Latest news with #RoseCottage
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I spent 13 years renovating my grade II listed cottage in Hampshire - here's why I'm selling up
Thirteen years ago Claire O'Donnell purchased Rose Cottage in Tunworth, a hamlet in Hampshire. She fell in love with the grade II-listed cottage's charm and character and the fact it is nestled in a quiet location but still close to amenities. The 68-year-old, who worked as an airline stewardess with British Airways before retraining as an interior designer after having children, has viewed the cottage as a labour of love over the years. The property's previous owners had lived in France and only occasionally visited. When Claire and her family purchased the property, which was built in the late eighteenth century, it was clear it needed to be lived in and looked after. 'As they say, when the cat's away the mice will play, and the mice were certainly at play in Rose Cottage', Claire told This is Money. She added: 'The hand-made curtains in the living room were nibbled away all along the skirting boards. 'After carefully relocating the wildlife outside, I could see the opportunity to revitalise and restore the cottage, maintaining its period heritage while bringing it into the twenty-first century.' Since buying Rose Cottage, Claire has undertaken major renovation works at the property. Among other works, Claire has raised the height of the ceiling in the main bedroom in order to show off the original timber beams. The entire cottage has been redecorated throughout and Claire curated a Jack and Jill style bathroom upstairs to create a better sense of space. The floor has been upgraded in the kitchen and garden room, and the height above the Aga has been raised. Claire converted a pair of outbuildings into a high-spec home office and utility room. She's also shifted the paddock so its alongside the garden and built stabling for two horses. On the renovation process, Claire said: 'It's been an ongoing process since we moved in. I knew what I wanted to do initially, but then living in the cottage over the past 13 years, we've evolved together. 'There have been moments of inspiration that have led to small changes, then grander plans like converting the old office that were a few years in the making. 'Then the nuances of maintaining and preserving a period property play a part too - for example, I'd been longing to have the driveway updated but had to wait until the thatch was due to be re-done first.' What a setting: The thatched roof of Rose Cottage has been redone recently The gardens at Rose Cottage, which is just a 10 minute drive from Basingstoke, are exceptional, but Claire has a little help getting them in shape. She said: 'I have some help in the garden. Steve keeps the lawns and hedges so beautiful and takes great pride in them. Emily is my expert gardener, her knowledge and practical skills keep the beds and formal areas bursting with colour and life.' Thirteen years after moving in, Claire's now ready to make her next move and spruce up another property. Claire told This is Money: 'We'll be very sad to leave Rose Cottage, it's such a special place. 'We're selling as we've reached that point where we're ready for a new adventure and to scale down a bit. 'I'm from North Devon originally and a part of me has always wanted to move back, or settle near the sea.' She added: 'Seeing the first tulips bloom at Rose Cottage and hearing the swallows come back to nest for the summer never fails to lift my spirits. I'll miss all of it tremendously.' The home is on the market via Knight Frank, with an asking price of £1.895million. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
BreakingNews.ie
15-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- BreakingNews.ie
Five-bedroom cottage at foot of Wicklow mountain comes to the market
Rose Cottage, set across approximately 3,573 square feet and nestled at the foot of the Sugarloaf Mountain in Co Wicklow, has come to the market. The property is on the market for offers of €1,695,000 and over. Advertisement The cottage originally dates back to the 1800s, but underwent a complete renovation and extension beginning in 2013, resulting in a blend of historic and contemporary. At its heart lies an open-plan living area. The Newcastle Design kitchen is a standout feature, and opens fully onto the rear patio through concertina doors. The cottage has five bedrooms, four of which are ensuite. The principal suite has walk-in wardrobe, a bathroom, and a picture window that frames garden views. A separate guest cottage offers further flexibility, with its own entrance, kitchen, living area, ensuite bedroom, and a loft-style room. It can be used for extended family, guests, or as a private workspace, and adds extra accommodation. Outside, the gardens have been landscaped for beauty and practicality, with multiple patios, a fire pit area, hedging, and planting. The grounds aim to offer a tranquil setting for outdoor dining, relaxation, or entertaining. The property is located in Kilmacanogue in Co Wicklow, and has easy access to Powerscourt, Avoca, nearby beaches, golf courses, and the N11 for travel to Dublin and beyond. For more information, click here .
