Ravishing retreat provides exquisite views of the Waterford countryside
visits a commutable residence that is full of character and provides exquisite views of the Waterford countryside.
Lismore, Co Waterford
€395,000
250.8sq m (2,700sq ft)
4
2
C2
There's a remarkable area 3km from Lismorein west Waterford that I believe only the locals — and blow-ins like myself — really know about. Leaving the gentrified, heritage town and driving, biking, walking, birding or nipping over the back roads to Camphire, the road takes a gentle rise, guided through folds of soft drumlin hills.
Parking up for a lean on the car roof reveals a verdant, Italianate “piano” view sweeping all the way out to the base of theKnockmealdowns.
Árd Álainn, Kilnacarriga, stands on 3.7 acres, poised at a tranquil sweet-spot on this epic sweep of Déise countryside.
A familiar dormer form in an irregular T, the house sit sympathetically in its surroundings and is presented in immaculate order by Cormac Curran for Sherry Fitzgerald Reynolds in Dungarvan. The land is laid out in well-drained paddocks and understated, split-level falls of surrounding lawn and borders with a tarmac driveway and parking area in good condition.
There’s clearly room enough for two or three horses and the introduction of stabling if you fancy gentle happy hacking or charging around twice a week with the Dungarvan Farmers Foxhounds or the lively West Waterford Hunt.
The front facade is stone-clad, but I’m more partial to the rear of the house with its white render, stone window voussoirs and superb, nostalgic detailing.
A matching double garage has untold possibilities. Entering through a bright hall with glossy, grey, rectified tile, a white painted ceiling and feature timber staircase, the elegant kitchen/ dining- room is to the right taking up robust 4.7m x 8.7m wing.
Drenched in light from three sides, it’s up to every entertaining demand, with French doors to throw open the dining space in the warmer months.
The kitchen delivers a top-flight bone-white classic country style with a free-standing style (it is fitted, but delightfully footed in parts). The units carry granite countertops to the wall runs anda thick toffee colour timber tothe detailed cabinetry of the large, plumbed centre island.
Best of all worlds, the house has modern integrated appliances including a Belling oven, but there’s also a luscious cream six-oven oil-fired Aga with a four-cradle gas burner which is ideal for winter stews and additional hot water.
Turning left in the hall, is a grown-up, large but cosy living-room in a calming sage green, with a fireplace and stove poised over magnificent views out over the gardens to the mountains.
Energy-efficient French doors allow direct access to a large timber deck with no interrupting balustrade to muck up the prospects. Reached by a short-shaped hall, there’s a teasing bonus — a vast, discreetly sited downstairs bedroom.
At 4m x 6m, it’s autonomous enough to form an annexe with its own en-suite for overnight visitors or extended stays.
The en suite can also be entered from the hall, so performs useful double duty. With a dual aspect, timbered ceiling and ornate tilt-and turn-windows, it could clearly serve as an alternate master bedroom.
Completing the downstairs accommodation, a generous, fully fitted and well-planned utility room includes its own entrance and neighbouring walk-in hot-press keeping the rough n’ ready of laundry and muddy dogs tucked out of sight.
Upstairs, accommodation doesn’t disappoint, with two attractive doubles with dual aspects, and one single bedroom plus a long office space to the front.
The smallest bedroom gives access to the larger current office, so it might suit to reassign their roles depending on the familial comings and goings.
The master is served by the excellent, large family bathroom on the landing. It does include a good-sized walk-in wardrobe lit by a Velux window, which simply makes more sense.
Built-in 2005, the house achieves a laudable, comfortable C2 BER which could be easily improved with some easy SEAI grant-aided nudges. The property offers you your own well and a bio-cycle septic tank, making it an earth-friendly, independent house.
With a Phone Watch alarm, CCTV and an unparalleled balcony view, what more do you want — an opera festival, fine dining, a secondary school, and a Sunday market?
Executive-level detail to a country home to love.
