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something different
This Modern Lodge: You'll love this Wexford home's gorgeous garden and outdoor dining room
This striking home makes a very good case for staying in.
AT HAWTHORNE LODGE, dinner can begin in the kitchen and end under the stars. Five-panel oak bi-fold doors open from the dining area onto a south-west-facing sandstone patio, where a covered taverna and barbecue area are ready for the sort of evening nobody wants to cut short.
The house, built in 2014, sits behind electric gates at Pallas Lower, near Gorey. Cedarwood panelling gives its contemporary exterior warmth, while the sweeping driveway and mature planting lend the arrival a pleasing sense of seclusion.
Inside, the newly fitted kitchen has granite worktops, a Belfast sink and an island, with a pantry close by to keep the practical side of entertaining out of sight. The generous, dual-aspect living room offers a change of pace, with fitted cabinetry and a stove for cooler evenings.
There are three bedrooms, each with access to an en suite bathroom. One bathroom also opens to the hallway. The main bedroom looks onto the garden and has a walk-in wardrobe, while a separate utility and plant room helps keep the day-to-day running of the house contained.
The grounds offer more than a pretty backdrop. Beyond the lawns, established trees and terraces, a meadow at the back leaves room for play, pets or a different vision for the garden. A detached annex is divided between a workshop and a heated office, giving anyone who works from home a welcome little journey to work.
Hawthorn Lodge has an A2 BER rating, supported by 16 photovoltaic panels, a 10kW battery and solar thermal panels. Triple-glazed windows and an electric car charger are among its other practical touches.
Kilanerin is about 4km away, Gorey 10km and Arklow 14.5km. Woodland walks, hills and beaches are within reach, but the house’s own gardens may prove the hardest place to leave.
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