open-plan and high-spec.

Accommodation includes a large reception room with a limestone fireplace, a kitchen with cherrywood units, granite worktops, a centre island and quality appliances. There is an oakfloored playroom, a carpeted family room, a sun room, a utility room and a small bathroom. A teak staircase leads to the first floor, which has four bedrooms, including two with walk-in wardrobes and two bright children’s rooms. There’s a bathroom with a corner Jacuzzi bath and a jet shower.

In the garden, there’s a detached garage, tarmac parking and a large lawn. The children’s play area is under the trees. Next to it is a raised patio from where the adults can observe.

VERDICT: Very attractive for a family looking for out of town location — it has space, a high spec finish and views.

VERDICT: The woodland setting is attractive as is the house, which is modern and spacious.

WELCOME to the Hill of Tara, Cork style, a robust three-bed home on a slight hill-front drive. Tara, or no 2 Bellair Estate, a 1960s semi-d, has that address though it is accessed off the main Douglas Road. Location is by the Bellair junction, with the road feeding into the Ballinlough Road, with St Finbarr’s hospital 100 yards away. The city centre is a 10-15 minute walk.

Tara was a private home for 40 years, and is offered via agent Michael McKenna as part of an executor sale, carrying a €270,000 price, and considerable promise.

Built by the well-regarded Denis McCarthy, whose own/old family home is behind Bellair, it has typical

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

ENNIS, CLARE €329,000

DESPITE the difficult times, this spacious modern property at The Spa, near Tralee has been attracting quite a bit of interest. “You will always get interest in spacious detached houses in The Spa – it’s a good residential area which is not too far from town and is close to beaches,’’ says Daire Crowley of DNG Giles.

New to the market with a guide of €500,000, this is a 3,000 sq ft property with three quarters of an acre gardens.

Built in 2009, the two storey house has a very good quality finish with timber and porcelain tiled flooring and an attractive contemporary kitchen.

Spacious living accommodation includes a walnut floored sitting room with a marble fireplace, as well as a tiled kitchen with good quality appliances, a sunroom and a utility room. At ground level there’s also a bathroom, an office and two bedrooms including one with an en suite.

Upstairs there’s a huge walnut floored galleried landing which overlooks the hallway and also has a sliding door leading out on to the balcony. There are also two very substantial bedrooms.

Located approximately five miles from Tralee town centre, the property is within a 15 minute walk from shops.

DOUGLAS ROAD, CORK 270,000

4

Located across the street from Blackrock Hurling Club is a beauty of a find. Rose Martin reports

Sq m: 102 (1,050 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Y

OU can almost hear the thunk of leather on ash at this address — it’s directly across the road from Blackrock Hurling and Football Club.

Almost — because this delightful semi, Summerfield, is tucked away at the far end of Willbowbank, right up to the old estate walls. This house is a gem and subtly differs from its neighbours: there’s the green door for starters, along with the bottle green windows and inside, the interior is impressive.

Summerfield offers space at a price

bracket that will suit starters or traderuppers. And there’s more than enough room at the back for extensions, too.

However, apart for a good range of ground-floor living rooms, there’s a south-west facing garden with a large, floor-level deck running along the back.

While it’s hard to imagine it now, this really is a room outside in the summer.

The rest of the garden is generous, with a vegetable plot near the old limestone wall which connects to Temple Vale, next door.

Internally, this house has a tasteful,

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

formal living room with a dark and dove grey colour scheme and a simple but effective sandstone fireplace.

Flooring is oak and this extends into the staircase hallway, which is nicely finished in cream, giving access to the study: it comes equipped with desktop area and is wired for broadband.

The kitchen/dining/living room runs along the rear of the house and the working zone is fitted with Shaker maple units with separate utility and rear access at the side. The dining room has access directly onto the deck

Blackrock, Cork €287,500 128 sq m (1,370 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes Aspect and interior

through large, double doors. This long, brightly-lit space is finished in coffee/ cream decor and fitted with a sandstone fireplace.

Overhead, the master bedroom is finished in cute, 60s paper on an accent wall and the box bedroom has been turned into a walk-in wardrobe, while the third bedroom is a good double.

VERDICT: A headache-free, quality buy at a reasonable asking price. And Summerfield has a great, Blackrock location.

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Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

features of the time, with rooms a foot or two larger in each direction than the standard three-bed semi-d. Its two, main ground-floor rooms interconnect, the hall is large, with guest WC, the kitchen is old-fashioned with steps to the compact, triangular back garden, and there’s scope to extend sideways.

Upstairs, all three bedrooms are large, two have great built-ins (one with a hidden sink) and there’s a separate WC and main bathroom.

VERDICT: A great-sounding address, strong location and decent build.

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COPPERALLEY Close is reckoned to be one of the most popular developments in the east Cork, seaside town of Youghal, with around 30 varying houses built in it.

And, up for sale here is this fine, solid, red brick-fronted detached four-bed home, new to market with Shane Finn of DNG Creedon in Cork city over a half an hour’s drive away.

He says it is a real lifestyle buy and a tempting package, with a half-acre well-kept site facing south onto a green, and a house of 2,450sq ft on it, with decent sized rooms, and two of its four bedrooms en suite.

Other rooms include a living room, lounge, a dining room, a sun-room to the right with tiled roof, kitchen, utility, and two bathrooms plus the two en suites.

The house is towards the front of its lawned site, with screens either side giving privacy to the back garden with views beyond.

Sq m: 240 (2,600 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Star power opposite hurling club

We scan a selection of trading up homes around the country

CARRADUFF, LIMERICK €350,000

YOUGHAL, CORK €395,000

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

5

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:03:14Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:4

Zone:XP1

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PROPERTY

TRADING UP

Sq m: 228 (2,454 sq ft) BER rating: C1

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

VERDICT: Easily reached off the N25 (and Youghal can breathe easy now again, after its has been by-passed) Copperalley is within a walk of both the town and the beach.

It is a good, solid traditional home by the sea, within commuting distance of Cork city.

Pictures: Denis Scannell

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

AN attractive family home with modern comforts and roaming space is on offer at Carraduff, nine miles east of Limerick city.

Selling agents, GVM auctioneers, say the 2,600 sq ft house is on three quarters of an acre of landscaped gardens.

“It’s eight years old, has been kept in pristine condition and has a very attractive timber staircase, which leads up to an attic conversion on the second floor,’’ says auctioneer Declan Barry.

Stone-faced, the four-bed house is timber-floored inside. Downstairs, there’s a sitting room and a living room, which both have marble fireplaces, and a large kitchen/dining room with timber-fitted units. There’s a playroom, a sun lounge, a utility room and a bathroom. The first floor has four bedrooms, including one en-suite, and the second floor has two large timberfloored rooms with Velux windows.

Fenced, the house has a lawn at the front and a large tarmac area around the house. To the rear, there’s an area with play equipment for the children, and a large lawn with a gazebo and a timber arch. There’s a large detached garage and an overhead loft.

VERDICT: This is an extra-spacious modern property which will suit a family looking for a country home within commuting distance of Limerick city.

TRALEE, KERRY €500,000 Sq m: 278 (3,000 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

Sq m: 230 (2,476 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

AT the edge of the woodland at Ballybeg, near Ennis, is a modern fourbed house designed for family living.

The owners have put children’s play equipment in among the trees.

Built ten years ago, no 9 Silvergrove is nearly 2,500 sq ft on a site of a third of an acre. Part of a development of large, detached houses of varying styles, it’s half a mile from Clarecastle village and two miles from Ennis.

Selling agents, DNG O’Sullivan Hurley, say the estate is exclusive and the house is open-plan and high-spec.

Accommodation includes a large reception room with a limestone fireplace, a kitchen with cherrywood units, granite worktops, a centre island and quality appliances. There is an oakfloored playroom, a carpeted family room, a sun room, a utility room and a small bathroom. A teak staircase leads to the first floor, which has four bedrooms, including two with walk-in wardrobes and two bright children’s rooms. There’s a bathroom with a corner Jacuzzi bath and a jet shower.

In the garden, there’s a detached garage, tarmac parking and a large lawn. The children’s play area is under the trees. Next to it is a raised patio from where the adults can observe.

VERDICT: Very attractive for a family looking for out of town location — it has space, a high spec finish and views.

VERDICT: The woodland setting is attractive as is the house, which is modern and spacious.

WELCOME to the Hill of Tara, Cork style, a robust three-bed home on a slight hill-front drive. Tara, or no 2 Bellair Estate, a 1960s semi-d, has that address though it is accessed off the main Douglas Road. Location is by the Bellair junction, with the road feeding into the Ballinlough Road, with St Finbarr’s hospital 100 yards away. The city centre is a 10-15 minute walk.

Tara was a private home for 40 years, and is offered via agent Michael McKenna as part of an executor sale, carrying a €270,000 price, and considerable promise.

Built by the well-regarded Denis McCarthy, whose own/old family home is behind Bellair, it has typical

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

ENNIS, CLARE €329,000

DESPITE the difficult times, this spacious modern property at The Spa, near Tralee has been attracting quite a bit of interest. “You will always get interest in spacious detached houses in The Spa – it’s a good residential area which is not too far from town and is close to beaches,’’ says Daire Crowley of DNG Giles.

New to the market with a guide of €500,000, this is a 3,000 sq ft property with three quarters of an acre gardens.

Built in 2009, the two storey house has a very good quality finish with timber and porcelain tiled flooring and an attractive contemporary kitchen.

Spacious living accommodation includes a walnut floored sitting room with a marble fireplace, as well as a tiled kitchen with good quality appliances, a sunroom and a utility room. At ground level there’s also a bathroom, an office and two bedrooms including one with an en suite.

Upstairs there’s a huge walnut floored galleried landing which overlooks the hallway and also has a sliding door leading out on to the balcony. There are also two very substantial bedrooms.

Located approximately five miles from Tralee town centre, the property is within a 15 minute walk from shops.

DOUGLAS ROAD, CORK 270,000

4

Located across the street from Blackrock Hurling Club is a beauty of a find. Rose Martin reports

Sq m: 102 (1,050 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Y

OU can almost hear the thunk of leather on ash at this address — it’s directly across the road from Blackrock Hurling and Football Club.

Almost — because this delightful semi, Summerfield, is tucked away at the far end of Willbowbank, right up to the old estate walls. This house is a gem and subtly differs from its neighbours: there’s the green door for starters, along with the bottle green windows and inside, the interior is impressive.

Summerfield offers space at a price

bracket that will suit starters or traderuppers. And there’s more than enough room at the back for extensions, too.

However, apart for a good range of ground-floor living rooms, there’s a south-west facing garden with a large, floor-level deck running along the back.

While it’s hard to imagine it now, this really is a room outside in the summer.

The rest of the garden is generous, with a vegetable plot near the old limestone wall which connects to Temple Vale, next door.

Internally, this house has a tasteful,

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

formal living room with a dark and dove grey colour scheme and a simple but effective sandstone fireplace.

Flooring is oak and this extends into the staircase hallway, which is nicely finished in cream, giving access to the study: it comes equipped with desktop area and is wired for broadband.

The kitchen/dining/living room runs along the rear of the house and the working zone is fitted with Shaker maple units with separate utility and rear access at the side. The dining room has access directly onto the deck

Blackrock, Cork €287,500 128 sq m (1,370 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes Aspect and interior

through large, double doors. This long, brightly-lit space is finished in coffee/ cream decor and fitted with a sandstone fireplace.

Overhead, the master bedroom is finished in cute, 60s paper on an accent wall and the box bedroom has been turned into a walk-in wardrobe, while the third bedroom is a good double.

VERDICT: A headache-free, quality buy at a reasonable asking price. And Summerfield has a great, Blackrock location.

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Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

features of the time, with rooms a foot or two larger in each direction than the standard three-bed semi-d. Its two, main ground-floor rooms interconnect, the hall is large, with guest WC, the kitchen is old-fashioned with steps to the compact, triangular back garden, and there’s scope to extend sideways.

Upstairs, all three bedrooms are large, two have great built-ins (one with a hidden sink) and there’s a separate WC and main bathroom.

VERDICT: A great-sounding address, strong location and decent build.

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COPPERALLEY Close is reckoned to be one of the most popular developments in the east Cork, seaside town of Youghal, with around 30 varying houses built in it.

And, up for sale here is this fine, solid, red brick-fronted detached four-bed home, new to market with Shane Finn of DNG Creedon in Cork city over a half an hour’s drive away.

He says it is a real lifestyle buy and a tempting package, with a half-acre well-kept site facing south onto a green, and a house of 2,450sq ft on it, with decent sized rooms, and two of its four bedrooms en suite.

Other rooms include a living room, lounge, a dining room, a sun-room to the right with tiled roof, kitchen, utility, and two bathrooms plus the two en suites.

The house is towards the front of its lawned site, with screens either side giving privacy to the back garden with views beyond.

Sq m: 240 (2,600 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Star power opposite hurling club

We scan a selection of trading up homes around the country

CARRADUFF, LIMERICK €350,000

YOUGHAL, CORK €395,000

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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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STARTER HOMES

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Absolute Property Group

Lee View fits the bill on location for first-time buyers But with its asking price, it could be out of reach for many, writes Tommy Barker

A One Stop Shop For All Property Needs BLOCK MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS WITH OVER 30 YEARS PROGRESSIVE AND SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE.

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JACOB’S ISLAND CORK €195,000 Sq m: 93 (1,000 square feet) BER rating: Pending

Property & Interiors �� ��������� �������� ��

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

LARGER than the average semi, no 1, The Courtyard, Jacob’s Island is a relatively new build which also comes with an extra large site. Laid out with parking to the front and good green space nearby, this house is on the market in ready-to-go condition for offers in the region of €195,000. The selling agent is Terence O’Leary of Murray Browne. Rooms include a decent sitting room of 22’ by 15’ which comes with French doors to the back garden. Adjoining is a bright modern, kitchen dining room of 16’ by 8’ with integrated appliances and overhead are three bedrooms, with master en suite.

VERDICT: Worth a look for those working in the south city as this house is off the south ring network.

Rental properties are in demand in this area.

Sq m: 112 (1200 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

THIS four bed semi at 47 Old Avenue, Riverstown, at Glanmire, Co Cork, is in exceptionally good condition and offers a lot for the first time buyer.

Finished to a tee and including a large, country pine fitted kitchen, this house is a walk-in proposition and even the garden is finished with a handy, deck area for al fresco dining.

The house is on the market with Paul O’Driscoll of Thos J O’Driscoll and Co and says there are no offers yet, but viewings have been good.

At the guide price of €193,500 it offers a hallway with space for a guest bathroom, a sitting room with cast iron fireplace and bay window, a separate living room with patio doors to the garden and that large kitchen/diner.

Overhead, there are four bedrooms, with master en suite and a main bathroom and the heating is run on gas.

Verdict: This is a large four bed so first-time buyers will be skipping a step if they buy here.

6

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

Single and mixed use managed units enjoy the same level of service.

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Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: ALTHOUGH it’s on the pricey side at just a shave under €189,000, this two-bed at 8, Lee View, Carrigrohane, is doubtless price-pitched on location.

Just off the main Cork/ Ballincollig road, this house is a semi in a low-density scheme of houses overlooking the most beautiful part of the Lee near Carrigrohane Castle.

And while number 8 will need remediation, and probably an extension, it has a huge back garden and the aspect is good too.

On the market with Brendan Bowe of Bowe Auctioneers, the house comes with two bedrooms, too reception rooms, a kitchen/ dining room and

Carrigrohane, Co Cork €189,000 89 sq m (964 sq ft) 2 Pending Gardens

family bathroom with solid fuel heating.

The property has an excellent location in a quiet cul de sac but with immediate city access. Also close to UCC, CIT and CUH — the major employment centres are minutes away in good traffic. The property is also close to EMC Ballincollig and will benefit from the proposed new flyover at Carrigrohane whenever funding is made available.

