Contemporary 3-bedroom home with coastal views
This architect-designed, open plan, contemporary home has views to the sea and Bannow Island. It is set in a heritage wildlife sanctuary on 0.78 acres with two beaches, Bannow Island and Bannow Bay, within a few minutes' walk.
The house (approx. 258 sq m) has an entrance dining hall (rare in the Irish market) which opens onto the large, vaulted living room/kitchen. There are three double bedrooms, a children's den or office and four bathrooms.
A large south facing deck is perfect for outside dining and entertaining. In addition, a covered west facing deck and a granite terrace provide an afternoon and evening sun trap with sea views to Bannow Island and Sliabh na Coillte beyond. The sunsets are incredibly beautiful here - a spectacular feature from almost every room of the house and so rare for an east coast location.
Through the farm gate, a natural sea pebble drive leads to a granite, stepped entrance terrace with olive trees and lavender - a perfect breakfast spot. To the front of the home, fine Iroko teak double doors are flanked by large glazing through which you can see the dining hall and stunning views beyond.
The generous dining hall has floor to ceiling glazing and sliding doors to the sunny west terrace, a perfect entertaining space with wonderful views. The stove, a design classic by Danish designer Bent Falk, is a major feature of this bright hall. Glass doors "hug" the stove's round sides and when open has the effect of an open fire but with superb heating efficiency. The heat from this stove can be felt throughout the house.
The vaulted living room has wonderful sea and countryside views from its large glazing on three sides. There are doors to the south deck and sliding doors to the covered west deck and terrace. This is another great entertaining room or just cosy up in front of the log fire and watch a movie - the big white chimney breast doubles as a cinema screen.
The kitchen with its almost 3m long quartz island works superbly. A large, fitted wall mirror captures the estuary and fields beyond, fields which provide barley for Waterford Distillery's Bannow Island Single Malt Whiskey! The low-level kitchen cabinetry which blends discreetly with the living space is by Peter Bernard Kitchens and integrated appliances are from Siemens.
The bedrooms located in the private side of the house are bright, spacious, comfortable spaces. The triple aspect master bedroom with dressing area has lovely sea views. It has a big feature window to the west and south facing French doors to the back terrace - perfect for your morning coffee. The current owners never tire of waking up to the sea views from bed and the sound of the waves when the seas are wild.
Bathrooms again are finished with natural stone, porcelain and glass tiling. A candle lit relaxing bath in the stunning Luna freestanding bath crafted from pure Danish limestone composite is the ultimate luxury. This stone bath has a wonderful ultra-smooth matt finish which holds heat for that long soak. Or on most days the overhead shower will offer a good morning refreshing wake up. Italian Catalano sanitary ware and Axor Starck taps by designer Philippe Starck add to the luxurious finishes.
Seabird House is a lovely family home, accessible weekend retreat or a sanctuary from the busy world outside.
The garden is a haven of peace and tranquillity in which to lounge on the decks or take the binoculars to bird watch. Below the western boundary hedgerow, at the bottom of the garden, lies an expansive estuary with its reed bed and wild yellow irises and a stream that runs down to the sea.
The natural lawned garden is bordered by heady coconut-scented bright yellow gorse and is loved by bees and tiny finches that flit from flower to flower. The only maintenance required is to cut the grass during the growing season, although some years the owners allow it to grow into the most beautiful indigenous wildflower meadow where birds, butterflies and bees thrive. There is also a small herb garden just next to the kitchen where you can pick parsley, sage, thyme or lemon balm for tea.
Little white egrets and Brent Geese have come to make the estuary their home. Sand pipers and oyster catchers are plentiful as are the many garden song birds. There are lots of finches, tits and sparrows who visit the garden and even a pair of love doves. Some evenings you can catch the starling murmurations that pattern the sky.
The Beach Hut log cabin studio (5x3m) to the side of the house has lovely views to the sea and Bannow Island; it is painted in Traffic Grey. It has a raised deck with timber railing and outdoor lighting and could make a fine detached office space, an art studio or an independent teenage retreat.
BER Details - BER B2 - BER No.115379265