Three degrees of saturation in a custom-built bolthole

CO WEXFORD €550,000:THIS THREE-PRONGED house was designed to make sure occupants are in the right place at the right time to catch the sun all day. Bedrooms get the rays in the morning, a patio basks beneath it in the afternoon and the living quarters absorb any evening glow. From the picture window in the lounge you can watch the sun set over Slieve Buí.

The house was designed by architect Lindsay Johnston in 1991 and is filled with bespoke pieces by Irish craftspeople, all of which reflect the fact that one of the home’s owners has long been involved in the world of architecture and design and had the heart to do this properly.

Ballintim Lodge in Camolin, Co Wexford, which is scheduled for auction on October 18th through Sherry FitzGerald and Christie’s with a guide of €550,000, sits on 14 acres, much of which was landscaped by Ralph Wickham to include paths, bluebell woods and a secret picnic spot. There are also paddocks, and a stream that runs close to the house is teeming with fingerling trout.

It is the land that the couple who live here fell for, as there was no house. They had originally been looking for a site on the coast but when they saw this they “fell in love with it”.

And even though the architect had just moved to Australia they were not deterred from using him. He had designed two houses for them in the past, and they had also worked with the contractor, Jack Curran, before. The design was sent online and the architect saw the house for the first time when it was finished.

The house comprises three protruding sections, all exposed to lots of light. It consists of a bedroom and second-kitchen section (with double bedroom, main bedroom and bathroom upstairs), living section (including kitchen and reception) and guest block (with double bedroom, shower, main bedroom, bathroom and games room). They are all linked by a central conservatory and upper walkway.

The work in the house carried out by Irish designers includes entrance doors by O’Driscoll Furniture, Wicklow granite kitchen worktops by Clive Nunn of Kilkenny, a hearth by ceramicist Laura O’Hagan and bespoke oak doors in the conservatory by local joiners.

The recession has meant the house is being sold earlier than the owners had hoped and they will miss the sun, saying: “As the architect said, ‘If you get it wrong, the house is not occupiable’.” And the owners made sure this one succeeded.

Ballintim Lodge, Camolin, Co Wexford

Description: Modern, detached custom-built house on 14 acres

Agent: Sherry FitzGerald