Co Wexford: €650,000 Muchwood, built four years ago on the slopes of Mount Leinster, was designed to both empathise with and make the most of its remote and beautiful surroundings.
Halfway between Bunclody and Borris, its address proper is Kilbranish South, Bunclody, Co Wexford and it is surrounded by a gently sloping, south-facing c.6.9 acres (5.75ha). The Clody river forms part of the lower end boundary.
House and lands are for sale by private treaty though Hassett and Fitzsimons who are quoting a guide of €650,000.
The two-storey detached house belongs to songwriter/broadcaster Niall Toner and his wife Moira who, along with architect Raymond Quirke, came up with a design to suit the family's desire for peace, tranquillity and modern comfort. This includes, over a floor area of some 186sq m (2,000sq ft), two large reception rooms, four bedrooms (three en suite) and a kitchen/breakfast room.
Light was a prerequisite for the Toners so the many Rationel timber windows include a long, picture window on the staircase which throws light onto the upper and lower floors. An outside, timber balcony/sun terrace is on two levels to the southern side and a gravelled driveway sweeps up to the front entrance.
The materials that are used throughout Muchwood add to the at-one-with-nature feel, with 400- year-old Russian pine beams used in the polished floor of the entrance hallway. The open fireplace in the sitting/diningroom is of granite. From here a door exits to a south-facing sun deck which, with its Art Deco-style treble-glazed windows, stylishly flies in the face of inclement weather.
There are polished granite worktops in the kitchen/breakfastroom which has a walk-in larder. Double glass doors from the breakfast area to the sun-deck make al fresco dining easy.
The main bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite with Jacuzzi, bath and separate shower. A second bedroom has a shower en suite, a third has an open fireplace and door to the sun deck while the fourth is again en suite with both bath and shower.
A large family room/den has a hardwood floor and double doors to the sun deck.
A forestry plantation at the south end of the property lends an air of exclusivity and mystery.
