About this property
Kilquade Hill House is an exceptional, if not unique, example of a completely renovated residential estate which has been conceived and designed for comfort and 21st century living. A luxurious main house is complemented by an annex/garage(built to a similar standard as the main house) all set within about 5 acres of gardens landscaped by award-winning designers. It is a magnificent country property which occupies a secure, private and serene rural setting while preserving all the benefits of a convenient location. The property’s elevated position offers delightful vistas over the surrounding countryside and towards the sea.
Believed to date back to about 1820 the house is designed in a classical Georgian style. It was the subject of a three-year renovation. With the exception of the four walls enclosing the front part of the house the remainder was reconfigured and built in the new. While the house maintains the grandeur offered by its original Georgian exterior, its interior seamlessly pairs classical styling with modern design. The house features quality materials throughout as well as many bespoke features and specialist finishes carried out by craftsmen based around the continent. The result is an exceptionally comfortable and attractive home where no detail was too small to be overlooked.
The house is entered through a stone portico and front door which opens to an impressive entrance hall with marble flooring. From here, a feeling of harmonious proportion and balance is achieved by symmetrical doors and mirrored panels. The hall opens to the left into a formal drawing room featuring an impressive bay-window and a library to the right featuring floor to ceiling fitted oak bookcases, with fireplaces in both rooms. Both rooms have fireplaces. The library, hall and drawing room give the feeling of a continuous space in an enfilade design. The entrance hall also flows into a dining room, a powder room and the kitchen via an inner hall. The classic kitchen is extensively fitted with a full suite of quality appliances and leads to a boot/mud room with a separate side entrance.
The focal point of the house is the large conservatory built in stone with extensive exterior architectural mouldings. On the inside the conservatory is a bright open space featuring ten
windows, a double door to a terraced area and the garden, a large skylight, a fireplace, and hand painted wallpaper. The conservatory can be accessed from the dining room and from the sitting room. It and the adjacent outdoor terraced area create an ideal space for al-fresco dining and for entertaining.
Completing the ground floor accommodation is a guest bedroom suite accessed off the sitting room. In all bedrooms the walls are upholstered in fabric, and they include oak fitted cedarlined wardrobes. The adjoining bathroom (as is the case with all the en suite bathrooms) is finished in stone from floor to ceiling, featuring impressive fittings, built-in cabinets, and a magnifying make-up mirror. All en suite bathrooms feature direct light surrounding the mirror as well as ceiling lighting.
Between the dining room and the entrance hall is a powder room and an oak floor staircase with a bespoke cast iron handrail created by an Italian artist which leads to the second floor. The second-floor landing leads to the master suite and to four further bedrooms (three with ensuite bathrooms). The master bedroom suite occupies the entire footprint of the front part of the house. The large bedroom opens onto a dressing room and office space with sea views, which in turn opens to a beautiful and spacious his and hers bathroom which features pairs of all fixtures plus a shared bathtub. The his and hers bathroom features mirrored walls framed by stone. The dressing room is oak panelled throughout including the ceiling thereby creating a very warm and luxurious space. All aspects of the master suite enjoy stunning elevated views over the gardens and the attractive country and sea vistas beyond.
There are four further bedrooms on the second floor (three are en suite). These bedrooms are finished to an impressive standard with built-in oak wardrobes and upholstered walls. All bedrooms benefit from wonderful natural light and enjoy delightful views over the gardens.
Local information
- Kilquade Hill House is situated in County Wicklow which is known as the Garden of Ireland due to its unspoilt countryside with mountains, upland lakes, steep sided glacial valleys, forests, farmlands, and a wonderful coastline with sandy beaches. Situated in idyllic rural surroundings, Kilquade Hill House is within easy access of the N11, M50, Dublin City and Dublin Airport. The towns of Greystones (4.5 km) and Delgany (4 km) are both located within close proximity and provide a wide variety of excellent shops, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, schools, golf clubs and sporting facilities. Greystones has recently won the prestigious International award for the most liveable community. The 5-star Powerscourt Hotel Estate is located 17 km to the north west. Within a 25 km radius, the south Dublin suburbs such as Blackrock, Dalkey and Killiney are all very popular destinations for restaurants, shops and many more amenities.
