How developer's child-friendly touches made new build house a home in Rathfarnham
Asking price: €1.95m
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 4951111
Buying a new home in a big scheme can sometimes be laden with just as many issues as acquiring a second-hand property, with the hidden pitfalls they can harbour.
The problems are different. There's snag lists that accompany mass produced finishing on site. And when you do have a problem, you can find yourself competing with dozens of other new purchasers also seeking attention from the builder.
While most big scheme developers offer some flexibility on layouts and fittings; the options are, by nature, minor. It goes with the territory.
So Dubliner Elaine O'Reilly was surprised to discover the flexibility that came with buying her dream home in a small, albeit upmarket scheme in Dublin's Rathfarnham, from one of Ireland's newer 'boutique' developers.
In fact, her developers actually suggested practical alterations inside which she herself had not thought of, particularly with safety for her two young children in mind.
Heatherbrook Homes was set up in 2012 by the husband and wife team of interior designer Leona Melia and civil engineer/construction project manager Eddie O'Connor, whose motto is 'Homes Not Units'.
'With two young children, I had been looking for a house in the Rathfarnham area and my brother-in-law told me about a private development on Whitechurch Road, in the grounds of a period house and former mill with mature trees and the River Glin running through it,' says O'Reilly. Because it was a gated scheme, it would perfectly safe for the children too.
'I went up to have a look and thought, 'This could actually be in the middle of the countryside'. The site is bordered by the Grange and Edmondstown Golf Clubs and Marlay Park, and patches of woodlands run up to the peak of Three Rock.
'I viewed the show house and there were six identical homes together in a cul-de-sac at the gated scheme. I thought, 'This is it, I am home!''
When the developers bought the site in 2014, it was enclosed by a high stone wall with grounds full of mature trees. Whitechurch House dated from the 1820s. In all, they developed 11 four to five bed homes on the site, which included two created by restoring the big old house and splitting it in two.
OCOR Architects were called in to design the detached new homes with a svelte, modern mid-century style. Unexpected benefits came with fitting out No1 Glinbury, says O'Reilly, a professor of chemistry based at UCD.
'Leona came around and said, 'We'll be needing to round off those sharp work surface edges.' I hadn't even thought of it – that the kids could be running into these kitchen edges at eye level.'
The developer was also happy to oblige in supplying the extra storage space an active family would need. 'They personalised all the cupboards and provided roller drawers.'
The developer also removed the lower kitchen unit glass panels that came with the show house, and replaced them with more child safe and smudge friendly timber. 'There isn't anything in this house that doesn't get chocolate spread smeared on it,' says Elaine.
'The back gardens came rising in an incline up with steep steps, which looked amazing but wasn't ideal for children. And a shed came with it which was located at the back of the garden. When I asked could they make it safer and level, and move the shed to the side to make more outdoor playing space, they were happy to oblige.'
Meantime, for mum only, they installed a special wine fridge.
This flexible approach was of benefit in the family room, where bespoke wall shelving was altered to allow for the installation of a recessed flat screen tv.
'The fact that it is a gated scheme closed off from passing traffic means that in the evening I can sit up at my bedroom and relax at the window, watching them play safely below.'
Her son Harry (8) and Molly (6) especially love the space in the open-plan kitchen/family room.
'This really is my dream house but latterly I'm finding it hard with traffic, so now I'm sad to be selling to be closer to my parents and my place of work, and cut down on travel time.'
Number 1 is the first house in Glinbury to come to market since the scheme sold in 2019. The house comes with a high A2 BER, as well as 10-foot high ceilings at ground level.
There's a Samsung air-to-water heat pump heating system, underfloor heating on both floors and smart technology infrastructure, designed to support Lutron RA2 and HomeWorks smart systems, including automated lighting, blinds and curtains. There's solid hardwood flooring throughout the ground floor.
The accommodation includes an entrance hall with crafted staircase and a downstairs WC. The living room has a granite and limestone fireplace containing a Stovax wood burning stove. There's another self-contained study on this level.
Double pocket doors lead into the open-plan kitchen, dining and family room.
The kitchen has handcrafted, solid wood shaker-style cabinetry in Charlestown Grey with nickel handles, complemented by Silestone 'Calacatta Gold' quartz countertops and full splashbacks.
There are twin Neff ovens, a combi-microwave and five-ring induction hob with integrated extractor within a panelled oven mantle. A utility/bootroom is in off the side entrance.
Upstairs, the master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite with a freestanding bath, bespoke double vanity, large walk-in shower and a WC. Three of the five bedrooms come with en suites, and there's also a family bathroom.
With the O'Reilly family safely on the move, Sherry FitzGerald seeks €1.95m.
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