Verdict: A solid, well built former council house, 8, Lee View will fit the bill for first-timers on location, but with the asking price and conversion costs combined, it could be out of reach for many.

Little work, big reward

GLANMIRE, CO CORK €193,500

Our dedicated experienced friendly staff are client focused and always willing to be of assistance. We offer a 24 hour 365 day Emergency Service on Managed Properties and tailor made flexible packages to suit client needs. Expenditure and charges are met in the most cost efficient manner and the benefits of bulk & group purchasing are passed on. We provide regular reports and financial statements with integrity and transparency. Quotations are free of charge and without obligation in the Munster area.

Carrigaline, Co Cork €129,000 104 sq m (1,118 sq ft) 3 Pending Cheap, big and well located

IF YOU want to know how far prices have fallen just look at the starter home end of the market — price levels are now low, very low and the trend is set to continue downward while funds remain tight.

Right now, this solid, three bed semi at Maurland, Carrigaline is on offer at €129,000 and there’s an offer already at €115,000, says Michael Piggott of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan Daly.

As an executor’s sale, no 2 Maurland has to be sold and with vacant possession, it makes

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for a clean conveyance.

That being said, it will need a bit of work to bring it up to date, and probably insulation and a new kitchen, but the location is superb, says Piggott, just off the centre of Carrigaline, on the Kilmoney Road.

“It does need modernisation but it’s a healthy house —the last owner lived a good long time here and it also comes with a private back garden and it’s literally adjacent to the main street in Carrigaline. It’s only around the corner from Kilmoney filling station,” he says.

Marguerite Stafford Tel: 021-4802100 Mobile: 087-9957903 Email: marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

81 South Main Street, Cork tel 021-4251288 fax 021-4251315 web www.absoluteproperty.ie email info@absoluteproperty. ie “We are the difference”

Booking deadline: Friday, November 11

Properties on the move 17 Edgewood, Maryborough Ridge, Douglas, Cork

• Very spacious detached house with 5 bedrooms over three levels

• Fantastic four bedroom semidetached house in superb condition and located at Maryborough Hill • South facing to rear and timber decking • Accom (briefly): Hallway, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Utility Room, Playroom, 4 Bedrooms (master en-suite), Bathroom, WC and stira to attic

• Five minutes from Kinsale in lovely location at Dunderrow

Guide Price: €650,000

Guide Price: €320,000

Crowley Property

Verdict: A bit of work, a new kitchen, insulation and a lick of paint would give a good house in a mature location within a walk of everything.

15 Bradfields, Dunderrow, Kinsale, Co. Cork

• Most impressive newly built solid 5 bedroom log residence, extending to 3,500 square feet.

• Situated on circa 1 Acre with mature woodland setting, one minute walk to shoreline.

• Fantastic open plan design and many extras.

Auctioneer & Chartered Surveyor. Tel: 086-2734462 Joint Agent: Sherry FitzGerald Hinchion

A semi detached property, it has oil fired heating.

Accommodation includes a living room with granite fireplace, a kitchen/dining room and attached garage which could convert to extra living room, gym or study and a utility room with WC. Overhead there are three bedrooms and a main bathroom and room sizes are good.

Maintenance & Repairs We provide a professional supervised Maintenance & Repairs Service to our clients and the general public. Our Maintenance & Repairs division is headed up by John Stack who provides a 7 day personal service. All work is carried out by professional tradesmen registered and insured and supervised by us.

We are fully bonded & insured and are ISO 9001 accredited

ADVERTISING CONTACT:

Iskanafeelna, Glengarriff, Co. Cork

The state of the market is good news for first-timers.

Rose Martin reports Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best feature:

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Lettings & Sales We have over 20 Years experience in Lettings & Sales. Our aim is to rent properties within 14 days from placement. We promote all properties free of charge and all tenants are vetted. Sales are conducted on a fixed rate charge & promoted free of charge. Our Letting & Sales division is headed up by Christy Connery, who has pre approved clients awaiting suitable properties.

• South facing conservatory overlooking large corner site

Crowley Property

Auctioneer & Chartered Surveyor Tel: 086-2734462 crowleyproperty.ie

Guide Price: €350,000

Crowley Property

Auctioneer & Chartered Surveyor Tel: 086-2734462 crowleyproperty.ie

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESALE PROPERTIES 021 4802 100

PROPERTY ADVERTISING

Looking to buy or sell? Reach more people in Munster and Cork than any other daily newspaper.

Call Property Advertising on 021 4802100 IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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Zone:XP1

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STARTER HOMES

XP1 - V1

Absolute Property Group

Lee View fits the bill on location for first-time buyers But with its asking price, it could be out of reach for many, writes Tommy Barker

A One Stop Shop For All Property Needs BLOCK MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS WITH OVER 30 YEARS PROGRESSIVE AND SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE.

������� �������

JACOB’S ISLAND CORK €195,000 Sq m: 93 (1,000 square feet) BER rating: Pending

Property & Interiors �� ��������� �������� ��

Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes

LARGER than the average semi, no 1, The Courtyard, Jacob’s Island is a relatively new build which also comes with an extra large site. Laid out with parking to the front and good green space nearby, this house is on the market in ready-to-go condition for offers in the region of €195,000. The selling agent is Terence O’Leary of Murray Browne. Rooms include a decent sitting room of 22’ by 15’ which comes with French doors to the back garden. Adjoining is a bright modern, kitchen dining room of 16’ by 8’ with integrated appliances and overhead are three bedrooms, with master en suite.

VERDICT: Worth a look for those working in the south city as this house is off the south ring network.

Rental properties are in demand in this area.

Sq m: 112 (1200 sq ft) BER rating: Pending

Bedrooms: 4 Broadband: Yes

THIS four bed semi at 47 Old Avenue, Riverstown, at Glanmire, Co Cork, is in exceptionally good condition and offers a lot for the first time buyer.

Finished to a tee and including a large, country pine fitted kitchen, this house is a walk-in proposition and even the garden is finished with a handy, deck area for al fresco dining.

The house is on the market with Paul O’Driscoll of Thos J O’Driscoll and Co and says there are no offers yet, but viewings have been good.

At the guide price of €193,500 it offers a hallway with space for a guest bathroom, a sitting room with cast iron fireplace and bay window, a separate living room with patio doors to the garden and that large kitchen/diner.

Overhead, there are four bedrooms, with master en suite and a main bathroom and the heating is run on gas.

Verdict: This is a large four bed so first-time buyers will be skipping a step if they buy here.

6

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

Single and mixed use managed units enjoy the same level of service.

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Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband: ALTHOUGH it’s on the pricey side at just a shave under €189,000, this two-bed at 8, Lee View, Carrigrohane, is doubtless price-pitched on location.

Just off the main Cork/ Ballincollig road, this house is a semi in a low-density scheme of houses overlooking the most beautiful part of the Lee near Carrigrohane Castle.

And while number 8 will need remediation, and probably an extension, it has a huge back garden and the aspect is good too.

On the market with Brendan Bowe of Bowe Auctioneers, the house comes with two bedrooms, too reception rooms, a kitchen/ dining room and

Carrigrohane, Co Cork €189,000 89 sq m (964 sq ft) 2 Pending Gardens

family bathroom with solid fuel heating.

The property has an excellent location in a quiet cul de sac but with immediate city access. Also close to UCC, CIT and CUH — the major employment centres are minutes away in good traffic. The property is also close to EMC Ballincollig and will benefit from the proposed new flyover at Carrigrohane whenever funding is made available.

Verdict: A solid, well built former council house, 8, Lee View will fit the bill for first-timers on location, but with the asking price and conversion costs combined, it could be out of reach for many.

Little work, big reward

GLANMIRE, CO CORK €193,500

Our dedicated experienced friendly staff are client focused and always willing to be of assistance. We offer a 24 hour 365 day Emergency Service on Managed Properties and tailor made flexible packages to suit client needs. Expenditure and charges are met in the most cost efficient manner and the benefits of bulk & group purchasing are passed on. We provide regular reports and financial statements with integrity and transparency. Quotations are free of charge and without obligation in the Munster area.

Carrigaline, Co Cork €129,000 104 sq m (1,118 sq ft) 3 Pending Cheap, big and well located

IF YOU want to know how far prices have fallen just look at the starter home end of the market — price levels are now low, very low and the trend is set to continue downward while funds remain tight.

Right now, this solid, three bed semi at Maurland, Carrigaline is on offer at €129,000 and there’s an offer already at €115,000, says Michael Piggott of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan Daly.

As an executor’s sale, no 2 Maurland has to be sold and with vacant possession, it makes

��� �������� ������� ��� ���������� ���� �� ���� ����������� �� �������� ��� ����������� �� � ���������� ��������� ���� �� ���� �� �������� ��� ��������� �� ��� ��������� �������

for a clean conveyance.

That being said, it will need a bit of work to bring it up to date, and probably insulation and a new kitchen, but the location is superb, says Piggott, just off the centre of Carrigaline, on the Kilmoney Road.

“It does need modernisation but it’s a healthy house —the last owner lived a good long time here and it also comes with a private back garden and it’s literally adjacent to the main street in Carrigaline. It’s only around the corner from Kilmoney filling station,” he says.

Marguerite Stafford Tel: 021-4802100 Mobile: 087-9957903 Email: marguerite.stafford@examiner.ie

81 South Main Street, Cork tel 021-4251288 fax 021-4251315 web www.absoluteproperty.ie email info@absoluteproperty. ie “We are the difference”

Booking deadline: Friday, November 11

Properties on the move 17 Edgewood, Maryborough Ridge, Douglas, Cork

• Very spacious detached house with 5 bedrooms over three levels

• Fantastic four bedroom semidetached house in superb condition and located at Maryborough Hill • South facing to rear and timber decking • Accom (briefly): Hallway, Sitting Room, Kitchen, Utility Room, Playroom, 4 Bedrooms (master en-suite), Bathroom, WC and stira to attic

• Five minutes from Kinsale in lovely location at Dunderrow

Guide Price: €650,000

Guide Price: €320,000

Crowley Property

Verdict: A bit of work, a new kitchen, insulation and a lick of paint would give a good house in a mature location within a walk of everything.

15 Bradfields, Dunderrow, Kinsale, Co. Cork

• Most impressive newly built solid 5 bedroom log residence, extending to 3,500 square feet.

• Situated on circa 1 Acre with mature woodland setting, one minute walk to shoreline.

• Fantastic open plan design and many extras.

Auctioneer & Chartered Surveyor. Tel: 086-2734462 Joint Agent: Sherry FitzGerald Hinchion

A semi detached property, it has oil fired heating.

Accommodation includes a living room with granite fireplace, a kitchen/dining room and attached garage which could convert to extra living room, gym or study and a utility room with WC. Overhead there are three bedrooms and a main bathroom and room sizes are good.

Maintenance & Repairs We provide a professional supervised Maintenance & Repairs Service to our clients and the general public. Our Maintenance & Repairs division is headed up by John Stack who provides a 7 day personal service. All work is carried out by professional tradesmen registered and insured and supervised by us.

We are fully bonded & insured and are ISO 9001 accredited

ADVERTISING CONTACT:

Iskanafeelna, Glengarriff, Co. Cork

The state of the market is good news for first-timers.

Rose Martin reports Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best feature:

��� ������ ������� ��� ���������� ���� ���� �� ��� �������� ��� ��� ���� ������ ���������� ������� ������ ��� ���� �� ��� �������� ����� �� �������� ��� �����������

Lettings & Sales We have over 20 Years experience in Lettings & Sales. Our aim is to rent properties within 14 days from placement. We promote all properties free of charge and all tenants are vetted. Sales are conducted on a fixed rate charge & promoted free of charge. Our Letting & Sales division is headed up by Christy Connery, who has pre approved clients awaiting suitable properties.

• South facing conservatory overlooking large corner site

Crowley Property

Auctioneer & Chartered Surveyor Tel: 086-2734462 crowleyproperty.ie

Guide Price: €350,000

Crowley Property

Auctioneer & Chartered Surveyor Tel: 086-2734462 crowleyproperty.ie

TO ADVERTISE YOUR RESALE PROPERTIES 021 4802 100

PROPERTY ADVERTISING

Looking to buy or sell? Reach more people in Munster and Cork than any other daily newspaper.

Call Property Advertising on 021 4802100 IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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PROPERTY

PROPERTY

Humble cottage gets a makeover

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

Rose Martin finds an imaginative high cottage extension, one sure to become a design staple

T

HE country is littered with cottages — big small and in-between and there is great visual amusement to be had in logging the various personal approaches to restyling originals.

In the case of the high cottage, (one of the older forms and built in the late 19th century in semidetached and detached types), the two-up/ two-down layout rarely prevails.

There’s usually an extension or two tacked on to the side or back, but in the boom, and in particular in coastal locations, the extensions of high cottages became elaborate makeovers. And, in a lot of cases, quite beautiful.

This humble staple of the agricultural workers, (now long gone), presents all over the country in a number of garbs; there’s the glittering dash variety, the Upvcskinned type, the seaside home with mediterranean paint job and the rundown and/or unreconstructed original.

And it’s the latter that attracted a young couple in Co Cork when they were house-hunting in the height of the boom.

The Aghabullogue property was an unreconstructed cottage on a good site, in the rural hinterland west of Cork city. It was attractive, but also affordable and offered one half of the couple the chance to hone his architectural skills.

Just returned from abroad and newly married, (the couple met in New Zealand), they turned their attention to re-energising the old cottage — and set about plans for an extension. The also managed to get married and put down permanent roots in this quiet area of mid-Cork.

The economy was in a fever of activity at the time and the signs were good for an architect and an international flight attendant. Now, however, with the project completed and the downturn in both their industries, they are about to emigrate to South American, from whence one half of the couple hails.

However, they’re leaving behind one of the more imaginative interpretations of a high cottage extension — and one that’s so simple, so modern that it’s sure to become a design staple.

Initially, the couple moved into the old house and began tipping away at the renovations, while getting the feel of the place before building.

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And to an extent, they thought inside the box for the new build — the major feature is a connecting ‘tower’ that’s an original way to create a connect between old and new — and it creates an impressive, double-height entrance hallway.

The designer says his period in New Zealand helped to turn his thinking when it came to vernacular Irish buildings. And so it would appear. In terms of the accepted approach, the new build is fresh and clean and links to the old house at an oblique angle, which also makes the most of the aspect.

Two-storey and timber-framed, the double-height space is finished externally and internally with dark stained pine wood.

In the exterior, it’s used in a shiplap cladding and inside, great chunks of pine beams sit on concrete form work to create a distinctive stairs ending in a gallery bridge overhead.

This links old and new again, but on the upper floor, while allowing

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

light from the roof all the way down. And roof levels have been tweaked to give greater height in the new wing with the result that floor levels change backwards and forwards, but it adds dynamism to the design.

The ground floor of the tower is a large circulation space with a guest bathroom tucked away in one corner and access to the old cottage and new extension at either side.

The old house is now drylined and opened up with only the old stone fireplace standing in what would have been two small rooms.

An older extension has been retained and provides a groundfloor guest bedroom with adjoining bathroom.

This is not only ideal for guests, but could revert to a self-contained apartment, if needed.

Across the foyer is the main kitchen/living/dining room — a big, south-facing space with only a rise in floor level delineating the work from rest areas.

The kitchen is a modern

Clonmoyle, Coachford, Lee Valley €300,000 218 sq m (2,350 sq ft) 4/5 Pending Sheer cleverness of design

Pictures: Denis Scannell standard: cream high-gloss units with dark wood worktop while underfloor heating warms the tiled floor.

In the upper level, where the dining and living areas are defined more by furniture, flooring is dark walnut and it runs to join the level of the square, walled deck outside.

Light comes through wide, almost floor to ceiling windows and at the south-western end, a large bay window has doors opening outwards.