- For those who wish to travel further afield,there are excellent transport links, with the N11 motorway (1 km) providing access to Dundrum Town Centre (27 km) and Dublin City Centre (33 km). The historic coastal town of Greystones offers regular rail connections to Dublin via the Dart.
- There are many outdoor activities within easy reach including sailing, tennis, rugby, football and GAA clubs at Greystones. The contrasting terrain in the county, including far-stretching beaches on the east coast and dramatic mountain ranges to the west, offers a wide selection of outstanding walks. As with much of Ireland, the area has a variety of opportunities for the equestrian enthusiast.
- Golfers are well catered for in County Wicklow, with the championship courses at Powerscourt, Druids Glen and the European Club at Brittas Bay (one of Ireland’s finest links courses) all situated within the county.
- There is an excellent selection of private schooling in the surrounding area including St Gerard’s School and Loreto Secondary School Bray, plus a further selection of both day and boarding schools in South County Dublin. There is also a good range of primary and preschools locally.
Additional information
- A key feature of Kilquade Hill House is the L-shaped annex to the back of the house creating a spacious central courtyard, a feature rarely found. The annex contains a gym (approximately 23 sq m / 247 sq ft), a sauna, steam room, plant room, laundry room, underground wine cellar with capacity for approximately 2,300 bottles, 5 full bathrooms, WC, 2 storage rooms and four double bay garage doors which are currently configured to accommodate 14 cars. Furthermore, the annex is built from quality material including 15 cm thick Spanish grey granite, brick, slate roof, copper gutters and down pipes, imposing wooden doors made from Iroko featuring equally imposing handmade ironmongery from Spain, oak flooring, Schuco triple glazed windows and sliding doors, and underfloor heating throughout (including the garage). The main part of the garage measures approximately 155 sq m / 1,668 sq ft with a 5-metre-high ceiling which is panelled in oak and comprises three double-bay doors. This substantial space could be put to many other uses other than storing a car collection. This constitutes an attractive and diaphanous space with underfloor heating and finished with quality materials which can be easily repurposed.
- Kilquade Hill House benefits from an attractive entrance featuring a large cobblestoned apron and four pillars. It includes an electric gate with a video entry system which can be controlled from separate points in the house and annex. Beyond the gate is a driveway that winds its way through the landscaped grounds to the main house. The house is set back from the road providing total privacy. The driveway leads to a spacious area between the main entrance of the house and the sunken garden across from it. It also leads to the annex behind the main house.
- The exquisite and mature gardens are a key feature of the property and have been extensively landscaped. The garden design and landscaping was primarily carried out by David Stephens. He is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed landscaper and garden designer who has won multiple gold medals at The Chelsea Flower Show and at the Hampton Court International Flower Show. He has also received awards in Japan, South Africa and Australia. Further contributions to the landscaping and to the garden design were made by the wellknown Irish based designers Arthur Shackleton and Mary Reynolds.
- The grounds and gardens have been meticulously designed and maintained to create a harmonious setting. The grounds feature two ponds, a fountain, a walled garden, a sunken garden, extensive flower beds, fruit trees, an abundance of mature trees, evergreen trees strategically placed such that every vista beyond the property boundary is attractive, a covered path beneath a pergola covered in wisteria and climbing roses, extensive garden lighting and a vegetable garden. The garden also features a tractor shed and a green house.
- A key feature of the property is a tennis court surface with ”Tiger Turf” which can be found at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin or The Queen’s Club in London. The court is built to the International Tennis Federation regulation size for competition and is possibly one of the most impressive tennis courts in the country. The court has an attractive shed (painted in Wimbledon green) next to it. The property also features a high specification security system which includes 24-hour video monitoring if desired.
- Directions: The Eircode is A63 XR72.
