ON A SUNNY day in the grounds of Villefranche in Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow, you could believe you were on the Côte D’Azur, where it’s namesake town, Villefranche-sur-Mer, is located. The five-bedroom house on one acre has direct access to Brittas Bay and is on the market through Knight Frank for €2.2 million.
It comes with two essentials for a French Riviera-style villa – a heated outdoor swimming pool and a tennis court. The original house was built in the 1940s. The current owner bought it in 1973 and had it completely redesigned in 2006 by RKD architects.
Outside, once past the electric gates, there’s a drive up to the gravel path with manicured lawns on either side. The villa is 372sq m (4,006sq ft) and has a semi-circular sittingroom, open-plan diningroom and kitchen, a communications room, guest toilet and a garage.
The main bedroom is a vast minimalist space with walnut floors and a balcony with great views over the sea. This room, on the upper floor, has lots of wardrobe space and an en suite with a jacuzzi and double shower. All of the bedrooms are en suite.
The diningroom and kitchen lead out to a large south-facing terrace. These rooms are ultra-modern and the kitchen has fitted pale gloss units, a counter and plenty of storage space. The diningroom is part of this extensive tiled area.
The grounds have lawned gardens, crushed granite paths, sheltered hedging and shrubbery. The pool is south-facing with a canopy. The pool and terrace make a great entertainment area with outdoor lighting, a music system and a five person hot tub.
