Talking point properties that merit a revisit with great décor, epic architecture and or cracking views, these are our favourite homes from Home and Style
Since Home and Style launched, there have been many homes that have been brought to market that stand out.
Homeowners at every level of the market opened their doors to show off incredible design and flair for the spaces they live in.
While many are now sale agreed, some are still available for sale.
Contemporary cool
There were several cool contemporary homes, but 54 Ramleh Park in Milltown, designed by ODKM Architects, featured the kind of glass box extension that many of us can only dream of. It was beautifully executed.
Another Dublin 6 house with real wow factor on Palmerston Villas was square and brutalist on the outside, soft and round on the inside. It came to the market with two garages, one for your supercars, the other in the kitchen for your countertop appliances.
And a short walk from the beach in a secret seaside spot in Co Wexford was a pavilion-style property that was a beacon to modernism.
Farm fresh thinking
Many farmhouses charmed their way into being featured, but a newbuild that fitted into the surrounding landscape in Co Limerick was the one that garnered the most attention. Within easy reach of Adare, it belongs to interior architect Erin Ryan of Stillwater Design, her husband Alan, who trained as an architect, and their two children.
Seaview selling points
Sometimes the ever-changing seascapes can provide all the decoration a home needs. Drink in the views from this seaside house, in Blackrock, Co. Louth, big enough to share with all your extended family.
In Brittas Bay, a home in Cornagower had movie star good looks in a location used by the Irish film industry. With beach dunes that are a playground of the elite, it’s a place that feels like summer all year round. It was a chance to live just 100 metres from Ireland’s favourite beach.
Tiny home fronts
The charm of some homes is in their big reveal. Often, the exterior gives little clue to what is behind the front door. With about 10 feet of frontage and almost invisible from the road, architect Mark Monaghan’s own home in Bray was a complete surprise.
In Cork city, a tiny corner of Properity Square proved to be a portal to a smart mix of contemporary with original features. At 2.5 metres or just over eight feet wide, just room for a door and a very narrow window, this was a beguiling address.
School dazed
There were many lessons to learn from the multiple schoolhouses that came to market since September. Two in Dublin’s commuter belt counties stood out.
An enchanting setting in Manor Kilbride, Co Wicklow offered with two class act homes for the price of one. Outside Kilcock, Co Kildare, was a masterclass in how to marry period charm with simple modern touches.
Living over the shop or in a former restaurant
In Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, two apartments over the shop came to market, one in turn-key condition, the other in need of work and offered a window into how these spaces can be transformed, if budgets allow.
A married couple, both interior designers, saw the potential to turn a historic general merchant's in Athleague, Co Roscommon, into fine-size family home with scope for studio space out back.
And a tech worker spotted the potential in a former Italian restaurant just off Dublin’s Pearse Street, Dublin 2, taking advantage of the upstairs space to create an upside-down layout.
Compelling castles
There were several storied properties or partial properties that had atmosphere aplenty. One is in Ashford, Co Wicklow, has a battlement for a roof terrace and a very fine back story in a town considered the HQ of the nation’s film industry.
In the orchard county of Armagh, the self-contained wing of a castle came with bragging rights. Bastian Gate at Gosford Castle, in Markethill, featured in Game of Thrones.
Under the thatch
A thatched cottage is considered emblematic of old Ireland. It appears on postcards and in much of the visual storytelling relating to rural Ireland. Few expected to see such a property in the heart of Dublin 5, and so this historic house garnered a lot of attention.
While a property was published at launch told the story of a family and a homestead they had owned for some 200 years, and had to make the difficult decision to sell. With an AMV of just €35,000, it attracted a lot of attention and sold for almost 60 per cent over its AMV.
People taking a chance
The real beauty of peering behind the doors and windows of properties for sale is seeing the ambition and vision homeowners had for their properties.
The owner of this lake house in Co Cavan saw its potential and created a beautiful space. Lisa Carolan spills the beans on her reno journey.
