ENNISKERRY: €2.65M:FORGE LODGE, built two years ago on a hilltop in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, was designed to take full advantage of what is a great location. Most rooms have lovely views of the Irish Sea, rambling hillside fields and the botanical array of tall trees in between.
But take a break on a trio of first floor balconies, or by the wide curve of windows in the open-plan dining/kitchen area, and you get truly spectacular views of the same vistas. A lantern ceiling in the latter area gives sightings of treetops and sky, and floors of polished stone and oak throughout give a light feel to what, at 483sq m (5,200sq ft), is a large house.
Forge Lodge has a homely feel for its size too. Just a couple of hundred yards from Enniskerry village, it is one of three houses built on a two-and-a-half acre site by developer Gerry Smyth. It is also the house he and his family choose to live in until recently and the only one of the three for sale. The architect was Robert Breslin of Eugene Doyle Associates.
On about one-third of an acre, Forge Lodge has five en suite bedrooms, three reception rooms, open-plan kitchen/dining/sun-room area and an en suite, open-plan attic floor with balcony Velux. Landscaped front and rear, it has paved terraces as well as an enclosed, hillside garden. The asking price is €2.65 million and Savills is the agent.
The scale of Forge Lodge is apparent in the hallway from where a wide, wrought iron and oak staircase sweeps to a gallery landing. The polished stone floor continues into the kitchen/dining/sunroom where the cream, stone and black colours of the décor make the most of the light.
The dining area fits into the wide, curving window. The sunroom has a marble fireplace and double doors to a rear, inner patio with hillside and church spire views. Fittings in the kitchen are black and integrated, a dividing island with worktops and sink has a raised breakfast bar in glass. On this ground floor there is a study, family room and sunken sittingroom with 12ft ceilings and large, arched windows. The bedrooms are off the landing. Three have balconies. The open-plan second floor was used as a games room. Renewable energy supplies underfloor heating on the ground floor.
Forge Lodge, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow
Spectacular views from high-spec, spacious house
Agent: Savills
Broadwater House, Greenhills Road, Wicklow town, Co Wicklow
Four bed house with sea views
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald O’Gorman
A NEW HOUSE in Wicklow town has views out to sea and along the coast from the upstairs main bedroom, the downstairs dining area and the back garden.
The four-bed Broadwater House, for sale at €795,000 with Sherry FitzGerald O’Gorman, is close both to Wicklow town, with all of its facilities, and Brittas Bay.
On the ground floor there is a double-height entrance hall leading to a timber floored living room with an open fireplace. There is also a office to the front of the house.
A drawingroom to the rear also has a timber floor and fireplace, with an inset cast-iron stove.Double doors from here lead to the patio and barbecue area.
The kitchen is fitted with hand-painted cream units and has a large island with a seating area and with a sink in it – the dining area here has garden and sea views. There is also a utility room.
Upstairs the main bedroom has floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony with coastal views (Wales can be seen on a very clear day). This room has a dressingroom and en suite with a bath, shower, basins and integrated flat-screen television. The three other bedrooms also have en suites and fitted wardrobes.
The rear garden is landscaped and there is a shed beside the house.
