This stone farmhouse and cottage property at Woodview House in Cork has been expertly redesigned, carefully restored and lovingly refurbished to create a bright, calming and cosy home. The main house dates back to 1902 and has been a labour of love for this well-known Irish creative couple for over two decades. The result is a tasteful blend of old and new, that celebrates Irish rural tradition and showcases contemporary architecture and design. The gardens at Woodview are an important part of the overall design of the property and cleverly serve as a way to connect the individual spaces. The gardens were designed to create little pockets of space for cooking, for parties and for breakfast for the children, making this property feel like its own little oasis of calm on the edge of town. The properties now present as a beautiful five bedroomed detached family home of 2,867 sq. ft with an additional 1,043-guest cottage/home office, all on a landscaped site extending to C. 0.5 acres. Located on the Duntahane Road at the edge of Fermoy town close to the Glenabo Woods and the Blackwater River walk, ‘Woodview’ has been the happy home to this family for over 22 years. While enjoying family life with their children, home grown fruit and vegetables, the couple have also run their Internally renowned business from here at the same time. Now with the children beginning to spread their wings, the owners have decided to move location and take on the next chapter of their life in West Cork. One of the more appealing features is that they were intent on preserving the integrity of what was there before and blended their designs unobtrusively as possible with architectural additions. The house became a home through comforting homely touches and great Irish craft. The original building was constructed in such a way as to give dual aspect to most rooms and sometimes triple. When the current owners took over Woodview House they made a commitment to ensure any and all of the upgrades would be sympathetic to the age of the building, and they delivered on this. The attention to detail on the external elevations, roofscape, windows, woodwork, fascia and soffit give the appearance that all was there from the off. The outside of the house is finished in a blend of exposed original stone coupled with render cream in colour, with the corner returns and window reveals in red brick all in keeping with the traditional look of this Victorian farmhouse. The roof is of slate, with original chimney pots and bespoke designed hand carved oak gables. An extra wide hardwood fascia and soffit overhang with inset recess lights washing the building in light at night-time further enhancing the visual attractiveness of this home. The main house is now home to five bedrooms (3 en-suite) plus two bathrooms as well as a wealth of living and reception accommodation. The cottage at 1,043 sq. ft is the size of a decent three bed home and could, with ease, be changed from its current function as a home office to a separate residential home. The accommodation of Woodview House on entry offers a wonderful inviting light filled porch through a beautiful great Irish doorway with fanlight. Then through double doors to the reception hall, lounge, family room, guest WC, open plan kitchen and dining room, an extensive walk-in pantry room, a guest bedroom and en-suite. The original wooden staircase brings you to the first-floor accommodation past a picture window to the gardens on the turn of the stairs. To the right is the main suite, it is extensive and complete with an en-suite bathroom with a slipper bath, bedroom 2 is also en-suite and there are two further double bedrooms that share the four-piece family bathroom. A laundry room has also been incorporated at this level. A spiral staircase leads to a tiny upper level for star gazing and storytelling. The Cottage finished in a soft cream country colour has big open plan spaces as meeting rooms and offices together with bathroom and kitchen. It has its own Eircode and while it has to date been used as a home office with commercial rates, it could with ease be an additional family home. It has and independent access from the road outside and can turn its back on the main house should a separation be needed. The home overall delivers almost 4,000 sq. ft of space across the two properties, sits on a 1/2 acre site and should be viewed to be appreciated. The gardens, Designed by Town & Country Gardens have allowed the owners to incorporate their own personalities into the space. As they are both originally trained chefs they appreciate home grown produce and have incorporated many plants in the garden for food and drinks as they love to entertain. The list is wide and varied many herbs and Bay trees for cooking to a beautiful fig tree (ideal for sitting beneath, enjoying its produce with cheese and wine) combined with cherry trees, olive trees, even a walnut tree. The fruits of apple, plums and pear trees take care of desert. A polytunnel provides the balance of any home cooked meal with salad, herbs and vegetables. The mature trees set within the garden come from a wide and varied range with an Acers turning from green to bright red, the laburnum dripping yellow flowers a specimen Cornus kousa, a rarely seen Mung Bean tree takes its position at the side of the house and when in full flower, is host to bursts of purple trumpets. A beautiful London plain has been grown to be an umbrella tree. The garden has been a passion for 20 years. A little rum shack and a two-story tree house with spiral stairs are all part of this magical garden including the trees that were planted for the purpose of a hammock. The location of this home on the Duntahane Road makes for an easy walk to local woodland and blackwater river or into Fermoy town which since it was bypassed in 2006 has created a wonderful community spirit. Educational facilities offer a selection of both primary and second level schools to include St. Colman’s College, Loreto Convent and Coláiste an Chraoibhan. Primary schools include Gaelscoil de h-íde, Presentation Primary School, Bishop Murphy Memorial School, St. Josephs National School and Adair National School. Fermoy has its own industries in and around the town and include chemical production (by Micro Bio), ice-cream manufacturing (by Silver Pail), and power product manufacturing (by Anderson Power). The town’s industries also include electronics manufacturing and assembly by Sanmina-SCI Corporation. Moorepark Research Institute, near Fermoy, is one of the Irish state’s agricultural and food research institutes. A host of sport and recreational clubs cater for all interests. Given Fermoy’s location the properties at Woodview offers an easy daily commute to the city centre. Also a very central location in Ireland. BER C2 Woodview House BER D2 The Cottage Viewing highly recommended to see all that this home has to offer.