Irish Times
06-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Wicklow cottage with picture-perfect views of the Sugar Loaf and sea for €1.695m
Address : Rose Cottage, Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow Price : €1,695,000 Agent : George & Maguire Properties View this property on The Glencap Road in Kilmacanogue winds up to Kilmacanogue GAA Club, and from there you can walk a scenic path up the northeast side of the Great Sugar Loaf mountain, with views out to Bray Head and the sea behind you. Halfway up Glencap Road is Rose Cottage, nestling cosily at the foot of the Sugar Loaf, surrounded by trees and greenery and with its own large back garden perfectly positioned for all-day sunlight. Rose Cottage was originally built in the 1800s, but in 2013 the owners renovated and extended the house from top to bottom, reimagining the interiors to create a contemporary layout oozing style and character and with dollops of country chic. The downstairs is almost completely open-plan, cleverly divided into discrete, interconnected areas that flow smoothly into each other to allow for seamless family living. Upstairs are five bedrooms, four with en suites, including the principal bedroom suite, which has a large picture window overlooking the beautiful back garden, and also has a dressingroom. An added attraction for new owners is a charming guest cottage just across the courtyard, which would make an ideal guest lodge for weekend visitors, a granny flat, separate office or artist's studio, or an income-generating rental property. READ MORE Rose Cottage measures 332sq m (3,573sq ft), with an additional space of 62sq m (667sq ft) in the guest cottage, and is on sale through George & Maguire asking €1.695 million. Outside, the cottage retains a traditional whitewashed stone facade with upstairs dormer windows peeking out through the slate roof tiles. The cottage is in an L-shape, with the entrance on the short leg of the L. The covered front porch has a decorative tiled floor and a seating area, and leads in to an impressive hallway with double-height ceiling and solid wood flooring. As you walk up the feature staircase, you'll be able to see the Sugar Loaf through the picture window. There's a guest WC here and to the left is a large study/den. To the right of the hallway, beyond crittal-style glass doors, is the main living space, running along the long stem of the L, beginning with a cosy livingroom area with light well above and windows on each side. From here you can see along the entire length of the cottage to the family room, diningroom and kitchen all the way out to the patio and back garden. [ Escape to the country: Period farmhouse on 9.5 acres in rural Leitrim for €350,000 Opens in new window ] A solid wood floor runs through the entire living area, and a large wood-burning stove separates the livingroom from the family room. From here there's a door to the side garden, and a good-sized utility room behind a country-style farmhouse door. The kitchen/diningroom has a beautiful bespoke Newcastle Design kitchen in solid oak and mahogany, and a large central island with a rich, dark volcanic stone worktop. Concertina doors running the full width of the kitchen open out on to the patio and the back garden, which has a long, sweeping lawn and numerous areas to relax and catch the sunshine throughout the day, including a seating and firepit area bordered by buxus hedging and a sundeck at the end of the garden. Rose Cottage Kitchen/dining area Living area Living area Diningroom Main living area Stairs to the upper floor Double bedroom Main bathroom Upstairs, the landing has views out to the Sugar Loaf via a picture window, and Velux windows bring more light in. The dual-aspect fifth bedroom has solid-wood flooring and bespoke window shutters. The main bathroom has an elegant Victorian standing bath and a decorative tiled floor. There are three more double bedrooms, each with solid wooden flooring, bespoke shutters and en suite, before you reach the very impressive principal bedroom suite, with its own inner hall, en suite and walk-in wardrobe. It too has solid wooden floors and bespoke shutters, with the added bonus of dual aspect and a large picture window overlooking the back garden. Patio, leading on to the long lawn Garden seating area/sundeck Garden seating area Seating area and firepit All through the house, the taste and discernment of the owners is evident, from the small decorative touches to the high-end sanitary ware and elegant furnishings that look to the past while keeping a foot firmly in the present. The clever flow of the open-plan living space, with its architectural flourishes including split levels, layered lighting and subtle delineation of different areas, turns this cottage into a spacious, light-filled gem of country living. You could easily install internal doors if you really wanted to, but me, I'd prefer to go with the flow.
