Marrying old and new at Kilbride

Kilbride: €1.3mA restored and extended cottage in Kilbride, Co Wicklow, is for sale by private treaty through McDonnell Properties, with an asking price of €1.3 million.

Situated about a mile and a half off the N11, after the Beehive pub, the four-bedroom house has generous living space of around 200sq m (2,152sq ft) and sits in an acre of grounds.

The original cottage was built in the 1940s and its high ceilings formed the basis for the design of the recent conversion, keeping the solid feeling but adding an enormous kitchen space, several good en suite bedrooms and a fine family bathroom.

All on one level, the conversion has added interesting quirks and turns to the layout.

The hall door leads into the original part, with a charming sittingroom and bedroom/study on either side of a half-panelled hall.

The house is decorated in attractive neutral shades of lichen green, ivory and honey, and combines travertine tiling, polished wood and neutral carpets with pretty printed linen curtains and checked blinds.

The sittingroom has a hipped ceiling with recessed lighting and a simple white marble fireplace at one end. A door leads into the well equipped kitchen with its double Aga, large central island unit and wooden floored dining area with French doors to the garden.

A door beside the Aga leads into a hall with the family bathroom, utility room, and big bedroom opening off it.

The bedroom is one of two very large ones, each with a different character. This one is cool and contemporary with two sets of French doors into the garden and a large en suite, while the second, opening off the dining area, is more cottagey and cosy.

A third bedroom is a good double, again en suite, while the fourth could easily be used as a second sitting room or study.

Outside, much of the garden lies near the electrical timber entrance gates, while a gravelled path leads to a garage. On the other side a terrace looks over rolling countryside.