Bedrock seems to have been designed with this current heatwave in mind. The French windows are open, leading from the kitchen to the wrap around decking; and on the secluded lawns, children are playing with an excitable dog. They run down the slope, through the trees to Three Trout Stream, which borders the gardens, and paddle its length. Further upstream, a tree house that fits four (at a snug sleepover), hangs over the water.
Peta and Anton Scott bought the site outside Delgany, Co Wicklow back in 1996, and, working with architect Alain Giacometti, began a two phase building project. Between then and now, however, they went to the US for four years, and when they came back, the second stage of their plans had changed.
“To begin with,” says Peta, “we went out with one six month old baby, and came back with three children” – the family now have four – but she also agrees their design ideas were influenced by the architecture they had seen in the US.
0 of 8
This shows itself at Bedrock, which is for sale through McDonnell Properties for €1.35 million, in the open aspect of the house: large windows flow onto the decking, running the length of the house, and the generous contemporary spaces are well proportioned, and full of light. There is a huge fridge freezer, also America-inspired, and a seven ring Britannia cooker, including a dedicated fish poaching ring, though I wonder whether three trout have ever been landed from the prettily-named stream.
Entrance
The house is reached through electric gates, and the driveway is shared with one other house, further up. Before you reach that, there is a large studio space that could be a home office with a little fix up, or an artist's studio, or workshop. Next door to that is a hen run, full of clucking chickens.
Inside there are double height reception spaces, with overhanging balconies (housing a games area, library and study) and a large living room. One of the five bedrooms is on the ground floor, and there are four bathrooms in all – two of which are en suite. There is also a home gym and a screening room, so even when the weather is less wonderful, there’s plenty to occupy you at Bedrock.
The family are horse mad, and the den is festooned with rosettes and medals. The reason for moving is to find a place with land to keep the family ponies, currently at a nearby livery yard. There are also golf courses nearby, walking on the Sugar Loaf mountains, the beach and sailing at Greystones, schools, cafés, shops and restaurants. Dublin is a quick half an hour up the N11.
Peta says a great addition to Delgany is Romany Stone, which includes a café, shop, bakery and restaurant, just up the lane. Listening to the shouts and laughter of the children playing outside, Bedrock seems like an idyllic spot in which to grow up. The makers of adverts including Calor Gas and Denny Ham agree – the house has featured in both.
