Go nuts for planters at greened-in Co Clare home

THE single most striking feature at Hillbrook house at Ballinlea South near Cratloe is probably its triple height glass topped atrium which floods the interior with light.

But the distinctive architect designed five- bed house, perched on an elevated one acre site overlooking the Shannon, has quite a number of unusual features to choose from including indoor planters which are used to create internal greenery.

Built into the hillside, the contemporary over basement house has all its living space on the upper level as well as a balcony at the front and a decking area at the side. Covered by the main roof, the decked area has a low wall and railing on its two external sides but is open to the elements — which makes for something in-between an indoor and an outdoor space.

Extensively glazed, the house has open plan walnut floored living areas with huge curtainless windows, pristine white walls and minimalist décor. Planters containing tropical ferns can be found in the atrium and in the main living area while further greenery is provided elsewhere by yucca plants, cheese plants and tropical specimens placed in corridors, bedrooms and bathrooms.

Greek-born architect Kostas Wootis who designed the property for the original owners in 2003 always made a point of bringing nature into the indoor spaces— believing that plants create a relaxing atmosphere in a home.

When the current owners found Hillbrook House three years ago they loved everything about it, especially the distinctiveness of the design, the indoor greenery and the views.

“When you look out from the front you can see out across the hills of Clare and over to Moneypoint in the distance. The balcony is a great place to watch sunsets — at certain times of the year you can see the sun go down over the estuary,” reveals the owner.

Appreciating the ultra-spacious 419 sq m property just the way it was when they found it, the couple didn’t feel the need to make too many changes.

The whiteness of the walls combined with the internal greenery gives the house something of a Mediterranean feel, says the owner explaining that they have introduced some colour on the walls in the bedrooms to create a sense of warmth.

Beside the central atrium is a stylish timber floored lounge which has a contemporary insert fire and opens into a dining area and a kitchen fitted with timber units, which like all the main living spaces white walls and minimalist décor.

At one side of the kitchen there’s a door to the indoor/outdoor decked space with planters to provide greenery and steps leading down to the garden area. Across on the other side of the atrium there’s a home office (or fifth bedroom) which has sliding doors providing access to the front balcony.

The house has two bedrooms at the front and two at the rear including two with ensuites. At the rear there’s a bathroom as well as a utility, a laundry room and a guest WC.

Down in the basement, the property has a garage, a large storage area and an entrance hallway in the atrium. The current owners made their only significant change to the property by creating a music room at this level. There’s 117 sq m of space in the basement, much of it underused, which could be turned into a gym, a playroom, a cinema room or a granny flat.

Accessed by a winding driveway, Hillbrook House has extensive lawned gardens and mature trees which provide total privacy.

Located two km outside Cratloe village and 18 km from Shannon airport, it’s a 15 minute drive from Limerick city. “It’s an entirely rural property with easy access to all amenities and is ideal for remote working ,’’ says the owner, speaking from experience.

Eileen Neville of Lisney Sotheby’s International Realty expects national and international interest.

VERDICT: Strikingly contemporary and bright – it’s an ultra-spacious home with some highly individual features and some unexpected internal greenery.