Accommodation
- Entrance Porch (2.82m x 2.04m 9.25ft x 6.69ft) Constructed originally as a fully glazed room the shape and size of this space has remained unaltered over time. What has changed is that the door has been brought to its rightful place, to the front, and the room still enjoys an amount of glazing in its triple aspect. A limestone slab acts as the threshold step to this home. The front door with fanlight overhead was salvaged from a home to a well know Cork family in Montenotte, it is extra wide and sits perfectly centred amidst solid oak side timbers, carriage lights and hand carved painted oak fascia boards in keeping with its age. This entrance porch is beautifully finished with original themed tiled floor.
- Reception Hall (7.19m x 1.74m 23.59ft x 5.71ft) Double doors with glazing to the upper section lead through to the inner reception hall from the entrance porch. Tiling here is original carrying on the traditional theme. The reception hall is cosy and finished with bespoke wood panelled walls to dado height and cast-iron radiator. Finished with cornicing
- Lounge (3.95m x 3.75m 12.96ft x 12.30ft) Double doors with glazing to the upper section lead through to the inner reception hall from the entrance porch. Tiling here is original carrying on the traditional theme. The reception hall is cosy and finished with bespoke wood panelled walls to dado height and cast-iron radiator. Finished with cornicing
- Family Room (4.30m x 3.89m 14.11ft x 12.76ft) A cosy family room located off the reception hall this room is dual aspect. It sports an original feature cast iron fireplace with tiled inset and slate hearth. Windows are deep set similar to those in the lounge and enjoy the feature architrave and wood recess. Painted in neutral tones and finished with oak wood floor, cornicing and centre rose. With two doors this room works well for house parties.
- Open plan Kitchen/Dining Room (9.18m x 6.00m 30.12ft x 19.69ft) A wrap around kitchen/dining room was constructed in 2006 and given its overall size it is easy to understand why, if you were the homeowner, you would never leave this space. This room has views to every area of the garden from front to rear and side to side. A hand made oak kitchen by local craftsman Eamon Ahern sits at its centre and everything else branches off from it. The same bespoke element is brought into features around windows, with under window seats and presses either side. The kitchen is arranged with an extensive island topped with labradorite quartz while the two-tone effect seen in most country kitchens is in the complimenting cream quartz worktops in the balance of the kitchen. This two-tone softening effect is also used with some of the oak units’ hand painted while the others are left in their natural form. The island is ideal to couple up as an entertainment space for buffet service or the preparation area for cooking meals. The island comes with its own inbuilt composting bin and pop-up sockets keeping the clean lines at all times. The island is host to a selection of fitted presses as well as popped drawers. The kitchen was designed by two chefs who love to cook. The back wall is home to tall units of pull-out larder presses and encloses the American fridge freezer complete with wine rack overhead and dropping down to lower-level units around the window. The cooker with stainless steel splashback, dishwasher and sink are set within a separate “L” shape of units on the opposite wall with a full rangemaster cooker and double bowl Belfast sink, fitted with Co2 filter tap. The kitchen offers a range of display and enclosed units. Windows in this room are sash continuing the farm house feeling and the window boards were created in walnut with little inset recessed lights for maximum dining effect. The floor of this room is salvaged oak from Kilkenny and against the backdrop of the exposed stone wall of the original house sets this room off perfectly. Inset power sockets under the dining area as the couple liked to cook at the table with friends raclette and crepes with the children in the morning. A single door accesses the room from the front of the house while double French doors open out to the rear to the patio and gardens beyond. An extra-long dining table with floor sockets beneath spans across three windows and this dining area with a backdrop of the stone wall of the original house complete with red brick, could with ease, offer an extra use with some cosy chairs. Although flooded from all sides in natural light there are recessed lights as well as built in LED lights behind the cornicing to give a lovely ambience.