Trimmed by a low level wall in rendered block, the deck has a simple but effective finish that creates a sense of enclosure and makes the outdoor area feel part of the house.

The windows, in black externally to blend with the new roof on both parts of the house, are complemented here by the dark wood box bay which extends upwards to form a balcony off the master bedroom.

There’s quite a bit of space in this house and it’s a fine, family home that won’t need the kid glove treatment.

The upper level has three bedrooms — the smaller bedrooms of the old house have been knocked into one big space, with the original beams showing and bisected by the old fireplace, which could have any number of uses.

The new wing has a smaller child’s room, with adjoining main bathroom, in crisp white and black finish, and a huge master bedroom with en suite bathroom.

The Clonmoyle West property is on the market with John O’Mahony of Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh for offers in excess €300,000.

Verdict: This is a rural house, but one which is 20 minutes’ drive to Ballincollig, so will suit those looking for fresh air and accessibility.

The new build is fresh and clean and links to the old house at an oblique angle, which also makes the most of the aspect IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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PROPERTY

PROPERTY

Humble cottage gets a makeover

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

Rose Martin finds an imaginative high cottage extension, one sure to become a design staple

T

HE country is littered with cottages — big small and in-between and there is great visual amusement to be had in logging the various personal approaches to restyling originals.

In the case of the high cottage, (one of the older forms and built in the late 19th century in semidetached and detached types), the two-up/ two-down layout rarely prevails.

There’s usually an extension or two tacked on to the side or back, but in the boom, and in particular in coastal locations, the extensions of high cottages became elaborate makeovers. And, in a lot of cases, quite beautiful.

This humble staple of the agricultural workers, (now long gone), presents all over the country in a number of garbs; there’s the glittering dash variety, the Upvcskinned type, the seaside home with mediterranean paint job and the rundown and/or unreconstructed original.

And it’s the latter that attracted a young couple in Co Cork when they were house-hunting in the height of the boom.

The Aghabullogue property was an unreconstructed cottage on a good site, in the rural hinterland west of Cork city. It was attractive, but also affordable and offered one half of the couple the chance to hone his architectural skills.

Just returned from abroad and newly married, (the couple met in New Zealand), they turned their attention to re-energising the old cottage — and set about plans for an extension. The also managed to get married and put down permanent roots in this quiet area of mid-Cork.

The economy was in a fever of activity at the time and the signs were good for an architect and an international flight attendant. Now, however, with the project completed and the downturn in both their industries, they are about to emigrate to South American, from whence one half of the couple hails.

However, they’re leaving behind one of the more imaginative interpretations of a high cottage extension — and one that’s so simple, so modern that it’s sure to become a design staple.

Initially, the couple moved into the old house and began tipping away at the renovations, while getting the feel of the place before building.

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And to an extent, they thought inside the box for the new build — the major feature is a connecting ‘tower’ that’s an original way to create a connect between old and new — and it creates an impressive, double-height entrance hallway.

The designer says his period in New Zealand helped to turn his thinking when it came to vernacular Irish buildings. And so it would appear. In terms of the accepted approach, the new build is fresh and clean and links to the old house at an oblique angle, which also makes the most of the aspect.

Two-storey and timber-framed, the double-height space is finished externally and internally with dark stained pine wood.

In the exterior, it’s used in a shiplap cladding and inside, great chunks of pine beams sit on concrete form work to create a distinctive stairs ending in a gallery bridge overhead.

This links old and new again, but on the upper floor, while allowing

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

light from the roof all the way down. And roof levels have been tweaked to give greater height in the new wing with the result that floor levels change backwards and forwards, but it adds dynamism to the design.

The ground floor of the tower is a large circulation space with a guest bathroom tucked away in one corner and access to the old cottage and new extension at either side.

The old house is now drylined and opened up with only the old stone fireplace standing in what would have been two small rooms.

An older extension has been retained and provides a groundfloor guest bedroom with adjoining bathroom.

This is not only ideal for guests, but could revert to a self-contained apartment, if needed.

Across the foyer is the main kitchen/living/dining room — a big, south-facing space with only a rise in floor level delineating the work from rest areas.

The kitchen is a modern

Clonmoyle, Coachford, Lee Valley €300,000 218 sq m (2,350 sq ft) 4/5 Pending Sheer cleverness of design

Pictures: Denis Scannell standard: cream high-gloss units with dark wood worktop while underfloor heating warms the tiled floor.

In the upper level, where the dining and living areas are defined more by furniture, flooring is dark walnut and it runs to join the level of the square, walled deck outside.

Light comes through wide, almost floor to ceiling windows and at the south-western end, a large bay window has doors opening outwards.

Trimmed by a low level wall in rendered block, the deck has a simple but effective finish that creates a sense of enclosure and makes the outdoor area feel part of the house.

The windows, in black externally to blend with the new roof on both parts of the house, are complemented here by the dark wood box bay which extends upwards to form a balcony off the master bedroom.

There’s quite a bit of space in this house and it’s a fine, family home that won’t need the kid glove treatment.

The upper level has three bedrooms — the smaller bedrooms of the old house have been knocked into one big space, with the original beams showing and bisected by the old fireplace, which could have any number of uses.

The new wing has a smaller child’s room, with adjoining main bathroom, in crisp white and black finish, and a huge master bedroom with en suite bathroom.

The Clonmoyle West property is on the market with John O’Mahony of Property Partners O’Mahony Walsh for offers in excess €300,000.

Verdict: This is a rural house, but one which is 20 minutes’ drive to Ballincollig, so will suit those looking for fresh air and accessibility.

The new build is fresh and clean and links to the old house at an oblique angle, which also makes the most of the aspect IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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COVER STORY

GETTHELOOK

TLC and much more went into city-top beauty

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

I

10

every period detail intact and perfectly presented, and sash windows and shutters are all in smooth running order.

Landscape Terrace is high up above Cork city at the start of Sunday’s Well, and originally comprised of four distinctive slate-hung houses with spectacular southerly city views. Some time ago the last house in, No 4, was split into two houses. No 3 with its 3,000sq ft of space would, in any case, have been the bigger of all four to five houses — and what is certain is that it is now one of the best restorations.

The terrace’s ancient

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

boundary chestnut tree was removed for safety reasons. No 2, meanwhile, is very original, but also in need of some restoration. It is currently for sale with agent Marshs, who seek €260,000 and have it under offer in the mid €230,000s.

In contrast, No 3 is guided at €399,000 by Robert Harkin, and is a walk-in job — just remove your shoes when you do, as its carpets are white wool (much of the interior furnishings can be negotiated in the sale for those who want the entire look, integrity and feel).

Ms Murphy’s talent was in seeing potential in houses, and

here she opened up spaces by taking down some internal walls on the right-hand side of the double-fronted house.

This gives a main doublesized reception room 35’ deep, with two fireplaces and internal arch (plus discreet wet bar to the back), with a large sash window section to the south, flooding the room with light. There aren’t too many city homes where a baby grand piano can be casually placed in the middle of a room and still have it look small, but that’s most comfortably the case here.

Across the immaculate polychrome tiled hall is a formal dining room, also facing south, and behind it is a deep galley kitchen with oak units and utility.

These houses are deep, with a double truss roof, and after you’ve admired the sanding work done on the stairs’ mahogany handrail, and the exceptional stained glass work in the back window, the landing opens up as almost a room in itself.

There are three large bedrooms up here, the master is a real and sumptuous suite, running front to back of the house’s 35’ depth with graceful internal arch (Bernadette Murphy specified its proportions), and a seating/ morning area with fireplace off the more intimate sleeping area which comes with a large ensuite bathroom. This is finished to a suitably high level with Heritage sanitary ware.

Plus on the other side, there’s a walk-in closet.

The guest bedroom at the western side of the house is also large, en-suite and has a wall of recently fitted quality, capacious walnut built-ins.

The house’s third bedroom is also to the front and there’s a sprawling large family bathroom at the rear, with old Shires basin.

A recurring motif in No 3 is the arch shape, it is used as a

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Arches convey a sense of grace, and help divide and frame this deep drawing room with its well-dressed windows.

2 First impressions count: This hall’s immaculate details don’t disappoint.

Tommy Barker discovers No 3 Landscape Terrace was furnished magnificently by the late Bernadette Murphy Pictures: Denis Scannell N its long, 180-year history, No 3 Landscape Terrace has seen some remarkable times — but little compares with its last 15 years of minding, and careful, guided transformation.

Previously owned by a nightclub owner (the late Dominic O’Keeffe of Cocos) when it last sold in 1996 it had disco-like, Boogie Night features, with some purple walls and mirror-ball lights. It was bought by the remarkable Bernadette Murphy, (with Irish roots, reared in Australia), who became a property developer and interior designer in Britain, and who redeveloped the property with impeccable taste.

Quite extraordinarily, she maintained a clear sense of house vision, despite a degenerative hereditary eye condition which meant she oversaw No 3’s renewal while going almost fully blind.

Her sight eventually went altogether, but it didn’t stop her enjoying Cork city and her adopted home. She went on to do a Law degree in UCC and was just finishing her Master’s dissertation on disability issues when an earlier, treated cancer condition re-emerged. For years a striking, noted figure in a long fur coat and white cane, Ms Murphy passed away last month.

The home has been put on the market with estate agent Robert Harkin of Harkin Associates.

The house’s condition is as impressive as its late owner’s pedigree and spirit, and very much down to it. The many houses Bernadette Murphy had restored and sold in England and Scotland had the Georgian period in common.

She clearly managed to convey that vision to her trades crew who finished the 1830sbuilt No 3 Landscape Terrace to a very high level, and even now every brass is polished,

COVER STORY

3 Be bold with brass: The black marble fireplace and its glazed feature tiles are set off by a brass fan-shaped fire screen.

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

Sunday’s Well, Cork €399,000 280 sq m (3,000 sq ft) 3 Exempt Sheer, appropriate period quality

4 Bathe in style: The master bedroom’s en suite has this great, dressed bath for deep soaks.

5 Stained glass windows are timeless, and this one with its deep red surround, and apple fruit and blossom motif, is a gem.

6 Light your landing from above: A Velux’s light is filtered through more stained glass.

room divider; in alcoves; to frame the bath and in the original windows and some doorways also.

VERDICT: No 3 is a must-see, and will suit niche buyers wanting quality interiors in a period city home, without too much external grounds, coming with front garden and off-street parking.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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Zone:XP1

XP1 - V2

XP1 - V2

COVER STORY

GETTHELOOK

TLC and much more went into city-top beauty

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

I

10

every period detail intact and perfectly presented, and sash windows and shutters are all in smooth running order.

Landscape Terrace is high up above Cork city at the start of Sunday’s Well, and originally comprised of four distinctive slate-hung houses with spectacular southerly city views. Some time ago the last house in, No 4, was split into two houses. No 3 with its 3,000sq ft of space would, in any case, have been the bigger of all four to five houses — and what is certain is that it is now one of the best restorations.

The terrace’s ancient

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

boundary chestnut tree was removed for safety reasons. No 2, meanwhile, is very original, but also in need of some restoration. It is currently for sale with agent Marshs, who seek €260,000 and have it under offer in the mid €230,000s.

In contrast, No 3 is guided at €399,000 by Robert Harkin, and is a walk-in job — just remove your shoes when you do, as its carpets are white wool (much of the interior furnishings can be negotiated in the sale for those who want the entire look, integrity and feel).

Ms Murphy’s talent was in seeing potential in houses, and

here she opened up spaces by taking down some internal walls on the right-hand side of the double-fronted house.

This gives a main doublesized reception room 35’ deep, with two fireplaces and internal arch (plus discreet wet bar to the back), with a large sash window section to the south, flooding the room with light. There aren’t too many city homes where a baby grand piano can be casually placed in the middle of a room and still have it look small, but that’s most comfortably the case here.

Across the immaculate polychrome tiled hall is a formal dining room, also facing south, and behind it is a deep galley kitchen with oak units and utility.

These houses are deep, with a double truss roof, and after you’ve admired the sanding work done on the stairs’ mahogany handrail, and the exceptional stained glass work in the back window, the landing opens up as almost a room in itself.

There are three large bedrooms up here, the master is a real and sumptuous suite, running front to back of the house’s 35’ depth with graceful internal arch (Bernadette Murphy specified its proportions), and a seating/ morning area with fireplace off the more intimate sleeping area which comes with a large ensuite bathroom. This is finished to a suitably high level with Heritage sanitary ware.

Plus on the other side, there’s a walk-in closet.

The guest bedroom at the western side of the house is also large, en-suite and has a wall of recently fitted quality, capacious walnut built-ins.

The house’s third bedroom is also to the front and there’s a sprawling large family bathroom at the rear, with old Shires basin.

A recurring motif in No 3 is the arch shape, it is used as a

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Arches convey a sense of grace, and help divide and frame this deep drawing room with its well-dressed windows.

2 First impressions count: This hall’s immaculate details don’t disappoint.

Tommy Barker discovers No 3 Landscape Terrace was furnished magnificently by the late Bernadette Murphy Pictures: Denis Scannell N its long, 180-year history, No 3 Landscape Terrace has seen some remarkable times — but little compares with its last 15 years of minding, and careful, guided transformation.

Previously owned by a nightclub owner (the late Dominic O’Keeffe of Cocos) when it last sold in 1996 it had disco-like, Boogie Night features, with some purple walls and mirror-ball lights. It was bought by the remarkable Bernadette Murphy, (with Irish roots, reared in Australia), who became a property developer and interior designer in Britain, and who redeveloped the property with impeccable taste.

Quite extraordinarily, she maintained a clear sense of house vision, despite a degenerative hereditary eye condition which meant she oversaw No 3’s renewal while going almost fully blind.

Her sight eventually went altogether, but it didn’t stop her enjoying Cork city and her adopted home. She went on to do a Law degree in UCC and was just finishing her Master’s dissertation on disability issues when an earlier, treated cancer condition re-emerged. For years a striking, noted figure in a long fur coat and white cane, Ms Murphy passed away last month.

The home has been put on the market with estate agent Robert Harkin of Harkin Associates.

The house’s condition is as impressive as its late owner’s pedigree and spirit, and very much down to it. The many houses Bernadette Murphy had restored and sold in England and Scotland had the Georgian period in common.

She clearly managed to convey that vision to her trades crew who finished the 1830sbuilt No 3 Landscape Terrace to a very high level, and even now every brass is polished,

COVER STORY

3 Be bold with brass: The black marble fireplace and its glazed feature tiles are set off by a brass fan-shaped fire screen.

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

Sunday’s Well, Cork €399,000 280 sq m (3,000 sq ft) 3 Exempt Sheer, appropriate period quality

4 Bathe in style: The master bedroom’s en suite has this great, dressed bath for deep soaks.

5 Stained glass windows are timeless, and this one with its deep red surround, and apple fruit and blossom motif, is a gem.

6 Light your landing from above: A Velux’s light is filtered through more stained glass.

room divider; in alcoves; to frame the bath and in the original windows and some doorways also.

VERDICT: No 3 is a must-see, and will suit niche buyers wanting quality interiors in a period city home, without too much external grounds, coming with front garden and off-street parking.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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INTERIORS

INTERIORS

We take a detailed look at one aspect of the home every week ...

Grey daze

Carol O’Callaghan looks at how the current vogue for grey interiors can bring warmth and sophistication to the home

S

NUGGLY throws, cosy sofas and squishy cushions are so comforting at this time of year when the winds are howling, rain is falling in diagonal sheets and dark clouds seem to cover the sky more often than not. Strange then isn’t it how we’ve embraced the current vogue for grey interiors.

It’s not a colour we would have chosen a few years ago because of its association with the dreariness of spending so much of our year under a canopy of grey skies, but thanks to the adoption of grey walls instead of white in chi-chi art galleries, and a glut of grey outfits on the fashion cat-walks last year, we’ve bought into the look for our interiors with gusto. And it has to be said grey is an excellent backdrop to our art and photography as it seems to draw out the vibrancy of colour in pictures but also softens the stark monochrome of black and white photos.

