These homes are a relatively new solution to density requirements. Here, the owners of a 2021-build in Naas, Co Kildare talk about the benefits
27 Oak Park Court, Naas, Co Kildare
Asking price: €565,000
Agent: Jordan Auctioneers (045) 433550
The increasing price of land and a tethered requirement for higher-density development have long been squeezing out the long-time staple of Irish suburban housing — the two-storey, three- and four-bed semi-detached.
And while terraces with no front gardens have become one of the preferred options for developers, a more recent solution to the density requirement is the three-storey semi-d. So how does going tall and adding another floor compare for family living?
Back in 2021, one such three-storey newbuild in Naas, Co Kildare caught the eye of first-time buyers Niall and Saoirse Fleming. “We thought it was unusual for a home to have three storeys,” says Niall. The couple now have a two-year-old, with another child on the way.
“We spent a good while looking for something suitable in the area. We’re both from Kildare and we wanted a forever home at a starter home price,” says Niall, who works in the public service. “We were renting locally, so we had time to find the right place.”
The Flemings happened across the estate close to Naas town centre on a walk during the pandemic.
“Some of the buildings were nearly finished, so we had a good idea of what the semi-detached house was going to look like,” says Niall. “We knew it would be the perfect spot for a family. It’s close to town and you can walk everywhere, it has a playground and creche, woodlands and lots of green. There are always lots of children playing outside, so it’s like an old-school estate, but modern.”
The 1,860 sq ft four-bed, three-bathroom property was built by Cairn Homes. The estate comprises 220 three-storey houses.
It turns out that there are unexpected advantages to the three-storey format. One is the ability to put two reception rooms in at the bottom and top of the house. This feature comes into its own when children hit their teenage years and both they and their parents want a degree of privacy in the evenings.
“This type of house really suits growing families,” says Niall. “You can have a totally separate area for adults and the kids get their playrooms, so the living room and playroom don’t have to be the same. With the attic at the top, opposite the main bedroom, there’s even more space for family and guests. We didn’t expect to get a big house like this. The benefit of buying outside Dublin is that you get more value for money.”
“When we bought the house, the walls were all painted white,” adds Saoirse, who works in healthcare. “We wanted a neutral palette and a pared-back style, which was functional. We have a two-year-old son, so we got wipeable paint throughout the house.”
She says the couple chose pieces from Zara Home, Ikea and local Irish furniture suppliers for the inside of the house. “Once you come through the entrance hall, the living room on the left has greener tones than the rest of the house. For contrast, we went for a lighter couch. We got a media unit made by local carpenter James Clancy, so we can chill after our son goes to bed.”
The west-facing kitchen is open plan with laminate floors from Downton Flooring in Newbridge throughout, and a kitchen island. “The wall colour we picked is called salter stone — an off-white colour. The laminate is very easy to clean. The mirrors are from Zara Home.”
The A-rated home has solar panels and a zoned gas-fired heating system. “It gets warm very quickly and you don’t have to leave the heating on for long,” says Saoirse. “We’ve had no issues with any of the electrics — as it’s all pretty new. We often turn the heating off in March and don’t need it again until October. Sometimes we’re actually trying to cool the house down.”
The garden is west-facing, so in the evening, the sun shines into the kitchen. “We have double glazing in the kitchen, so you really don’t need to turn the heating on.”
The couple have used a soft off-white, pinkish, salter stone colour theme throughout the house. On the first floor, two bedrooms are west facing. “Our son’s room was designed before he came along when we didn’t know him, now we’ve added a few tractors,” says Saoirse. “We’re expecting a baby in the coming weeks,” she adds.
A third bedroom with pinkish themes, and a neutral bathroom make up the rest of the floor. “The third bedroom is east-facing, so it gets the morning sun. This is my old bed, which is a Laura Ashley design. It works as a guest room.”
Upstairs on the third floor, the main bedroom has views of the Dublin mountains. “You can see Kippure mountain from the bedroom window,” says Niall.
“The tone we went for is a little darker, but there’s lots of morning light coming in. We went for light carpet, also from Downton Flooring, throughout the upstairs floors,” he adds. “There’s another bedroom here — we could also have used it for attic space or a playroom, or an office. We went for a double bedroom, which is also west facing.”
While the couple were set on being here forever, their plans were scuppered by the availability of a unique property closer to parents.
“The house is perfect for us,” says Niall. “But with a new baby on the way, we decided to move out now, and be closer to our parents. The new house is 30 minutes away from here, but just down the road from family.
“Obviously, we’ll miss the house. We got married while we were living here, had our son while we were living here, so there are lots of memories. But we thought we might as well move now, before we have the baby and get all the big life milestones done in one go.”
Jordan seeks €565,000 for 27 Oak Park Court.