Country feel in Kildare home

Looks can be deceptive when it comes to modern houses. A substantial detached house at Newbridge, Co Kildare, has a fairly plain exterior - but a wonderful modern interior. It is to be auctioned by local agent John J Delaney & Son on November 12th with a guide price of £280,000.

Great Connell, the 2,300 sq ft architect-designed house, stands on a third of an acre of mature gardens, surrounded by a beech hedge and a stand of birch and conifers. The house was built 15 years ago on a quiet residential road on the Naas side of Newbridge. The present owners, who have lived here for that time, are moving to a property with more land further out of town.

As Newbridge is now part of Dublin's commuter belt, interest may come from buyers attracted by the opportunity of acquiring an out-of-the ordinary house for the price of a run-of-the-mill four-bedroom detached home in the city. Although it is a modern brick-fronted house, evergreen climbing plants covering the walls have had a softening effect. Inside, rich colour schemes, simple furnishings and a wealth of timber detail create a country house feel.

The yellow-painted sittingroom has a large bay window, the floor is Canadian maple and a black Waterford solid fuel stove sits on the cream-tiled hearth. French doors lead out from here to the garden. The family livingroom has an oil-fired stove and sliding doors to a paved terrace outside. There is also a Scandinavian-style TV/activity room with a solid fuel stove and a skylit lofted area decked in polished wood. This is currently used as a teenager's den with high-fi, amplifiers and a platform bed on the gallery.

The kitchen/diningroom is separated by a partial wall and has a deep serving hatch. Here, there is an oil-fired Raeburn, a good range of cream units and newly-fashionable Marmoleum on both floors.

Glass cupboards and open shelving give this room a cosy look. Extra light comes from a large skylight which is above the dining area.

All of the four bedrooms are doubles. The main bedroom has a fitted wardrobe and a dressing area and an en suite shower room. Two of the three remaining bedrooms have fitted wardrobes, and one of them has a bay window. There is a family bathroom at this level.

A utility room has fitted presses and a worktop, and is plumbed for a washing machine and dryer.

THE gardens are on all sides of the house, with the larger expanses on both sides. Tall hedges give privacy. There are lawns, a gravelled area, a belt of well-grown trees and herbaceous borders and a small storage shed.