The vast choice of grey tones available has also contributed to its desirability with so many of them offering ‘warmth’ or, at the very least, a sophisticated intensity that creates a chic environment. Equally, it provides a subtle ‘canvas’ to off-set your furniture and accessories especially if they have an element of strong colour.

Grey’s flatness is also the perfect foil to fussy, outsize patterns and strong colour — both huge trends in upholstery and fabric-based accessories — helping to give balance and a sense of breathing space where they might otherwise overwhelm.

Rusty shades and the burnished orange of seasonal pumpkins are invitingly attractive colours and very popular at this time of year for their ability to inject a sense of warmth, whether they’re applied to soft fabrics on cushions and linens or the hard surfaces of lamp bases, picture frames and kitchen wares.

Orange upholstery has been growing in popularity, and while it may not appeal to everyone or, indeed, be advisable to cover an entire suite in the shade, singling out a chair or a smaller sofa for the orange treatment is a more subtle option.

Or for a mere touch of the warm orange look, opt for a fashionable, homely floral fabric featuring the colour in a mix of other more neutral shades, or against an off-white background so it’s somewhat diluted and you’re less likely to tire of it quickly. Bear in mind

12

COSY CLASSICS Get the look without breaking the bank

Chesterfield-style, buttoned upholstery in warm, luxurious, mauve velvet blends cosy winter comfort with contemporary chic (small Wesley sofa from M&S, approx. €1,500). Below left: All grey makes a striking partnership with a rough, luxe environment thanks to deep, sophisticated tones, softened by gleaming-white bed linen, a soft-textured bedspread and an outsize, upholstered headboard (Julia headboard from Boulevard Interiors €595). Below right: Adding a variety of shapes and textures, in lieu of colour and busy pattern, brings some soft luxury as with the Burlington sofa available from Casey’s Furniture, price on application.

■ Designer Joe Lawlor was inspired by a visit to Verona — home of Romeo and Juliet — to make this one-off love seat. The piece also brings with it eco-credentials, having been crafted from oak garnered from a tree blown down in a storm. Available from the newly-launched Irish craft and design eshop www.iamofireland.ie, it costs €1,235.

A wick-ed candle look Simple items like textiles and candles can add a little comforting warmth to your surroundings.

Conjure up the scents of winter with the help of Max Benjamin’s clove-and-cinnamon, three-wick candle (€39 from gifts shops nationwide).

The textured and warmly-striped Basque herringbone tea-towel set is a soft touch among the hard, cold lines of kitchen surfaces (€12 for three).

Betty Jackson’s velvet-edged bedspread is reminiscent of luxurious quilts that once bedecked beds before the arrival of the duvet (approx €175 from Debenhams).

Cushioned from the winter A simple and affordable cushion will enhance winter-time lounging around on the sofa.

Try this red-check and heart cushion from Meadows & Byrne on your bed, or on an individual armchair (€14.50).

Right: The name of this cushion — Mega-Shaggy — just makes you want to hug it (€6 at Penneys).

Cosiness and warmth are not completely dependent upon soft furnishings and luxury upholstery. The Louis Mulcahy Russet lamp and matching shade throw a beautiful glow across a room after dark (€350 from Kilkenny, Blarney Woollen Mills, Louis Mulcahy Pottery and Instore).

orange works particularly well on retro type furniture, especially shapes and styles reminiscent of the 1950s when colour made a huge comeback following the drab years of the 1940s.

In the Tweenies when retro is now so popular, orange is proving to be grey’s best friend, combining to make a strong, sophisticated but cosy interior look.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

Interior design buffs who want that cosy feel for winter without introducing bright colour might consider thick, luxurious throws, cushions with cuddlesome faux fur or textured homemade style fabrics.

But for a quick fix to bring atmosphere and a sensation of warmth, especially if you don’t have an open fire,

fall back on our reliable, affordable friend the candle, make a pot of warming tea and wrap a cuddly throw around icy knees.

■ Next week we say goodbye to minimalism and white walls, and hello to pattern with the latest on in-vogue florals, checks, spots and tartans.

Left: Warm, orange upholstery, floral blinds and comfy cushions add warmth to pale-grey walls and white floor tiles (Gosford two-seater €1,207, armchair in Gosford off-white €748, blind and cushion in Gosford charcoal €35 p/m, all from Laura Ashley).

Right: Waffle throws and feather-filled cushions are a quick way of introducing some extra comfort. (Findarve cotton throw €99, Rest cushion, €43 from The Drapery Shop).

The Dunnes Stores Patchwork cushion has a fashionable crafted feel with soft tassels for extra comfort (€15).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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INTERIORS

INTERIORS

We take a detailed look at one aspect of the home every week ...

Grey daze

Carol O’Callaghan looks at how the current vogue for grey interiors can bring warmth and sophistication to the home

S

NUGGLY throws, cosy sofas and squishy cushions are so comforting at this time of year when the winds are howling, rain is falling in diagonal sheets and dark clouds seem to cover the sky more often than not. Strange then isn’t it how we’ve embraced the current vogue for grey interiors.

It’s not a colour we would have chosen a few years ago because of its association with the dreariness of spending so much of our year under a canopy of grey skies, but thanks to the adoption of grey walls instead of white in chi-chi art galleries, and a glut of grey outfits on the fashion cat-walks last year, we’ve bought into the look for our interiors with gusto. And it has to be said grey is an excellent backdrop to our art and photography as it seems to draw out the vibrancy of colour in pictures but also softens the stark monochrome of black and white photos.

The vast choice of grey tones available has also contributed to its desirability with so many of them offering ‘warmth’ or, at the very least, a sophisticated intensity that creates a chic environment. Equally, it provides a subtle ‘canvas’ to off-set your furniture and accessories especially if they have an element of strong colour.

Grey’s flatness is also the perfect foil to fussy, outsize patterns and strong colour — both huge trends in upholstery and fabric-based accessories — helping to give balance and a sense of breathing space where they might otherwise overwhelm.

Rusty shades and the burnished orange of seasonal pumpkins are invitingly attractive colours and very popular at this time of year for their ability to inject a sense of warmth, whether they’re applied to soft fabrics on cushions and linens or the hard surfaces of lamp bases, picture frames and kitchen wares.

Orange upholstery has been growing in popularity, and while it may not appeal to everyone or, indeed, be advisable to cover an entire suite in the shade, singling out a chair or a smaller sofa for the orange treatment is a more subtle option.

Or for a mere touch of the warm orange look, opt for a fashionable, homely floral fabric featuring the colour in a mix of other more neutral shades, or against an off-white background so it’s somewhat diluted and you’re less likely to tire of it quickly. Bear in mind

12

COSY CLASSICS Get the look without breaking the bank

Chesterfield-style, buttoned upholstery in warm, luxurious, mauve velvet blends cosy winter comfort with contemporary chic (small Wesley sofa from M&S, approx. €1,500). Below left: All grey makes a striking partnership with a rough, luxe environment thanks to deep, sophisticated tones, softened by gleaming-white bed linen, a soft-textured bedspread and an outsize, upholstered headboard (Julia headboard from Boulevard Interiors €595). Below right: Adding a variety of shapes and textures, in lieu of colour and busy pattern, brings some soft luxury as with the Burlington sofa available from Casey’s Furniture, price on application.

■ Designer Joe Lawlor was inspired by a visit to Verona — home of Romeo and Juliet — to make this one-off love seat. The piece also brings with it eco-credentials, having been crafted from oak garnered from a tree blown down in a storm. Available from the newly-launched Irish craft and design eshop www.iamofireland.ie, it costs €1,235.

A wick-ed candle look Simple items like textiles and candles can add a little comforting warmth to your surroundings.

Conjure up the scents of winter with the help of Max Benjamin’s clove-and-cinnamon, three-wick candle (€39 from gifts shops nationwide).

The textured and warmly-striped Basque herringbone tea-towel set is a soft touch among the hard, cold lines of kitchen surfaces (€12 for three).

Betty Jackson’s velvet-edged bedspread is reminiscent of luxurious quilts that once bedecked beds before the arrival of the duvet (approx €175 from Debenhams).

Cushioned from the winter A simple and affordable cushion will enhance winter-time lounging around on the sofa.

Try this red-check and heart cushion from Meadows & Byrne on your bed, or on an individual armchair (€14.50).

Right: The name of this cushion — Mega-Shaggy — just makes you want to hug it (€6 at Penneys).

Cosiness and warmth are not completely dependent upon soft furnishings and luxury upholstery. The Louis Mulcahy Russet lamp and matching shade throw a beautiful glow across a room after dark (€350 from Kilkenny, Blarney Woollen Mills, Louis Mulcahy Pottery and Instore).

orange works particularly well on retro type furniture, especially shapes and styles reminiscent of the 1950s when colour made a huge comeback following the drab years of the 1940s.

In the Tweenies when retro is now so popular, orange is proving to be grey’s best friend, combining to make a strong, sophisticated but cosy interior look.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

Interior design buffs who want that cosy feel for winter without introducing bright colour might consider thick, luxurious throws, cushions with cuddlesome faux fur or textured homemade style fabrics.

But for a quick fix to bring atmosphere and a sensation of warmth, especially if you don’t have an open fire,

fall back on our reliable, affordable friend the candle, make a pot of warming tea and wrap a cuddly throw around icy knees.

■ Next week we say goodbye to minimalism and white walls, and hello to pattern with the latest on in-vogue florals, checks, spots and tartans.

Left: Warm, orange upholstery, floral blinds and comfy cushions add warmth to pale-grey walls and white floor tiles (Gosford two-seater €1,207, armchair in Gosford off-white €748, blind and cushion in Gosford charcoal €35 p/m, all from Laura Ashley).

Right: Waffle throws and feather-filled cushions are a quick way of introducing some extra comfort. (Findarve cotton throw €99, Rest cushion, €43 from The Drapery Shop).

The Dunnes Stores Patchwork cushion has a fashionable crafted feel with soft tassels for extra comfort (€15).

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

13

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:02/11/2011Time:16:04:39Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:14

Zone:XP1

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DIY

DIY

BLINDED BY THE DIVERSITY, NOT

BY THE LIGHT

DIYTIPS

How to fit a Roller Blind WHAT YOU NEED: ■ A metal tape measure.

■ Blind. Width should be 25cm either side, if you’re going outside the recess in a “face fixing”.

■ Dress-maker’s scissors or craft knife.

■ Junior hacksaw.

The dizzying array of blinds means that there is probably a style which fits your needs, reports Kya deLongchamps

W

HY blinds? Blinds have a relatively flat plane compared to the undulating surface of standard curtains, and can be wonderfully subtle as a window treatment, appearing to belong more completely to the window.

Without intrusive poles and a studding of hold-backs, they are as pertly tailored as a Saville Row suit.

A roller blind pulled down into position can deliver all the punch of artwork, staging polite motifs or bold digital graphics stretched over a neatly stretched window canvas. Pulled up, a horizontal blind reveals at least three sides of the window, admitting maximum light and the architectural strength of the window shape itself uninterrupted by metres of folded fabric at its edges.

If it will roll, fold, or pleat, just any fabric can be taken to a blind, making the range of pattern and texture just about infinite. New hybrid products including Thomas Sanderson’s Silhouette blinds combine the aesthetic talents and actions of venetians and sheers.

The penultimate appeal of blinds has to be light control and privacy. A half closed curtain during daylight hours looks a mess and hides the view vertically in a dubious peek-a-boo of the curtain lining to the outside world. A half closed roman blind, roller or angled Venetian takes out the glare of the sky in a stylish horizontal drop.

The marriage of both curtain and blind delivers the best of all worlds, light control with the traditional proscenium swagger of curtains for after hours. (On a purely lazy point — venetians left in place, discreetly shade the inevitable and accumulating dirt on the window pane).

Pull down roller blinds can mask shelving or even a whole stack of washer/dryer in a kitchen. IKEA celebrate this wildly in their latest catalogue for 2012. www.ikea.ie.

THE DEAL The most economical way to buy entry level blinds is either through standard sizing or choosing “cut to size” types.

Quality wise a made-to-measure headrail is hard to beat, so explore the many deals on bespoke and fitted blinds before getting tangled in the slats yourself. If you’re happy to do a little cutting and drilling, plain blackout roller blinds with thermal linings start at just €9.99 from Argos in 13 colours with a winding

14

■ Pencil.

■ Screws and rawl-plugs.

These, and the multi-fit bracket to hang the blind, will come with it.

action.

The blind market has pulled itself together in the face of the property recession and there are online deals slashing as much as 50% from the price of quality blinds and fittings.

Suppliers include Hillarys www.hillarys.ie, Thomas Sanderson www.thomas-sanderson.ie, and Acme www.acmeblinds.com. Explore what the more independent blind retailer and draper shop has on offer.

■ Spirit-level.

■ Drill with masonry bit, heavy duty if you intend to drill into a lintel.

Left: A world away from office verticals, Anno Sanela, Tuppler and Vacker designs mix it up in these elegant panel blinds set on an easy-to-fit track system. €16-€19 per panel. IKEA. www.ikea.ie. Above: Dark pine Venetian blinds from Charisma Blinds, Cork.

■ Screw drivers.

TAILORED TYPES ● Roller blinds: A no-fuss choice for bathrooms and kitchens, where their lack of creasing makes them simple to operate and clean. Bamboo rollers are cheap and simple to cut to size if you can’t stretch to wood venetians.

Above: Orleans mink sets a soft, relaxing tone with controlled, diffused light with Roman blinds made-to-measure in your fabric choice by Charisma Blinds. A full range of wood plantations, Romans, rollers is available from www.charismablindscork.com or 021-432 0500.

● Venetians: Nothing conjures light as deftly as a venetian blind, making them worth the extra expense. Wood choices have a soft edge, but metallic types remain popular with a shiny surface to bounce and diffuse light admitted through their slats. The material band linking the slats vertically (termed tapes) adds another touch of detail to personalise your blinds.

Left: Silhouette Blinds. Crafted from lightweight fabric louvres suspended between two sheets of delicate, sheer fabric, allowing you to alter the direction of the light and adjust the level of privacy without disrupting the view. From €173 Thomas Sanderson. www.thomas-sanderson.ie.

● Roman Blinds: Ideal for treading a middle line between the yielding charm of fabric curtains and the practical advantages of a pull up horizontal blind.

Panels of material lift in sequence on wood dowelling. Your favourite fabric can be used in concert with other soft furnishings. Blackout blinds will have a side winder rather than a cleat and cord to keep them taut. ● Vertical blinds: Once confined to commercial spaces, panel blinds have become increasingly popular for domestic use and come in a wide range of panel choices that can be mixed up in the same unit. The louvers pivot into position on a top rail and can be pulled back like curtains. With their ceilingward thrust and movement in the slightest breeze, an eye-sore if not well chosen. ● Pleated: Ideal for conservatories pleats in sun reflective fabrics, pleats have small crisp folds and can be used for both windows and doors. Light enough to be ceiling hung, they can be used for shielding storage areas in sheers or woven textures. Velux can take these to roof lights with remote operation. www.velux.ie.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

have to be opaque, and a sheer blind offers a diffused light and privacy without blocking out the world. Try a top sheer, bottom opaque arrangement. ● If you want structural weight with the advantages of blinds, consider wood shutters with movable slats to control privacy and light. ● Consider how the blind will look inside or outside the window recess. If there are obstructions such as handles or sash windings inside the recess and you want a sleek finish, take it outside. ● Panels: Wider panels top hung from the ceiling have a structural presence and can be used to divide rooms, hide larger storage areas and shield windows. They slide to the side, Japanese style and are generally 300mm, 450mm or 600mm in width. ● Plantation shutters: An investment with visual weight, shutters really make a statement in full height designs or bottom tiers only. Tier on tier designs (try Acme and The Blind Maker

www.theblindmaker.ie) offer the versatility of closing and opening two levels of shutter.

