Crafty cottage design

SITUATED just a stone's throw from the 14th Century St Doolagh's, Europe's oldest functioning church and healing well, this charming cottage is located on the main Malahide Road between Balgriffin and Kinsealy.

Adjacent to the M50 and close to the airport, this detached residence on one third of an acre, dates from 1876. Originally much smaller, the vendors cleverly extended the home to provide four bedrooms, the master en suite, and comfortable reception space on the ground floor.

"The Cottage" is accessed via electric, hand made, wrought iron gates and extensive cobble-lock paving provides parking for several cars. Features inside are solid pine wide plank flooring almost throughout, the entrance hall has French doors that open to the front garden and double doors lead to the adjoining living room kitchen. Bright and spacious, the living room has a hand-cut, black, limestone chimney breast inset with a raised open fireplace.

The kitchen dining room has an excellent array of pine units and a large breakfast island unit with a granite worktop, ideal for casual family dining. The separate dining area features an antique stained-glass window.

The fully tiled family bathroom is on the ground floor and features a roll-top bath while the adjoining utility room has an electric shower unit. Overhead two of the four bedrooms are double.

Outside the gardens are landscaped and require little maintenance. Two hundred-year-old oak trees blend well with the rural setting, a short distance from the capital. In addition, there is a detached double garage with a loft that is fully insulated and would be ideal for a studio, office or granny flat.

The vendors, who are relocating elsewhere on the Northside, used local stone mason craftsmen for all their renovation and extension work and the quality shows throughout. The home is also fully alarmed and monitored by CCTV.

Jenny Kelly of Sherry FitzGerald Sutton (01-839 4022) will arrange viewing for the October 7 auction. The guide is ?1.1m.