PROPERTY WATCH: 'Jaw dropping' big country home in Laois

A "jaw-dropping" pretty five bedroom country home offering a storybook lifestyle in Laois is on the market for €675,000.

The Gardeners in Killenard is a combination of a gorgeous old cut stone cottage and an architecturally designed modern house, totalling 2,900 square feet, on a generous 1.66 acres of mature gardens with stables. It is in need of a new kitchen, interior design upgrade and probably an energy use upgrade from its oil fired burner, but it is a spacious welcoming family home.  Full details below photo gallery.

Approached through a curved driveway, the home overlooks an attractive front lawn. A welcoming entrance hall has a sun-drenched galleried landing with a bespoke modern solid timber staircase.

A large kitchen/diningroom has big picture windows overlooking the lawn and across the rolling countryside, with a pantry and utility. There are two further reception rooms on the ground floor and a guest WC.

The first floor has a family bathroom and four double bedrooms, with the master including a walk-in wardrobe and ensuite.

Hume Auctioneers describe the welcoming atmosphere. 

"Set against a magnificent 19th century walled garden and with a large paddock to the side, The Gardeners has a true Beatrix Potter vibe. The feeling in the home is warm and welcoming. The house has many happy memories of good family times, of birthdays and anniversaries, a wedding feast, and many gatherings of friends and families".

"The Gardeners is a homestead, a mini farm, where there have been goats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits and bees. There are sheds for animals, and a shed for tools. In the polytunnel, all sorts of vegetables have been grown to feed the family, lettuce, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, celery, kale, chard, potatoes, and beautiful strawberries for the summer. Plenty of herbs grow easily, for wonderful cooking and hearty meals. There is a bed of autumn raspberries, which will provide abundant fruit all through the autumn, until the frost returns around the end of October.

"Killenard is the rarest of gems, a modern yet traditional village, with an excellent primary school, shop, restaurants, churches and of course The magnificent Heritage Golf and Spa Resort with its world class spa, gym, pool and walking track all set around the Seve Ballesteros designed Championship golf course; and all within walking distance of The Gardeners. Killenard is a spectacular idyll located just 40 minutes from Dublin. Everything is on your doorstep. Portarlington with an excellent train station, modern supermarkets and secondary school is a little over 5 minutes away. With the M7 just 10 minutes away and Kildare Village outlet shopping reachable in 15. Emo court and gardens are just 5 minutes away.

GROUND FLOOR: Entrance Hall: 4.367m x 2.864m Feature Liscannor flagstone floor, picture window, fitted cabinet. Kitchen/Living: 10m x 4.35m Shanagarry Terracotta Tiled Floor, feature fitted kitchen, Stanley stove on a stone hearth, feature picture windows, double patio door to garden. Utility: 4m x 3.5m Back door ,Shanagarry terracotta tiled floor, fitted sink unit, plumbed for dishwasher and washing machine. Drainage trap in floor for accidental water overflow. Guest WC: 1.628m x 1.364m Tiled floor and walls, w.c., w.h.b., feature light fitting. Living Room/Drawing room: 8.1m x 5.050m Feature Clonaslee cream sandstone chimney breast in centre, free standing Aarrow stove to front, polished slate hearth, shuttered picture windows, fitted cabinets, picture lighting on walls. Bedroom 5: 5m x 4.431m Fitted carpet, fitted curtains, shuttered windows, vintage cast iron fireplace.

FIRST FLOOR; Galleried Landing: 7.7m x 2m Velux windows, storage cupboards and large hotpress. Bedroom 1: 4.360m x 3.582m Fitted carpet, fitted curtains, feature window walk in wardrobe: 2.5m x 1.5m. En-suite: 1.8m x 1.705m Tiled walls, W.C., W.H.B., vanity unit, shaver light and socket, mirror, independent shower, tiled. Bathroom: 2.835m x 1.366m Tiled walls, fitted cabinet, shower unit, w.c., w.h.b. Bedroom 2: 4.316m x 2.891m Fitted carpet, fitted curtains, picture windows. Bedroom 3: 5m x 5m Feature shuttered window, fitted carpet, fitted curtains, built-in wardrobe, and shelving. Bedroom 4: 4m x 3.78m Fitted carpet, feature window with shutters, fitted curtains, built-in wardrobe and shelving.