CORD SAFETY The cord hanging from a standard blind has proved a strangulation hazard for young children. Look for blinds with cordless technology such as Thomas Sanderson’s LiteRise Blinds. Where a cord is present, looped or not, it should be put out of the reach of young

children and never dangled anywhere near cots, highchairs or play areas. The cords should end at least 1.6 metres (5 feet 3 inches) from the floor with any cord cut or secured with a tie-down tension device.

REVEALING IDEAS ● Use blinds to make your bay window more theatrical. Individual venetians or roman blinds can frame a variety of views out of a bay window. Blinds don’t

● Large vertical “panel” blinds can split a whole room or shield a task area in a multi-function space. Keep in mind that these are blinds, not walls, and will take some getting used to. No one wants a Loony Tune silhouette of themselves bursting through a panel blind. ● Because roller blinds can be fitted to the millimetre they are ideal for blacking out rooms such as children’s sleeping areas. Choose a dedicated black-out lining with high opacity and fit it inside the recess.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

If the blind is the next width up from your recess (and you’re going inside), trim it down using a hacksaw for the top rail, 25-38mm less than the recess.

Use a straight edge to mark a new vertical edge for the blind, 1.5mm smaller than the roller on each side. Keep any pattern centred.

Cut material using a craft knife and baton or use a good, sharp scissors.

Take off end-caps and cut down the bottom rail 12.5mm smaller than the fabric width. Refit end-caps of bottom rail.

Mark screw positions with pencil.

Fix the brackets to the window frame (not for PVC please), the sides of the window, or above it. Allow 50mm clearance from masonry edges.

Insert the cord winder into the bracket, and the dummy pin into the opposite bracket. The holes will match in shape.

Q&A

Q

Do you have a DIY question you would like answered?

Send it to interiors@examiner.ie

I have single-glazed sash windows. What are the best blinds for heat retention?

A. Roman blinds are a good design for heat retention as they have similar material to curtains and come in heavy fabrics. This coupled with standard or blackout lining will help prevent heat loss.

Many roller blind fabrics are also good for heat retention, as are wood Venetians.

Q. Are made-to-measure blinds really worth the money?

A. Made-to-measure blinds are definitely worth the money as they are custom-made to fit your specific requirements. You get to choose from a huge range of materials and fabrics with top quality mechanisms.

Q. I have a very large picture window around 2m wide.

Should I use one venetian blind or split it into sections or two or three?

A.It is nearly always preferable to have one blind rather than two or three as it is easier to use and aesthetically looks better. Wood Venetian blinds usually can be made to a width of 2.4 metres.

Q. What the difference is between ‘exact’ and ‘recess’ measurements when measuring up to order my blinds?

A. An exact measurement is the size you require your finished blind to be. The recess measurement is the measurement inside the opening of the window.

However there are pitfalls, so its best to get it done properly.

■ Answers provided by Jonathan Coughlan of Charisma Blinds, Cork. www.charismablindscork.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

15

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:02/11/2011Time:16:04:39Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:14

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

DIY

DIY

BLINDED BY THE DIVERSITY, NOT

BY THE LIGHT

DIYTIPS

How to fit a Roller Blind WHAT YOU NEED: ■ A metal tape measure.

■ Blind. Width should be 25cm either side, if you’re going outside the recess in a “face fixing”.

■ Dress-maker’s scissors or craft knife.

■ Junior hacksaw.

The dizzying array of blinds means that there is probably a style which fits your needs, reports Kya deLongchamps

W

HY blinds? Blinds have a relatively flat plane compared to the undulating surface of standard curtains, and can be wonderfully subtle as a window treatment, appearing to belong more completely to the window.

Without intrusive poles and a studding of hold-backs, they are as pertly tailored as a Saville Row suit.

A roller blind pulled down into position can deliver all the punch of artwork, staging polite motifs or bold digital graphics stretched over a neatly stretched window canvas. Pulled up, a horizontal blind reveals at least three sides of the window, admitting maximum light and the architectural strength of the window shape itself uninterrupted by metres of folded fabric at its edges.

If it will roll, fold, or pleat, just any fabric can be taken to a blind, making the range of pattern and texture just about infinite. New hybrid products including Thomas Sanderson’s Silhouette blinds combine the aesthetic talents and actions of venetians and sheers.

The penultimate appeal of blinds has to be light control and privacy. A half closed curtain during daylight hours looks a mess and hides the view vertically in a dubious peek-a-boo of the curtain lining to the outside world. A half closed roman blind, roller or angled Venetian takes out the glare of the sky in a stylish horizontal drop.

The marriage of both curtain and blind delivers the best of all worlds, light control with the traditional proscenium swagger of curtains for after hours. (On a purely lazy point — venetians left in place, discreetly shade the inevitable and accumulating dirt on the window pane).

Pull down roller blinds can mask shelving or even a whole stack of washer/dryer in a kitchen. IKEA celebrate this wildly in their latest catalogue for 2012. www.ikea.ie.

THE DEAL The most economical way to buy entry level blinds is either through standard sizing or choosing “cut to size” types.

Quality wise a made-to-measure headrail is hard to beat, so explore the many deals on bespoke and fitted blinds before getting tangled in the slats yourself. If you’re happy to do a little cutting and drilling, plain blackout roller blinds with thermal linings start at just €9.99 from Argos in 13 colours with a winding

14

■ Pencil.

■ Screws and rawl-plugs.

These, and the multi-fit bracket to hang the blind, will come with it.

action.

The blind market has pulled itself together in the face of the property recession and there are online deals slashing as much as 50% from the price of quality blinds and fittings.

Suppliers include Hillarys www.hillarys.ie, Thomas Sanderson www.thomas-sanderson.ie, and Acme www.acmeblinds.com. Explore what the more independent blind retailer and draper shop has on offer.

■ Spirit-level.

■ Drill with masonry bit, heavy duty if you intend to drill into a lintel.

Left: A world away from office verticals, Anno Sanela, Tuppler and Vacker designs mix it up in these elegant panel blinds set on an easy-to-fit track system. €16-€19 per panel. IKEA. www.ikea.ie. Above: Dark pine Venetian blinds from Charisma Blinds, Cork.

■ Screw drivers.

TAILORED TYPES ● Roller blinds: A no-fuss choice for bathrooms and kitchens, where their lack of creasing makes them simple to operate and clean. Bamboo rollers are cheap and simple to cut to size if you can’t stretch to wood venetians.

Above: Orleans mink sets a soft, relaxing tone with controlled, diffused light with Roman blinds made-to-measure in your fabric choice by Charisma Blinds. A full range of wood plantations, Romans, rollers is available from www.charismablindscork.com or 021-432 0500.

● Venetians: Nothing conjures light as deftly as a venetian blind, making them worth the extra expense. Wood choices have a soft edge, but metallic types remain popular with a shiny surface to bounce and diffuse light admitted through their slats. The material band linking the slats vertically (termed tapes) adds another touch of detail to personalise your blinds.

Left: Silhouette Blinds. Crafted from lightweight fabric louvres suspended between two sheets of delicate, sheer fabric, allowing you to alter the direction of the light and adjust the level of privacy without disrupting the view. From €173 Thomas Sanderson. www.thomas-sanderson.ie.

● Roman Blinds: Ideal for treading a middle line between the yielding charm of fabric curtains and the practical advantages of a pull up horizontal blind.

Panels of material lift in sequence on wood dowelling. Your favourite fabric can be used in concert with other soft furnishings. Blackout blinds will have a side winder rather than a cleat and cord to keep them taut. ● Vertical blinds: Once confined to commercial spaces, panel blinds have become increasingly popular for domestic use and come in a wide range of panel choices that can be mixed up in the same unit. The louvers pivot into position on a top rail and can be pulled back like curtains. With their ceilingward thrust and movement in the slightest breeze, an eye-sore if not well chosen. ● Pleated: Ideal for conservatories pleats in sun reflective fabrics, pleats have small crisp folds and can be used for both windows and doors. Light enough to be ceiling hung, they can be used for shielding storage areas in sheers or woven textures. Velux can take these to roof lights with remote operation. www.velux.ie.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

have to be opaque, and a sheer blind offers a diffused light and privacy without blocking out the world. Try a top sheer, bottom opaque arrangement. ● If you want structural weight with the advantages of blinds, consider wood shutters with movable slats to control privacy and light. ● Consider how the blind will look inside or outside the window recess. If there are obstructions such as handles or sash windings inside the recess and you want a sleek finish, take it outside. ● Panels: Wider panels top hung from the ceiling have a structural presence and can be used to divide rooms, hide larger storage areas and shield windows. They slide to the side, Japanese style and are generally 300mm, 450mm or 600mm in width. ● Plantation shutters: An investment with visual weight, shutters really make a statement in full height designs or bottom tiers only. Tier on tier designs (try Acme and The Blind Maker

www.theblindmaker.ie) offer the versatility of closing and opening two levels of shutter.

CORD SAFETY The cord hanging from a standard blind has proved a strangulation hazard for young children. Look for blinds with cordless technology such as Thomas Sanderson’s LiteRise Blinds. Where a cord is present, looped or not, it should be put out of the reach of young

children and never dangled anywhere near cots, highchairs or play areas. The cords should end at least 1.6 metres (5 feet 3 inches) from the floor with any cord cut or secured with a tie-down tension device.

REVEALING IDEAS ● Use blinds to make your bay window more theatrical. Individual venetians or roman blinds can frame a variety of views out of a bay window. Blinds don’t

● Large vertical “panel” blinds can split a whole room or shield a task area in a multi-function space. Keep in mind that these are blinds, not walls, and will take some getting used to. No one wants a Loony Tune silhouette of themselves bursting through a panel blind. ● Because roller blinds can be fitted to the millimetre they are ideal for blacking out rooms such as children’s sleeping areas. Choose a dedicated black-out lining with high opacity and fit it inside the recess.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

If the blind is the next width up from your recess (and you’re going inside), trim it down using a hacksaw for the top rail, 25-38mm less than the recess.

Use a straight edge to mark a new vertical edge for the blind, 1.5mm smaller than the roller on each side. Keep any pattern centred.

Cut material using a craft knife and baton or use a good, sharp scissors.

Take off end-caps and cut down the bottom rail 12.5mm smaller than the fabric width. Refit end-caps of bottom rail.

Mark screw positions with pencil.

Fix the brackets to the window frame (not for PVC please), the sides of the window, or above it. Allow 50mm clearance from masonry edges.

Insert the cord winder into the bracket, and the dummy pin into the opposite bracket. The holes will match in shape.

Q&A

Q

Do you have a DIY question you would like answered?

Send it to interiors@examiner.ie

I have single-glazed sash windows. What are the best blinds for heat retention?

A. Roman blinds are a good design for heat retention as they have similar material to curtains and come in heavy fabrics. This coupled with standard or blackout lining will help prevent heat loss.

Many roller blind fabrics are also good for heat retention, as are wood Venetians.

Q. Are made-to-measure blinds really worth the money?

A. Made-to-measure blinds are definitely worth the money as they are custom-made to fit your specific requirements. You get to choose from a huge range of materials and fabrics with top quality mechanisms.

Q. I have a very large picture window around 2m wide.

Should I use one venetian blind or split it into sections or two or three?

A.It is nearly always preferable to have one blind rather than two or three as it is easier to use and aesthetically looks better. Wood Venetian blinds usually can be made to a width of 2.4 metres.

Q. What the difference is between ‘exact’ and ‘recess’ measurements when measuring up to order my blinds?

A. An exact measurement is the size you require your finished blind to be. The recess measurement is the measurement inside the opening of the window.

However there are pitfalls, so its best to get it done properly.

■ Answers provided by Jonathan Coughlan of Charisma Blinds, Cork. www.charismablindscork.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

15

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:04:12Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:16

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WISH LIST

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Feeling the chill of winter? Carol O’Callaghan brings us some interiors feel-good products to warm you up

Hang hats and scarves in the hall, or tea towels in the kitchen on the Home hook from Penneys (€5).

������ � �������� �� �� ��� ��� ��� ������ ���������� Hankering after an Aga but don’t have the space? Check out the Four-Two compact version with four burners and two ovens, finished in warm seasonal claret (€3,999 from Aga Stores).

The two-in-one candlestick with little bird detail is designed by Matthew Williamson for Debenhams and is perfect for winter evenings when candlelight is a must (approx. €25).

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���� ��� ���

��������������

It’s the season for baking cakes, stirring up plum puddings and making batches of pastry for the freezer. Try the Next Interiors baking bowl set (from €10).

Bring memories of lovely sunny days in the garden into the house with the Watercolour cushion from Dunnes Stores (€35).

16

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

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�� �� ��� ��� ������� ������ �� �� ��� ��� ������ �������� �� �� ��� ��� ������ ������ ���� ������ ������� ���� ������IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

17

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:04:12Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:16

Zone:XP1

WISH LIST

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

Feeling the chill of winter? Carol O’Callaghan brings us some interiors feel-good products to warm you up

Hang hats and scarves in the hall, or tea towels in the kitchen on the Home hook from Penneys (€5).

������ � �������� �� �� ��� ��� ��� ������ ���������� Hankering after an Aga but don’t have the space? Check out the Four-Two compact version with four burners and two ovens, finished in warm seasonal claret (€3,999 from Aga Stores).

The two-in-one candlestick with little bird detail is designed by Matthew Williamson for Debenhams and is perfect for winter evenings when candlelight is a must (approx. €25).

��� � ���� �������� ���� ����

���� ��� ���

��������������

It’s the season for baking cakes, stirring up plum puddings and making batches of pastry for the freezer. Try the Next Interiors baking bowl set (from €10).

Bring memories of lovely sunny days in the garden into the house with the Watercolour cushion from Dunnes Stores (€35).

16

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

����� ���� �����

�� �� ��� ��� ������� ������ �� �� ��� ��� ������ �������� �� �� ��� ��� ������ ������ ���� ������ ������� ���� ������IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

17

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:02/11/2011Time:16:09:59Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:18

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INTERIORS

HOME ECONOMICS

ASK THE

DESIGNER

Q

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Interior designer Deborah Ruddy of Chic Unique, Ratoath, Co Meath, www.chicunique.ie answers your design dilemmas.

Email: interiors@examiner.ie

Boiler maintenance Kya deLongchamps continues her series on making your home more energy efficient in the winter

We’re expecting our first baby at Christmas — do you have any baby-proofing ideas for our home?

Bord Gáis Energy Home Team give advice on using your heating controls efficiently

A. While we’re all aware of basic child-safety precautions like stair-guards, socket covers and cupboard latches, here are some less-obvious ways to make your home safer for the new arrival. Consider using plugin night lights to guide your way up and down the stairs at night time without waking the baby. Cable tidies for electrical items like the TV will help prevent your child from pulling it down on themselves when they’re old enough to toddle. For more helpful ideas, take a look at www.babycentre.com.

Q. My wife likes our bed to be properly made up and every night, I seem to end up doing battle with dozens of scatter cushions and throws just to get into bed – is there a more low-maintenance way to a trendy bed I can subtly suggest?

Improving the efficiency of your heating and hot water system is one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy usage and help save you money in the home. In fact, a recent survey carried out by the Bord Gáis Energy Home Team showed that 72% of respondents believe that installing or replacing heating controls can increase the comfort of your home.

A. Comedian Larry David has joked about this very problem — but a luxurious-looking bed doesn’t have to cause heartache. To recreate the sleeping arrangement of a five star hotel, start with the best sheets you can afford to buy — such as Egyptian cotton. Go for a good heavy tog or feathered duvet with a plain white or cream cover and matching pillow covers. Finish with a set of small cushions, roll pillow and faux fur throw all in the same colour and enjoy your fashionable, fuss-free sleep.

