Motherland design in Co Wicklow

In the 1940s Russian designer Bayan Giltsoff created a slice of his motherland in Kilquade, Co Wicklow. The Old Russian Village, an enclave of about 20 houses, whose features were inspired by the dachas of the architect’s country of birth, had exposed beams, lead-paned windows, and cedar shingle roofs.

Glanaphouca is a five-bedroom detached house that dates from 1948. Sixty-five years later it retains its distinctive eyebrow window but the house was extended twice during the noughties, first in 2004 and again in 2007.

The property now measures about 340sq m (3,657sq ft) and is for sale at €985,000 through agents Sherry FitzGerald.

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Entrance is now via a fan-shaped porch that opens into a hall. It no longer has a shingle roof but retains some of its original Arts and Crafts feel with exposed timber beams and a hewn granite fireplace making a rustic style statement in the main sitting room.

Juliet balcony
Veer left into the large kitchen where the stained-beam look has been replicated: it has cherry coloured units and a limestone floor. The windows over the sink face south and the room is further illuminated by two rooflights concealed above beams in a pitched area.

A half wall divides it from the living room,which has a solid fuel stove and French doors onto a west-facing deck.

Off this sittingroom is a sizeable larder and utility with underfloor heating, useful for drying clothes out of sight. Steps lead down to a games room, where a staircase reveals a bedroom with rooflights and a Juliet balcony. This area could easily become a self-contained flat, or would suit an au pair as it is, giving all residents plenty of living space.

Upstairs the main bedroom has rooflights and floor-to-ceiling gable window with terrific country views.

It has an adjoining dressing room that is as big again with walls of storage and two walk-in closets. Adjacent is a fine sized bathroom.

There are three more bedrooms in this part of the house; two doubles and a single. The eyebrow window remains a strong feature of the landing.

The house sits on 1.43 acres of land that includes rockeries and lawns, as well as a tennis court. A secret patio set along a raised bordert has a southerly aspect and great views that take in the tennis court.