City to Country: New and improved Dublin 8 red brick or stunning scenery in €425k Kerry home 

There's not a lot by way of renovations that could have been done to this two-bed mid terrace house at 9 Malpas Place in Dublin 8 that hasn’t been done.

Although it has kept its Victorian brick-faced exterior, it now has a thoroughly modern interior and a newly improved B1 energy rating which seems exceptionally good for an 1890s-built house.

Kate Mullery of Mullery O’Gara says the energy rating and the fact that nothing needs to be done makes it particularly attractive.

“It had been on the market less than a week when we got an offer of €500,000,” she reveals, noting that the guide is €450,000.

The recently carried out renovations were thorough.

“The owners gutted the property and put in new everything, including floors, doors, electrics, plumbing, double glazing, bathroom fittings, and kitchen units,” says Ms Mullery.

Offering 89 sq m of living space, it has a smart modern living room with a wall mounted electric fire, recess lighting, and alcove shelving as well as a kitchen/ diner with white gloss units and double doors opening onto a patio.

To the rear there’s also a small utility and upstairs there are two en suite bedrooms.

“Located on a quiet residential cul de sac off Clanbrassil Street with nearby amenities, it is within a 15 minute walk from St Stephen’s Green,” says Ms Mullery.

The Property Price Register shows it selling before renovations in 2020 for €235,000.

VERDICT: It looks like a new house on the inside.

A city-buyer in search of a coastal lifestyle might appreciate the wild Atlantic views and the spacious and well thought-out accommodation on offer at this four-bed contemporary bungalow at Ballyvislane near Liscannor in West Clare.

“It’s 3.5km from the coast at Liscannor and has panoramic views of the countryside, Liscannor Bay and Lahinch,” says Cormac O’Sullivan of DNG O’Sullivan Hurley quoting a guide of €495,000.

A modern home with approximately half an acre of garden and 227 sq m of accommodation, it was built in 2005 and has a C1 BER rating.

Designed with family living in mind, the property has an extra spacious L-shaped open-plan kitchen /dining/ living room with stained pine flooring, large front with coastal views, and a vaulted ceiling with Velux windows.

The kitchen has contemporary white units and an island unit and the living space has an insert stove.

Other accommodation includes a utility room, a bathroom, and four carpeted bedrooms including two with walk-in wardrobes and en suites.

Upstairs in the converted attic there’s a long carpeted room with Velux windows which is where the children of the family play, study, and watch TV.

There is also a lot of playing space in the lawned gardens and the Liscannor stone patio at the rear.

Located 4km from the Cliffs of Moher, the house is within a 10-minute drive from Lahinch.

VERDICT: A scenic, modern, coastal home.

This significantly extended four-bed cottage and half acre of gardens at Ballyvoreen near Woodstown is going to provide a Waterford city family with all the trading up space they need.

So says Conor Purcell of Purcell Properties quoting a guide of €480,000 for the 218 sq m property which is located just 8km from the city centre.

“It’s in an attractive rural setting but is within easy reach city amenities and of Woodstown Beach and Dunmore East,” he adds.

The 100-year-old cottage was extended and modernised before the current owners bought it 20 years ago.

Now a comfortable and well cared-for family home, it has oil-fired heating and double glazing but the BER is an E1 and will require upgrading.

At ground level, there’s a timber floored living room, a tiled kitchen diner, a sun room, a home office/bedroom and a WC.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, including one en suite, and a bathroom.

Close to the cottage there’s a large stone outbuilding which is used for storage at ground level, while the upstairs has a 12m long games room which is used for table tennis and pool. Mr Purcell says there is potential for a new owner to convert the outbuilding into a home office or additional accommodation.

Located 4km from Woodstown Beach, the property is a little under 10km from Dunmore East.

VERDICT: Space and beach proximity are key attractions.

The setting, the scenery and the seclusion of this almost hexagonal-shaped property at Reeneragh on Hog’s Head Peninsula is set to attract buyers from far and wide.

Located on a small cul de sac coastal road 7km from Waterville, it has wide-open views of the ocean and Scariff and Dinish islands and Derrynane Bay.

Stone-faced and originally hexagonal shaped, it’s one of several cottages built in the 1980s at Hogg’s Head by former US airforce pilot John Brosnan.

It’s currently owned by a French/ UK couple who bought it 13 years ago and added a second bedroom, which altered the building’s shape.

The €425,000 asking price includes four acres of wild rocky countryside.

The décor is quirky, interesting, and timber beamed. Accommodation includes a snug with a stone fireplace which connects to a dining area with a large triple glazed picture window offering sea views, and there’s also a kitchenette with timber units and a red Aga.

The property’s two en suite bedrooms include one added by the current owners which has a tiled shower room as well as a separate bath.

“You can sit in the bath and look out on the ocean,’’ says auctioneer Pauline Sugure, revealing that the property is, quite understandably, attracting a lot of overseas interest.

The cottage shares a well with a neighbour, has electric storage heaters and is being sold with contents.

VERDICT: As remote, scenic and quirky a holiday home as you could find.