Q. The recent news story about Priory Hall has made me think about the fire safety of my own home — what precautions should I be taking?

A. The Priory Hall story has brought to light the importance of adhering to fire safety regulations during the building process. A smoke alarm, fire blanket and fire exit plan that the whole family is aware of are vital – and should be tested regularly. If you live in a two-storey house, you should have these items on each floor, as well as an escape ladder in the upper floor. One final tip: candles can be a fire hazard — I recommend switching to flameless (electric) candles.

WEB WATCH 1

18

Darran Robinson

2

1 Stress-free bed — Marks & Spencer Mocha Linen Bed Set €135, Fjord Block Bed Set €67, Wools Spirals Cushion €40, Loose Knit Throw €60, Ikat Throw €135 available at M&S. Right: Glo Nightlight, £69.99 (€80) available from www.boonuk.co.uk

Q. After the severe flooding in Dublin last month, I’m wondering if there are any smart ways to use rainwater for good in my home?

A. Between the amount of rain we get in this country and talk of water charges, now is a great time to look at ways to harness rainwater. There are a now number of systems available that recycle

Every week Sue O’Connor picks her top three interiors sites. If you have a favourite you’d like to see featured, email: interiors@examiner.ie

Farrow & Ball

For something completely different, bordering on the weird and wonderful, check out the website of this artist. With skulls, robots and bronze babies, it’s not for everyone and certainly not for the faint-hearted. This artist took an 8 ft whale’s skull, found in New Guinea, and embossed it with 2,000 gms of silver. If this might be too much for your pad, he has paintings, sculptures and even street art. So if you are looking to inject something dark and mysterious for your abode, this might be a starting point for a few ideas.

While it is hard to imagine a substitute for seeing wallpaper or paint in a shop, Farrow & Ball’s online site is a treat to look at. A luscious array of colour awaits for you and they have teamed up their colours cleverly with accessories and furniture. Check out the Broccato Papers, which you can almost touch, which are inspired by the Renaissance painters and sure to bring some classic elegance to your home.

With advice and ideas to recreate a look, this portal can be a one-stop shop.

■ www.darranrobinson.info

■ www.farrow-ball.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

rain for domestic use. You could consider installing a RainSava residential, for instance, which collects and stores rainwater for nonpotable (non-drinkable) uses which include flushing the toilet, running the washing machine or washing the car — rather than wasting precious purified tap water. For more information see www.anuaenv.ie.

3

eBoutique

If your hosting a dinner party over the party season, gorgeous table cloths and table runners are the order of the day on this web page to give a homely feel to your dining experience. The site features decadent Queeny, Vintage and Pearly view mirrors to add some feminine glamour to any abode. Check out the Butler’s Tray with a removable stand in a distressed look and with detailed engraving on the sides. Perfect for breakfast in bed while the stormy weather rages outside.

■ www.eboutique.ie

Butler’s Tray: A coffee tray with a removable stand in a distressed look and detailed engraving on the sides. Available for €51.00 from www.eBoutique.ie.

Only a registered gas installer is allowed to service a gas boiler, while oil burners should also be done by a properly qualified person.

A

S WE head into the darkest, coldest months, if you haven’t bothered to have your central heating boiler checked, now is the hour. New or old, gas or oil, your boiler should be serviced once a year whether it appears to be working well or not. If the fee is holding you back, keep in mind that an inefficient boiler will be mishandling expensive fossil fuels and wasting as much as 10% of your fuel costs, or €150 in one year.

That’s more than the price of a service.

Just cleaning soot and debris off parts of an oil-fed boiler, including the baffles and heat exchanger, can prolong their life and that of the entire boiler which can seize up and need replacing in its entirety if the parts cannot be freed.

Boiler servicing is a specialist area, requiring an understanding of the soundness of a range of elements including electronic, mechanical and electrical elements. Systems boilers have a number of components built into the boiler, including the pump and expansion tank and are complex pieces of equipment with, for instance, sensitive nozzles, photocells and electrodes that can soot up or degrade with normal use.

This kind of work should not be attempted DIY and in fact it is illegal for anyone other than a registered gas installer (RGII) to service a natural gas

boiler and for oil, you would be well advised to use a service firm registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry (OFTEC).

A reputable engineer will make visual checks and running checks of your vents, isolating valves, burners, cowls, flues and heat exchanger, assessing the overall integrity of the boiler, and advising you if they feel the boiler needs replacing. Don’t forget the supply, store and lines to any fuel such as an oil tank during the service call, taking the advice you’re given on the need for upgrades.

You can sign up to an annual contract agreement from most boiler suppliers, including utility companies such as Bord Gáis from around €100 per year.

The details of the agreement may or may not include parts and labour on repairs, and parts and labour clauses will have a maximum cover, so read the small print.

Along with reliable heating comes the question of safety. Badly maintained gas boilers are largely blamed for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, but any fuel burning device has the potential to poison the atmosphere. The physical symptoms of CO in the home are often as subtle as a light recurring headache or light headedness, so you may not realise you even have a problem. CO appears where fossil fuels

burn incompletely and the residual gases are released back into the living space. Your engineer will look for any potential problems such as soot or staining developing on vent pipes on the boiler but a CO detector/alarms is the only real protection. They are priced from as little as €20.

■ For qualified RGII and OFTEC engineers visit www.rgii.ie and www.oftec.org. The OFTEC advert in the Golden Pages will also direct you to local qualified engineers.

Every Irish boiler sold since the last weeks of 2009 should carry a ‘boiler passport’ to show that the boiler has been properly commissioned.

Badly maintained gas boilers are largely blamed for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, but any fuel burning device has the potential to poison

2 3

4

Prevent waste — think about the areas of your home that you use the most and only heat where is necessary. Zoning valves allow you to split your house into separate heating areas with different heating times and temperatures. You can also adjust your heating needs based on your lifestyle, ie holidays, weekends and how often you’re in the home.

Prevent overheating — adjust your heating so that it doesn’t overheat your home in the morning and evenings. It means checking the weather forecast and adjusting your heating times to save money and energy.

Use heat more efficiently — modern condensing boilers need modern controls to help them operate at maximum efficiency levels. A basic heating controls package includes: ● Temperature controller ● Time controller — or combined temperature and time controller ● Radiator controls ● Hot water controller — if you have stored hot water Heating controls ensure your boiler works in the most efficient way possible and means your heating system works in harmony with your lifestyle. Fitting controls saves energy even if your boiler is inefficient.

■ To find out more or book a Home Energy Consultancy appointment, simply call 1850 632 632 or visit www.bordgaisenergy.ie/hometeam

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

19

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INTERIORS

HOME ECONOMICS

ASK THE

DESIGNER

Q

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Interior designer Deborah Ruddy of Chic Unique, Ratoath, Co Meath, www.chicunique.ie answers your design dilemmas.

Email: interiors@examiner.ie

Boiler maintenance Kya deLongchamps continues her series on making your home more energy efficient in the winter

We’re expecting our first baby at Christmas — do you have any baby-proofing ideas for our home?

Bord Gáis Energy Home Team give advice on using your heating controls efficiently

A. While we’re all aware of basic child-safety precautions like stair-guards, socket covers and cupboard latches, here are some less-obvious ways to make your home safer for the new arrival. Consider using plugin night lights to guide your way up and down the stairs at night time without waking the baby. Cable tidies for electrical items like the TV will help prevent your child from pulling it down on themselves when they’re old enough to toddle. For more helpful ideas, take a look at www.babycentre.com.

Q. My wife likes our bed to be properly made up and every night, I seem to end up doing battle with dozens of scatter cushions and throws just to get into bed – is there a more low-maintenance way to a trendy bed I can subtly suggest?

Improving the efficiency of your heating and hot water system is one of the most effective ways to reduce your energy usage and help save you money in the home. In fact, a recent survey carried out by the Bord Gáis Energy Home Team showed that 72% of respondents believe that installing or replacing heating controls can increase the comfort of your home.

A. Comedian Larry David has joked about this very problem — but a luxurious-looking bed doesn’t have to cause heartache. To recreate the sleeping arrangement of a five star hotel, start with the best sheets you can afford to buy — such as Egyptian cotton. Go for a good heavy tog or feathered duvet with a plain white or cream cover and matching pillow covers. Finish with a set of small cushions, roll pillow and faux fur throw all in the same colour and enjoy your fashionable, fuss-free sleep.

Q. The recent news story about Priory Hall has made me think about the fire safety of my own home — what precautions should I be taking?

A. The Priory Hall story has brought to light the importance of adhering to fire safety regulations during the building process. A smoke alarm, fire blanket and fire exit plan that the whole family is aware of are vital – and should be tested regularly. If you live in a two-storey house, you should have these items on each floor, as well as an escape ladder in the upper floor. One final tip: candles can be a fire hazard — I recommend switching to flameless (electric) candles.

WEB WATCH 1

18

Darran Robinson

2

1 Stress-free bed — Marks & Spencer Mocha Linen Bed Set €135, Fjord Block Bed Set €67, Wools Spirals Cushion €40, Loose Knit Throw €60, Ikat Throw €135 available at M&S. Right: Glo Nightlight, £69.99 (€80) available from www.boonuk.co.uk

Q. After the severe flooding in Dublin last month, I’m wondering if there are any smart ways to use rainwater for good in my home?

A. Between the amount of rain we get in this country and talk of water charges, now is a great time to look at ways to harness rainwater. There are a now number of systems available that recycle

Every week Sue O’Connor picks her top three interiors sites. If you have a favourite you’d like to see featured, email: interiors@examiner.ie

Farrow & Ball

For something completely different, bordering on the weird and wonderful, check out the website of this artist. With skulls, robots and bronze babies, it’s not for everyone and certainly not for the faint-hearted. This artist took an 8 ft whale’s skull, found in New Guinea, and embossed it with 2,000 gms of silver. If this might be too much for your pad, he has paintings, sculptures and even street art. So if you are looking to inject something dark and mysterious for your abode, this might be a starting point for a few ideas.

While it is hard to imagine a substitute for seeing wallpaper or paint in a shop, Farrow & Ball’s online site is a treat to look at. A luscious array of colour awaits for you and they have teamed up their colours cleverly with accessories and furniture. Check out the Broccato Papers, which you can almost touch, which are inspired by the Renaissance painters and sure to bring some classic elegance to your home.

With advice and ideas to recreate a look, this portal can be a one-stop shop.

■ www.darranrobinson.info

■ www.farrow-ball.com

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

rain for domestic use. You could consider installing a RainSava residential, for instance, which collects and stores rainwater for nonpotable (non-drinkable) uses which include flushing the toilet, running the washing machine or washing the car — rather than wasting precious purified tap water. For more information see www.anuaenv.ie.

3

eBoutique

If your hosting a dinner party over the party season, gorgeous table cloths and table runners are the order of the day on this web page to give a homely feel to your dining experience. The site features decadent Queeny, Vintage and Pearly view mirrors to add some feminine glamour to any abode. Check out the Butler’s Tray with a removable stand in a distressed look and with detailed engraving on the sides. Perfect for breakfast in bed while the stormy weather rages outside.

■ www.eboutique.ie

Butler’s Tray: A coffee tray with a removable stand in a distressed look and detailed engraving on the sides. Available for €51.00 from www.eBoutique.ie.

Only a registered gas installer is allowed to service a gas boiler, while oil burners should also be done by a properly qualified person.

A

S WE head into the darkest, coldest months, if you haven’t bothered to have your central heating boiler checked, now is the hour. New or old, gas or oil, your boiler should be serviced once a year whether it appears to be working well or not. If the fee is holding you back, keep in mind that an inefficient boiler will be mishandling expensive fossil fuels and wasting as much as 10% of your fuel costs, or €150 in one year.

That’s more than the price of a service.

Just cleaning soot and debris off parts of an oil-fed boiler, including the baffles and heat exchanger, can prolong their life and that of the entire boiler which can seize up and need replacing in its entirety if the parts cannot be freed.

Boiler servicing is a specialist area, requiring an understanding of the soundness of a range of elements including electronic, mechanical and electrical elements. Systems boilers have a number of components built into the boiler, including the pump and expansion tank and are complex pieces of equipment with, for instance, sensitive nozzles, photocells and electrodes that can soot up or degrade with normal use.

This kind of work should not be attempted DIY and in fact it is illegal for anyone other than a registered gas installer (RGII) to service a natural gas

boiler and for oil, you would be well advised to use a service firm registered with the Oil Firing Technical Association for the Petroleum Industry (OFTEC).

A reputable engineer will make visual checks and running checks of your vents, isolating valves, burners, cowls, flues and heat exchanger, assessing the overall integrity of the boiler, and advising you if they feel the boiler needs replacing. Don’t forget the supply, store and lines to any fuel such as an oil tank during the service call, taking the advice you’re given on the need for upgrades.

You can sign up to an annual contract agreement from most boiler suppliers, including utility companies such as Bord Gáis from around €100 per year.

The details of the agreement may or may not include parts and labour on repairs, and parts and labour clauses will have a maximum cover, so read the small print.

Along with reliable heating comes the question of safety. Badly maintained gas boilers are largely blamed for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, but any fuel burning device has the potential to poison the atmosphere. The physical symptoms of CO in the home are often as subtle as a light recurring headache or light headedness, so you may not realise you even have a problem. CO appears where fossil fuels

burn incompletely and the residual gases are released back into the living space. Your engineer will look for any potential problems such as soot or staining developing on vent pipes on the boiler but a CO detector/alarms is the only real protection. They are priced from as little as €20.

■ For qualified RGII and OFTEC engineers visit www.rgii.ie and www.oftec.org. The OFTEC advert in the Golden Pages will also direct you to local qualified engineers.

Every Irish boiler sold since the last weeks of 2009 should carry a ‘boiler passport’ to show that the boiler has been properly commissioned.

Badly maintained gas boilers are largely blamed for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, but any fuel burning device has the potential to poison

2 3

4

Prevent waste — think about the areas of your home that you use the most and only heat where is necessary. Zoning valves allow you to split your house into separate heating areas with different heating times and temperatures. You can also adjust your heating needs based on your lifestyle, ie holidays, weekends and how often you’re in the home.

Prevent overheating — adjust your heating so that it doesn’t overheat your home in the morning and evenings. It means checking the weather forecast and adjusting your heating times to save money and energy.

Use heat more efficiently — modern condensing boilers need modern controls to help them operate at maximum efficiency levels. A basic heating controls package includes: ● Temperature controller ● Time controller — or combined temperature and time controller ● Radiator controls ● Hot water controller — if you have stored hot water Heating controls ensure your boiler works in the most efficient way possible and means your heating system works in harmony with your lifestyle. Fitting controls saves energy even if your boiler is inefficient.

■ To find out more or book a Home Energy Consultancy appointment, simply call 1850 632 632 or visit www.bordgaisenergy.ie/hometeam

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

19

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IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK

GARDENNOTES

by Charlie Wilkins

■ Want to cut your bin charges or cut down on peat moss?

Wondering what to do with the 5 million leaves at the bottom of the garden? Consider composting.

Donald O’Leary, composting expert with Wastedown.com will share his expertise and answer your questions at a meeting of Cork GIY on Tuesday next at 7.30pm in the South Parish Community Centre, Sawmill Street, Cork.

TREES: Employ an expert if you intend to get garden trees reduced in their canopies. Some may need total removal following recent storms. Tree surgery is a more or less unregulated profession and anyone with a ladder, a rope and a saw, can call himself an arborist. For a list of professional tree contractors and consultants, look up the Golden Pages. Be aware of preservation orders and conservation area regulations.

Check with local planning before undertaking any work apart from light pruning. If a tree is dead, dying or dangerous it can be felled without permission, but it is advisable to check beforehand with your local council. Not all trees can be pruned at this time of year. Much depends on species, variety, and age. Seek advice first is.