- Pantry (4.28m x 3.89m 14.04ft x 12.76ft) This was the original kitchen of the old farmhouse tucked away behind the family room and now connecting into the new wrap around kitchen/dining room the current owners use this space well. Boasting a host of fitted solid maple units with single drainer sink the room is too good to be described as a utility and too big to be called the pantry but it offers tremendous overflow storage when needed. Finished with floor tiles and a redbrick stand out wall takes feature position. An archway finished in oak panelling leads through to the new kitchen/dining room.
- Guest WC (1.60m x 0.85m 5.25ft x 2.79ft) Tucked away underneath the stairs the guest wc is finished with original themed floor tiles. Fitted with two-piece white suite tiled around the sink unit.
- Stairs ( ) Finished with neutral carpet run bound in black with solid brass stair rods. A window returns the half landing allowing the area above and below to be bathed in natural light.
- Landing ( ) Finished with wood floor and capturing light from the window at the half landing. Hot press with double doors and shelving.
- Laundry Room (3.87m x 1.48m 12.70ft x 4.86ft) The laundry room is arranged at first floor level with the washing room separate from the drying area. Washroom is plumbed for washing machine with sink and double shower fitted and enclosed. Tiled in neutral appealing tiles. The drying area is fitted across the hall with tumble dryer, hanging rails and pull-out ironing board.
- Main Bedroom Suite (9.01m x 5.40m 29.56ft x 17.72ft) A lovely private suite with a large painted mural wall with original stone inset forms the backdrop of this extensive “L” shaped room with dual aspect. Fitted with wall-to-wall bespoke robes mirrored to enhance the space. This room has 5 Velux windows in all. Three big bright Velux windows with built in seating beneath capture maximum light and the overall layout is open plan and adaptable depending on how the occupier would like to use this room. Recessed lights and brushed chrome sockets. The couple love tree houses and this room captures this feeling.
- En-suite (2.35m x 2.02m 7.71ft x 6.63ft) Fitted with three-piece suite to include roll top slipper bath complete with clawed feet, wc and his and her double pedestal sinks. Tiled with neutral floor tiles with stone insets and discreet recessed floor lighting. Extensive vanity mirror.
- Bathroom 2 (4.02m x 3.75m 13.19ft x 12.30ft) A fine double bedroom located to the rear of the property with two sash windows looking out onto the rear garden. Finished in neutral tones and carpeted flooring. Access to attic.
- En-suite (2.25m x 0.94m 7.38ft x 3.08ft) Fitted with three-piece white shower suite to include fully tiled walk-in shower cubicle, pedestal sink set in walnut, vanity mirror with light and recessed lighting throughout.
- Bedroom 3 (4.04m x 3.85m 13.25ft x 12.63ft) Located to the front of the property and double in size this room is dual aspect and particularly bright. It enjoys wall to wall fitted robes with overhead storage and fitted vanity sink with vanity mirror and light.
- Bedroom 4 (3.89m x 3.83m 12.76ft x 12.57ft) A lovely double bedroom with dual aspect located to the front of the property and finished with painted floorboards, cornicing and centre rose. This room is lovely and has its own pedestal sink.
- Bathroom (3.19m x 2.88m 10.47ft x 9.45ft) A fine bright family bathroom with four-piece bathroom suite. Jacuzzi bath, walk in corner entry shower, WC and pedestal sink with heated towel rail. Painted wooden panelling in white make this a neutrally inviting room. Vanity mirror and fitted vanity press.
- Bedroom 5 (3.85m x 3.75m 12.63ft x 12.30ft) Located at ground floor level off the reception hall this is a fine double en-suite bedroom. Set with a backdrop of the old stone wall of the house this bedroom is finished in neutral tones with wood flooring, cornicing and recessed lights. The room is flooded in natural light via the double opening doors to the rear patio.
- En-suite (2.25m x 1.92m 7.38ft x 6.30ft) Located at ground floor level off the reception hall this is a fine double en-suite bedroom. Set with a backdrop of the old stone wall of the house this bedroom is finished in neutral tones with wood flooring, cornicing and recessed lights. The room is flooded in natural light via the double opening doors to the rear patio.