FREESIAS: If you are one of those people who use the cold greenhouse in winter as nothing more than a store for the bicycle and a place to air the washing,

20

Garden treasure

IN THE GARDEN

by Charlie Wilkins

■ Kanturk Flower Club will meet on Wednesday next at 8pm in the Trade Union Hall. Guest speaker is Thomas of the D and M Garden Centre, Croagh, Co Limerick.

■ Cork Garden Club Ashton School present Billy Alexander of Kells Bay Gardens, to speak on “The Hardy Exotics” at their meeting on Thursday next at 8pm. No charge for visitors to this meeting.

■ A series of one day workshops with the theme Christmas Creations for Your Home takes place at the Templebreedy Grounds Experience, The Old Rectory, Crosshaven, Co Cork during December. Workshop covers arrangements for door, hall, fireplace and table. Maximum of 6 persons per session but block bookings catered for. Materials and lunch provided. For details contact 086-2888776.

LAWNS: During mild and dry weather, improve soil aeration and drainage on the lawn by removing plugs of soil with a hollow tine aerator. These twopronged hand-held aerators are not cheap to buy (€80) but at least they’re fairly easy to source.

Three-pronged and fourpronged models do not seem to work as well. With your feet, push the tool into the ground at roughly six-inch intervals, and as you progress, plugs of soil will be removed and ejected. When finished, you sweep up or collect the plugs for use in the compost heap. Refill the holes by brushing in a mixture of two-toone of coarse sand and potting compost. Small areas done with regularity soon complete even the largest lawn.

BERRIES: Since August I have had undamaged bunches of big scarlet fruit on a malus which, though growing in a pot, has been quite untroubled by drought and neglect. It was good last year (I wrote about it as the Christmas berry tree) but this year I have had even better results and already the birds are eyeing it up in anticipation.

Maybe they are on the run and wary of aggressive wildlife, which we are now encouraged to cherish in our gardens.

Developed from Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’, this small tree produces masses of white flowers in late spring followed by yellow-red fruits which later change colour to a glossy deep red. I recommend it to readers as being ideal for a striking autumn and early winter feature in containers or the open ground. Look for it under the name Christmas berry tree.

XP1 - V1

■ Innishannon Flower and Garden Club will have a a talk and slide show on “Landscaping and Pizza Oven Building” on Wednesday next at 8pm in Barrets lounge.

■ Bantry Flower and Garden Club meet on Monday next in the Westlodge Hotel. Joyce Russell of the Southern Star will give an illustrated talk on Organic Gardening in a Tunnel.

Refreshments served.

■ Youghal Flower and Garden Club will hold their AGM on Tuesday next at 7.30pm in the GAA Pavilion, Magners Hill. This will be followed by a talk on gardening by Mr Mike Keep of Shady Plants Nursery and all are welcome. There will be a club competition on the night.

■ The annual Mass for deceased members of Cobh Flower and Horticulture Club will be held at Cobh Community Centre on Monday at 8pm. Refreshments will be served after Mass. Mary C O’Keeffe will give a talk on World Association of Flower Arrangers.

Freeshias make excellent cut flowers and are deliciously scented.

would you not consider filling a few pots with freesias for blooming during January and February? They’re absolutely no bother to bring into the flowering stage. These oldfashioned bulbs are back on trend and while you won’t get them in all garden outlets, be assured that Mr Middleton of Mary Street, Dublin, and Hosford’s of Enniskeane can supply you with all you need.

These make excellent cut flowers, come in a variety of vibrant colours and they’re

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

deliciously scented. Stood in a glass vase and displayed in the home they’ll cheer when all is dark and grey whilst clearing the house of musty, winter odours.

LEAVES: A bone of contention for those who do not garden, the arrival of autumn leaves into their garden can be distressing.

However, you can do nothing about leaves which blow into your property (from any direction) infuriating as it may be. The same applies to shrub and tree roots. You cannot lop

the roots of your neighbour’s plants even if your secret wish is that it will kill whatever the roots belong to. To argue that roots are trespassing is a non-runner for the roots of trees and bushes have their own rights, and while you can do whatever you like with your plot of ground you can’t infringe on the rights of living roots (or wildlife and insects). Instead of cursing the leaves why not look at how magnificently the trees grow, and learn to love and enjoy the extra amenity of your area.

■ Skibbereen Flower and Garden Club are hosting their Christmas Demonstration with Margot Allen on Wednesday next in the West Cork Hotel at 8.15pm.

■ East Cork Flower Club will hold their AGM on Monday next at 7.30 pm in St John the Baptist National School, Midleton, followed by talks from Marion Joy — holistic therapist and Dr Hauschka — skin consultant.

■ Reminder that the Blarney and District Flower and Garden Club will hold their 25th Anniversary Dinner in the Castle Hotel on Thursday November 24th. Tickets from Elizabeth 086-3718238

T

HIS year, autumn has lived up to its title ‘the royal season’ for it was mild and pleasant in the main and wore a coat of many colours. It prepares us for winter in the fall of leaves, a cooling of the air, and a shortening of daylight. And now that we are into winter it is often, regrettably, associated with melancholy and nostalgia. But winter can also be welcomed as one of our most rewarding seasons. The blowsy exuberance of summer is certainly gone, but texture, shape and form emerge as if an artist had suddenly uncovered a forgotten charcoal sketch beneath a current painting.

For the gardener, winter can be a treasured period, a time of surrender, of lengthening shadows and quiet reflection, broken only by the scream of high winds as they move through tree canopies and shriek about chimney pots.

The light too, is changing.

Every day now the sun rises

lower in the sky east of the church spire across the road from Villa Marie.

Its arc above the nearby houses gets lower and lower, until a point is reached in early December where it fails to light a sizeable portion of my garden, and theirs. This is normal, and the gradual withdrawal of light tells me yet again, that the whole pulse of life is slowing down, folding in on itself.

Everything seems to carry the peculiar beauty of picturesque decline, and the garden instinctively knows that in just a few weeks it will be at its midnight point; the winter solstice.

On a more positive note, it is the season of compensation.

Short days and terrifying weather may keep us confined indoors for long periods at a time, but there are occasions when you are very likely to be tempted to get out and about.

One of these occasions is the annual opening of DJ Murphy’s Christmas decorated home at Bride View Cottages, Killumney, Co Cork.

Here, for the past 13 years, a quirky cottage and its garden is transformed each November and December with substantial Christmas floral exhibits with a view to raising badly-needed funds for worthy charities.

The informality at this annual event is quite unique.

Unlike stately homes where you shuffle around rooms of pomp, portraiture, and roped off rugs, one can sit, lounge, or adjourn to any room you fancy. The visitors; gardeners, flower arrangers, home decorators, (and the inquisitive) who come to see this annual spectacle will get the chance to view everything at leisure, partake in seasonal refreshments and purchase arrangements from a display especially created in one of the many fine courtyard buildings adjoining the cottage. And if that’s not enough, there will be choirs in the kitchen every night to entertain (last year the Enniskeane/Ballineen choir were superb, so too the Gospel Choir from Cork City).

Finally, to add to the nightly festivities you will get the chance to partake in a monster raffle with very worthwhile prizes.

The beneficiaries of this year’s opening are the very deserving Marymount Hospice and Saoirse Alzheimers Unit West Cork.

The open days are Thursday to Sunday, November 17 to 20, and Thursday, November 24, to Sunday, November 27.

Times of opening are 6pm to 10pm on Thursday and Friday and noon to 8pm each Saturday and Sunday.

Admission, which includes mulled wine, mince pies and tea or coffee, is €10.

Parents should note that Santa will be in attendance in his garden grotto with parcels and light refreshments on Saturdays and Sundays from early afternoon! It is going to be a wonderful experience and a great evening out. My notions about this particular event may indeed be fanciful, but is this not the season for fancies?

A simple arrangement standing in the recess of a narrow window at DJ Murphy’s home in Killumney, Ovens, Co Cork. Every room in this period home will be filled with pedestal arrangements, floral displays and seasonal fare.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

21

TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:03/11/2011Time:12:09:12Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:20

Zone:XP1

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IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK

GARDENNOTES

by Charlie Wilkins

■ Want to cut your bin charges or cut down on peat moss?

Wondering what to do with the 5 million leaves at the bottom of the garden? Consider composting.

Donald O’Leary, composting expert with Wastedown.com will share his expertise and answer your questions at a meeting of Cork GIY on Tuesday next at 7.30pm in the South Parish Community Centre, Sawmill Street, Cork.

TREES: Employ an expert if you intend to get garden trees reduced in their canopies. Some may need total removal following recent storms. Tree surgery is a more or less unregulated profession and anyone with a ladder, a rope and a saw, can call himself an arborist. For a list of professional tree contractors and consultants, look up the Golden Pages. Be aware of preservation orders and conservation area regulations.

Check with local planning before undertaking any work apart from light pruning. If a tree is dead, dying or dangerous it can be felled without permission, but it is advisable to check beforehand with your local council. Not all trees can be pruned at this time of year. Much depends on species, variety, and age. Seek advice first is.

FREESIAS: If you are one of those people who use the cold greenhouse in winter as nothing more than a store for the bicycle and a place to air the washing,

20

Garden treasure

IN THE GARDEN

by Charlie Wilkins

■ Kanturk Flower Club will meet on Wednesday next at 8pm in the Trade Union Hall. Guest speaker is Thomas of the D and M Garden Centre, Croagh, Co Limerick.

■ Cork Garden Club Ashton School present Billy Alexander of Kells Bay Gardens, to speak on “The Hardy Exotics” at their meeting on Thursday next at 8pm. No charge for visitors to this meeting.

■ A series of one day workshops with the theme Christmas Creations for Your Home takes place at the Templebreedy Grounds Experience, The Old Rectory, Crosshaven, Co Cork during December. Workshop covers arrangements for door, hall, fireplace and table. Maximum of 6 persons per session but block bookings catered for. Materials and lunch provided. For details contact 086-2888776.

LAWNS: During mild and dry weather, improve soil aeration and drainage on the lawn by removing plugs of soil with a hollow tine aerator. These twopronged hand-held aerators are not cheap to buy (€80) but at least they’re fairly easy to source.

Three-pronged and fourpronged models do not seem to work as well. With your feet, push the tool into the ground at roughly six-inch intervals, and as you progress, plugs of soil will be removed and ejected. When finished, you sweep up or collect the plugs for use in the compost heap. Refill the holes by brushing in a mixture of two-toone of coarse sand and potting compost. Small areas done with regularity soon complete even the largest lawn.

BERRIES: Since August I have had undamaged bunches of big scarlet fruit on a malus which, though growing in a pot, has been quite untroubled by drought and neglect. It was good last year (I wrote about it as the Christmas berry tree) but this year I have had even better results and already the birds are eyeing it up in anticipation.

Maybe they are on the run and wary of aggressive wildlife, which we are now encouraged to cherish in our gardens.

Developed from Malus x robusta ‘Red Sentinel’, this small tree produces masses of white flowers in late spring followed by yellow-red fruits which later change colour to a glossy deep red. I recommend it to readers as being ideal for a striking autumn and early winter feature in containers or the open ground. Look for it under the name Christmas berry tree.

XP1 - V1

■ Innishannon Flower and Garden Club will have a a talk and slide show on “Landscaping and Pizza Oven Building” on Wednesday next at 8pm in Barrets lounge.

■ Bantry Flower and Garden Club meet on Monday next in the Westlodge Hotel. Joyce Russell of the Southern Star will give an illustrated talk on Organic Gardening in a Tunnel.

Refreshments served.

■ Youghal Flower and Garden Club will hold their AGM on Tuesday next at 7.30pm in the GAA Pavilion, Magners Hill. This will be followed by a talk on gardening by Mr Mike Keep of Shady Plants Nursery and all are welcome. There will be a club competition on the night.

■ The annual Mass for deceased members of Cobh Flower and Horticulture Club will be held at Cobh Community Centre on Monday at 8pm. Refreshments will be served after Mass. Mary C O’Keeffe will give a talk on World Association of Flower Arrangers.

Freeshias make excellent cut flowers and are deliciously scented.

would you not consider filling a few pots with freesias for blooming during January and February? They’re absolutely no bother to bring into the flowering stage. These oldfashioned bulbs are back on trend and while you won’t get them in all garden outlets, be assured that Mr Middleton of Mary Street, Dublin, and Hosford’s of Enniskeane can supply you with all you need.

These make excellent cut flowers, come in a variety of vibrant colours and they’re

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

deliciously scented. Stood in a glass vase and displayed in the home they’ll cheer when all is dark and grey whilst clearing the house of musty, winter odours.

LEAVES: A bone of contention for those who do not garden, the arrival of autumn leaves into their garden can be distressing.

However, you can do nothing about leaves which blow into your property (from any direction) infuriating as it may be. The same applies to shrub and tree roots. You cannot lop

the roots of your neighbour’s plants even if your secret wish is that it will kill whatever the roots belong to. To argue that roots are trespassing is a non-runner for the roots of trees and bushes have their own rights, and while you can do whatever you like with your plot of ground you can’t infringe on the rights of living roots (or wildlife and insects). Instead of cursing the leaves why not look at how magnificently the trees grow, and learn to love and enjoy the extra amenity of your area.

■ Skibbereen Flower and Garden Club are hosting their Christmas Demonstration with Margot Allen on Wednesday next in the West Cork Hotel at 8.15pm.

■ East Cork Flower Club will hold their AGM on Monday next at 7.30 pm in St John the Baptist National School, Midleton, followed by talks from Marion Joy — holistic therapist and Dr Hauschka — skin consultant.

■ Reminder that the Blarney and District Flower and Garden Club will hold their 25th Anniversary Dinner in the Castle Hotel on Thursday November 24th. Tickets from Elizabeth 086-3718238

T

HIS year, autumn has lived up to its title ‘the royal season’ for it was mild and pleasant in the main and wore a coat of many colours. It prepares us for winter in the fall of leaves, a cooling of the air, and a shortening of daylight. And now that we are into winter it is often, regrettably, associated with melancholy and nostalgia. But winter can also be welcomed as one of our most rewarding seasons. The blowsy exuberance of summer is certainly gone, but texture, shape and form emerge as if an artist had suddenly uncovered a forgotten charcoal sketch beneath a current painting.

For the gardener, winter can be a treasured period, a time of surrender, of lengthening shadows and quiet reflection, broken only by the scream of high winds as they move through tree canopies and shriek about chimney pots.

The light too, is changing.

Every day now the sun rises

lower in the sky east of the church spire across the road from Villa Marie.

Its arc above the nearby houses gets lower and lower, until a point is reached in early December where it fails to light a sizeable portion of my garden, and theirs. This is normal, and the gradual withdrawal of light tells me yet again, that the whole pulse of life is slowing down, folding in on itself.

Everything seems to carry the peculiar beauty of picturesque decline, and the garden instinctively knows that in just a few weeks it will be at its midnight point; the winter solstice.

On a more positive note, it is the season of compensation.

Short days and terrifying weather may keep us confined indoors for long periods at a time, but there are occasions when you are very likely to be tempted to get out and about.

One of these occasions is the annual opening of DJ Murphy’s Christmas decorated home at Bride View Cottages, Killumney, Co Cork.

Here, for the past 13 years, a quirky cottage and its garden is transformed each November and December with substantial Christmas floral exhibits with a view to raising badly-needed funds for worthy charities.

The informality at this annual event is quite unique.

Unlike stately homes where you shuffle around rooms of pomp, portraiture, and roped off rugs, one can sit, lounge, or adjourn to any room you fancy. The visitors; gardeners, flower arrangers, home decorators, (and the inquisitive) who come to see this annual spectacle will get the chance to view everything at leisure, partake in seasonal refreshments and purchase arrangements from a display especially created in one of the many fine courtyard buildings adjoining the cottage. And if that’s not enough, there will be choirs in the kitchen every night to entertain (last year the Enniskeane/Ballineen choir were superb, so too the Gospel Choir from Cork City).