- Reading Area ( ) Located off the landing at first floor level a spiral staircase lands at this chill out space. Complete with Velux window, it’s an ideal space to lie and watch the stars.
- Cottage ( ) The cottage is an independent property to the house itself and can be accessed directly from the Duntahane Road or alternatively through the electric gate from the inner courtyard to the house. With working from home, this property could take on a whole new meaning. This property has a separate Eircode. While it has residential status up to recently the property has been used as a commercial property and attracts rates at a level of 1,500 pre anum. It is full of the charm and character expected from what was once a diary parlour. The overall space was enhanced with the addition of two 40-foot containers attached to the gable and hidden from view with the use of planted shrubbery and landscaping. This property could easily take its position as an independent house should a discerning purchaser wish.
- Office (4.72m x 2.15m 15.49ft x 7.05ft) This room looks into the internal courtyard of the house while also accessed directly from the road outside. Designed and finished with tiled flooring and wallpaper to soften, the office has plenty of wiring and sockets to support working life. A floor to ceiling wall to wall fireplace takes up position on the back wall. Deep set windows
- Boardroom (6.81m x 3.73m 22.34ft x 12.24ft) Wall murals with a seascape backdrop make this an enticing room to sit in. Borrowing the natural light from roof insets this room could easily accommodate a different function to that which it currently occupies. Extensive in size and finished with carpet and inset recessed lights in the skirting.
- Kitchen/Dining Room (6.18m x 3.25m 20.28ft x 10.66ft) Fitted with fire red kitchen units and plumbed with single drainer sink unit. Independent access from the inner courtyard of the main house.
- Bathroom (1.90m x 1.09m 6.23ft x 3.58ft) Fitted with two-piece white bathroom suite and tastefully tiled
- Store Room ( ) The first of the two 40ft containers has been divided and fitted out with PVC window and is home to an office with desks and plenty of storage for files. Beyond that is additional storage.
- Store Room ( ) The second 40ft container offers extensive storage.
Features
Two properties in one C. 4,000 sq. ft. on landscaped C. 1/2 acre site C2/D2 Energy Rating Easy commute to Cork city Host of facilities minutes away in Fermoy town Gas heating The Gardens The attention to detail in the garden to ensure that it is vibrant and alive with colour at all times of the year is rewarding. The scents carry from one area to the next and blend well combining bursts of flowering trees and plants between fruit trees and edible plants. A trained wisteria forms an arch to the side of the front door giving access to the side garden and joins with an orange blossom to enhance the senses. Stepping stones laid within the extensive lawned gardens meander between Japanese Maple trees, Laburnum dripping with yellow flowers and Australian Cornice Kauns. A walnut tree alongside flowering crab apple joins a weeping willow all set against a flaming red Camelia brought to this home when it was 20 years old. The lawned gardens wrap the house to the side and the rear and an extensive patio links all rooms to the rear together. The patio has the enjoyment of outside sockets and there is hot and cold running water outside. The overhang of the soffit with recessed lights gives a wonderful night-time setting. This area is bright and private and enjoys maximum shelter by the bank of Beech, Irish yew, Sally, Maple, London plane, Pink cherry Blossoms, Acers, Red Robins and Specimen Spruces. At the edge of the patio are two flowering pear trees set at a perfect distanced where a hammock is hug during the summer months. Chelsea has provided many of the flowering elements with climbing rose Arboretum, David Austin Roses, Hydrangeas, Azalais and Lilly of the Valley. Borders are kept low with Anemone and honeysuckle while Clematis are relied upon for height and scale. The polytunnel is hidden towards the back of the garden and provides for the vegetables, salads and herbs. Gravel paths encased by sleepers mark the transition from one part of the garden to the next with the maturity and scale of some of the landscaping. Here, a children’s play house up in the trees was created above the trunks for two conifers. Accessed by a spiral staircase and built with one side for the boys and the other for the girls the owners ran in power to give a wonderful childrens’ oasis. The choice of a slide or a zip line (no longer in use) made for an easy decent. Complimenting this on the other side of the garden is the adult area which takes the shape and form of ‘The Rum Shack’. This bespoke shack offers a time out space for the older generation. Luckily this garden has its own bottle bush tree planted just outside. The front of the house has a tarred driveway surrounded by mature planting offering plenty of parking space for multiple of cars. It is accessed via electronic gates from the road outside.
BER Details
BER: C2 BER No. 114874878
Negotiator