Finally, to add to the nightly festivities you will get the chance to partake in a monster raffle with very worthwhile prizes.

The beneficiaries of this year’s opening are the very deserving Marymount Hospice and Saoirse Alzheimers Unit West Cork.

The open days are Thursday to Sunday, November 17 to 20, and Thursday, November 24, to Sunday, November 27.

Times of opening are 6pm to 10pm on Thursday and Friday and noon to 8pm each Saturday and Sunday.

Admission, which includes mulled wine, mince pies and tea or coffee, is €10.

Parents should note that Santa will be in attendance in his garden grotto with parcels and light refreshments on Saturdays and Sundays from early afternoon! It is going to be a wonderful experience and a great evening out. My notions about this particular event may indeed be fanciful, but is this not the season for fancies?

A simple arrangement standing in the recess of a narrow window at DJ Murphy’s home in Killumney, Ovens, Co Cork. Every room in this period home will be filled with pedestal arrangements, floral displays and seasonal fare.

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

21

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

ANTIQUES & FINE ART

ADVERTISING

Paintings and silver feature in auction Des O’Sullivan takes us through some of the highlights available for sale this week

A

CORK silver sugar basket and a View of the River Lee from Tivoli by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson (€3,000-€5,000) are two highlights of

Woodwards special auction of silver and paintings in Cork this Wednesday (November 9) at 6pm.

The sale contains some prime silver and porcelain including a

Victorian circular silver tray (€2,500-€3,000), a George III silver soup ladle with a maker’s mark by William Ward of Limerick and Dublin hallmarks for 1786 (€800€1,000), a large Edward

VII silver fruit basket of unusual shape (London 1906) (€2,500-€3,000), a George III Irish silver oval shaped sauceboat (€1,700€2,000), tea services, a number of teapots, silver

frames and candlesticks.

The sale is on view today and tomorrow from 2pm to 5pm and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 5pm.

Kinsale is the title of this work by Martin Stone from the Morgan O’Driscoll online art auction which finishes on Monday at 7pm.

A View of the River Lee from Woodhill, Tivoli, by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson at Woodwards on Wednesday. It is estimated at €3,000-€5,000. Right: This George IV Cork silver swing handled sugar basket of helmet shape stands on a single pedestal foot by William Teulon, Cork, c1790 is at Woodwards silver sale next Wednesday evening. It is estimated at €2,000 - €2,500.

AUCTION OF IRISH SILVER & ART Featuring Irish and provincial silver and Irish Art

WEDNESDAY NEXT, NOVEMBER 9TH AT 6PM

Cork silver basket

Irish cream jug

George Atkinson

Wm Harrington

SILVERSMITHS INCLUDE: William Egan, Carden Terry, Jane Williams, William Teulon, John Seymour, William Ward, Joseph Gibson, John Whelpley, Michael McDermott, James le Bas, John Pittar, Richard Sawyer, William Cummins, James Scott, Michael Keating, Richard Whitford, John Buckton, Stephen Bergin, James Keating, John Sheils, Matthew West, Philip Weekes, etc.

ARTISTS INCLUDE: George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson, John Bosanquet, William Harrington, John Kingerlee, Fred Gruizinga, Patrick Cahill, K Beagan, etc.

Sculpture by John Burke & Vivienne Roche.

Selection of Masons, Chelsea, Oriental porcelain, and medals.

NOW COLLECTING FOR NOVEMBER ANTIQUE AUCTION FULL CATALOGUE AND IMAGES ONLINE: WWW.WOODWARD.IE

On view: Saturday & Sunday 2pm - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday & day of sale from 10am - 5pm JOSEPH

WOODWARD & SONS LTD “Successful service since 1883”

26 COOK STREET, CORK.tel 021-4273327 fax 021-4272891 email antiques@woodward.ie . web www.woodward.ie

22

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

Quality items at Fair

W

ith a wide selection of quality items, the National Antique & Art Fair takes place at The South Court Hotel Limerick next weekend.

It has attracted over 70 antiques and art dealers, including members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association (IADA). The IADA president George Stacpoole will be in attendance. Organiser Robin O’Donnell of Hibernian Antique Fairs says that never before in Ireland have so many IADA members attended a fair outside Dublin.

This is the 21st year that the twice-yearly National Antique Fair will be in Limerick, which is always a particularly popular venue for this particular fair. Opening times are from 11am to 6pm.

IN BRIEF

300 LOTS Marshs will offer more than 300 lots including antique furniture at their showrooms at Rochfords Lane, off South Mall-Grand Parade, Cork at noon today. .........................................................

DONERAILE SALE Also today, auctioneer Aidan Foley will hold a sale of around 500 lots at 1pm at The Old Schoolhouse, Doneraile. .........................................................

KEY HOUSE In Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, O’Donovan & Associates will conduct an auction of coins medals, stamps, maps, books, bank notes, post cards, antiques and household at the Key House, on Saturday, November 12 at 11am. .........................................................

SINGER’S PYJAMAS Michael Jackson’s silk pyjamas are among the lots on offer at a house sale by Matthews of Oldcastle at Coolatore House, Moate, Co Westmeath at noon tomorrow. .........................................................

ANTIQUE FAIR The Hibernian Antique Fair will take place at the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly from 11am to 6pm tomorrow. .........................................................

CLEARANCE SALE In Waterford, RJ Keighery will hold a clearance sale of restaurant, bar and office furniture at the City Auction Rooms, Georges Quay, on Thursday, November 10 at 11am. .........................................................

OBJETS D’ART There will be a sale of fine art, furniture, silver, and objets d’art at Adams, Blackrock, Co Dublin on Tuesday, November 8. .........................................................

ART FAIR Dublin’s inaugural Vue: National Contemporary Art Fair at the RHA Gallery, takes place today and tomorrow.

The National Antique Fair

SATURDAY 12TH AND SUNDAY 13TH OF NOVEMBER THE SOUTH COURT HOTEL LIMERICK - 11AM TO 6PM BOTH DAYS 70+ Stands Including 10 Furniture & 15 Members Of The Irish Antique Dealers Association This Is A Hibernian Antique Fair And A Sister Event To The Silver Springs, Fota Island , Actons Kinsale.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL Ger Duggan Tel: 021-4802192 email: interiorads@examiner.ie Interior Doors, from old to new! www.portas.ie

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:12:32Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:22

Showroom: Colomane, Bantry.

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(approx 6miles outside Bantry, next to Willie Pa’s Rest.)

After Before

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TOP DRAWER

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

23

Zone:XP1

XP1 - V1

XP1 - V1

ANTIQUES & FINE ART

ADVERTISING

Paintings and silver feature in auction Des O’Sullivan takes us through some of the highlights available for sale this week

A

CORK silver sugar basket and a View of the River Lee from Tivoli by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson (€3,000-€5,000) are two highlights of

Woodwards special auction of silver and paintings in Cork this Wednesday (November 9) at 6pm.

The sale contains some prime silver and porcelain including a

Victorian circular silver tray (€2,500-€3,000), a George III silver soup ladle with a maker’s mark by William Ward of Limerick and Dublin hallmarks for 1786 (€800€1,000), a large Edward

VII silver fruit basket of unusual shape (London 1906) (€2,500-€3,000), a George III Irish silver oval shaped sauceboat (€1,700€2,000), tea services, a number of teapots, silver

frames and candlesticks.

The sale is on view today and tomorrow from 2pm to 5pm and on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 10am to 5pm.

Kinsale is the title of this work by Martin Stone from the Morgan O’Driscoll online art auction which finishes on Monday at 7pm.

A View of the River Lee from Woodhill, Tivoli, by George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson at Woodwards on Wednesday. It is estimated at €3,000-€5,000. Right: This George IV Cork silver swing handled sugar basket of helmet shape stands on a single pedestal foot by William Teulon, Cork, c1790 is at Woodwards silver sale next Wednesday evening. It is estimated at €2,000 - €2,500.

AUCTION OF IRISH SILVER & ART Featuring Irish and provincial silver and Irish Art

WEDNESDAY NEXT, NOVEMBER 9TH AT 6PM

Cork silver basket

Irish cream jug

George Atkinson

Wm Harrington

SILVERSMITHS INCLUDE: William Egan, Carden Terry, Jane Williams, William Teulon, John Seymour, William Ward, Joseph Gibson, John Whelpley, Michael McDermott, James le Bas, John Pittar, Richard Sawyer, William Cummins, James Scott, Michael Keating, Richard Whitford, John Buckton, Stephen Bergin, James Keating, John Sheils, Matthew West, Philip Weekes, etc.

ARTISTS INCLUDE: George Mounsey Wheatley Atkinson, John Bosanquet, William Harrington, John Kingerlee, Fred Gruizinga, Patrick Cahill, K Beagan, etc.

Sculpture by John Burke & Vivienne Roche.

Selection of Masons, Chelsea, Oriental porcelain, and medals.

NOW COLLECTING FOR NOVEMBER ANTIQUE AUCTION FULL CATALOGUE AND IMAGES ONLINE: WWW.WOODWARD.IE

On view: Saturday & Sunday 2pm - 5pm, Monday, Tuesday & day of sale from 10am - 5pm JOSEPH

WOODWARD & SONS LTD “Successful service since 1883”

26 COOK STREET, CORK.tel 021-4273327 fax 021-4272891 email antiques@woodward.ie . web www.woodward.ie

22

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

Quality items at Fair

W

ith a wide selection of quality items, the National Antique & Art Fair takes place at The South Court Hotel Limerick next weekend.

It has attracted over 70 antiques and art dealers, including members of the Irish Antique Dealers Association (IADA). The IADA president George Stacpoole will be in attendance. Organiser Robin O’Donnell of Hibernian Antique Fairs says that never before in Ireland have so many IADA members attended a fair outside Dublin.

This is the 21st year that the twice-yearly National Antique Fair will be in Limerick, which is always a particularly popular venue for this particular fair. Opening times are from 11am to 6pm.

IN BRIEF

300 LOTS Marshs will offer more than 300 lots including antique furniture at their showrooms at Rochfords Lane, off South Mall-Grand Parade, Cork at noon today. .........................................................

DONERAILE SALE Also today, auctioneer Aidan Foley will hold a sale of around 500 lots at 1pm at The Old Schoolhouse, Doneraile. .........................................................

KEY HOUSE In Newcastlewest, Co Limerick, O’Donovan & Associates will conduct an auction of coins medals, stamps, maps, books, bank notes, post cards, antiques and household at the Key House, on Saturday, November 12 at 11am. .........................................................

SINGER’S PYJAMAS Michael Jackson’s silk pyjamas are among the lots on offer at a house sale by Matthews of Oldcastle at Coolatore House, Moate, Co Westmeath at noon tomorrow. .........................................................

ANTIQUE FAIR The Hibernian Antique Fair will take place at the Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly from 11am to 6pm tomorrow. .........................................................

CLEARANCE SALE In Waterford, RJ Keighery will hold a clearance sale of restaurant, bar and office furniture at the City Auction Rooms, Georges Quay, on Thursday, November 10 at 11am. .........................................................

OBJETS D’ART There will be a sale of fine art, furniture, silver, and objets d’art at Adams, Blackrock, Co Dublin on Tuesday, November 8. .........................................................

ART FAIR Dublin’s inaugural Vue: National Contemporary Art Fair at the RHA Gallery, takes place today and tomorrow.

The National Antique Fair

SATURDAY 12TH AND SUNDAY 13TH OF NOVEMBER THE SOUTH COURT HOTEL LIMERICK - 11AM TO 6PM BOTH DAYS 70+ Stands Including 10 Furniture & 15 Members Of The Irish Antique Dealers Association This Is A Hibernian Antique Fair And A Sister Event To The Silver Springs, Fota Island , Actons Kinsale.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL Ger Duggan Tel: 021-4802192 email: interiorads@examiner.ie Interior Doors, from old to new! www.portas.ie

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:12:32Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:22

Showroom: Colomane, Bantry.

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(approx 6miles outside Bantry, next to Willie Pa’s Rest.)

After Before

We renovate & modernise your existing: Interior Doors, Entrance Doors & Staircases

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TOP DRAWER

IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 05.11.2011

23

TERAPROOF:User:noelcampionDate:03/11/2011Time:13:02:30Edition:05/11/2011PropertyXP0511Page:24

Zone:XP1

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19 South Mall Cork

Thomas J O’ Driscoll & Assoc. www.tjodriscoll.com

Tel: 021-4270435 Fax: 021-4272347

13 SPRINGFIELD ESTATE, MAYFIELD, CORK

48 THE DRIVE, BROADALE, DOUGLAS, CORK

30 PARIC NA GRIENE, RATHCORMAC, CO CORK

CONVENT VIEW, MARDYKE STREET, CORK

3 bed semi located at end of a quiet cul-de-sac on a large site with private mature gardens.

Guide: €185,000

Spacious 4 Bed Semi Detached on a large corner site.

Boasts a southerly aspect.

Guide: €249,000

3 Bedroomed MidTerraced property with a rear access to the property.

Guide: €145,000

5/6 Bedroomed end of terraced property in an excellent location.

In need of renovation.

Guide: €250,000

32 LAKE LAWN, WELL RD, DOUGLAS, CORK

BIDE AWHILE, BALLYCURREN, FRANKFIELD, CORK

1 ASHWOOD, SOUTH DOUGLAS ROAD, CORK

2 THE LAWN, GREENVALLEY, DONNYBROOK, DOUGLAS

3 bed Semi Detached, located in a much sought after location.

Guide: €235,000

4 Bedroomed Detached Bungalow standing on c. 1⁄2 acre Guide: €395,000

3 Bedroomed Semi Detached located in a quiet cul-de-sac of 14 Houses. Close to the City Centre.

Reduced: €198,000

4 Bedroomed Semi Detached property overlooking an open green space.

Guide: €245,000

58 BANTRY PARK, GURRANABRAHER, CORK

1 LOTAMORE CRESENT, MAYFIELD, CORK

3 SUN NOCK PARK, BOREENMANNA ROAD, CORK

30 DELANEY PARK, DUBLIN HILL, CORK UNDER OFFER

2 Bedroomed end ofTerrace property with large south facing rear garden.

Guide: €136,000

2 Bedroomed semi detached property in close proximity to all amenities.

Guide: €128,000

3 Bedroomed detached with private walled in gardens, in a secluded location Guide: €220,000

2 Bedroomed Mid terraced property with front and rear gardens.

Guide: €96,000

47 OLD AVENUE, RIVERSTOWN, GLANMIRE, CO CORK

SHANBALLY, KILDINAN, CO. CORK

25 THE VIEW, PRIORY COURT, WATERGRASSHILL, CO CORK

5 FARRANFERRIS PLACE, FARRANREE, CORK

3 Bedroom Mid terraced property with off street parking.

The property is tastefully decorated Guide: €175,000

Spacious 4 bed Semi Detached, in excellent condition throughout.

Finished to a very high standard. Private rear gardens.

Guide: €193,000

Charming 2 bedroomed cottage, standing on a 1⁄2 acre Guide: €148,500

3 Bedroomed Semi Detached located just ten minutes from the Jack LynchTunnel.

Guide: €185,000

BALLINTEMPLE, CORK

HOLLY HILL, CORK

GRENAGH, CO. CORK

BOREENMANNA RD, CORK

3 Bedroomed Semi Detached.

3 Bedroomed End Townhouse.

3 Bedroomed Semi Detached.

3 Bedroomed Semi Detached.

MILITARY HILL, CORK

MARYBOROUGH WOODS, DOUGLAS

BALLINCOLLIG, CO. CORK

SHANDON, CORK

3 Bedroomed End of Terrace.

3 Bedroomed End of Terrace.

4 Bedroomed Semi Detached.

3 Bedroomed MidTerraced.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE ABOVE PROPERTIES PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE

www.tjodriscoll.com