Add to that mix the character of a century-old house with the textbook charm of the village post office and you get a home with winning ways.

Grainne O'Connor and her husband Alan Whelan own the Old Post Office in Bohermeen village, five miles from Navan.

They bought it eight years ago after a long search for a house that would be a real home rather than an interim step on the property ladder.

"We saw it for the first time on a Wednesday and had bought it by the Friday. That's how sure we were about it, " Grainne recalls. "It was just one of those decisions in life where you trust your gut instinct and you go with it.

"It's been a real pleasure here. The house was an old post office which was decommissioned and had been used as a sweet shop. But as soon as we walked in we could see the potential.

"The rooms were lovely and so was the building. There were no straight walls, the windows were beautiful and it had a wonderful homely feeling."

Now, with a nine-month old baby and a second child expected in April, Alan and Grainne are moving to Cork to be near family. And with a price tag of 395,000 for this charming four-bed, T&J Gavigan Real Estate Alliance is expecting a lot of interest.

There is full planning permission to extend the property at the back, according to Gavigans, and the plans are available at its office.

When Alan and Grainne bought, the house was in good order structurally, although they rewired and and replastered in places. As a trained interior designer, Grainne was very definite about keeping the integrity of the building's cottage character.

"We weren't going to start imposing modern trends on an old property that oozed history and charm, " she says.

The kitchen was custombuilt in wood to make the most of the available space and has country-style green and white tiles over the countertops.

There is a utilityroom beside it for all appliances to keep the clutter out of the main openplan living/diningroom.

This big room is painted a rich cream with a coordinating ceramic tiled floor. The fireplace provides a good focus and is in cast-iron timber and slate.

The familyroom is less formal, with an oak floor, large Donegal sandstone fireplace and a big box window which allows light to flood in.

"We both like different environments, and this provides variety. We definitely wanted to respect the fact that the house was over 100 years old.

"You can't just ignore that, so there was no point in stripping back the house and putting in tumbled marble and chrome worktops. It needed a much softer, homelier atmosphere."

The wooden staircase goes up to the bedrooms where there are four very colourful double rooms, all with sloping ceilings from the traditional dormer roof.

Grainne drew inspiration for the master bedroom from her father's Lladro porcelain prizes from various golfing competitions he had won.

"That pale periwinkle blue is neither masculine nor feminine and is very fresh, " she says.

Another bedroom is decorated in a deep orange around the colours of a Russian quilted bedspread which Grainne's brother brought home from Russia, while the third bedroom is decorated as a nursery for their baby daughter.

The fourth room is known as "the green room", its walls painted a cheery apple colour that's good enough to eat.

The family bathroom reflects Grainne's other great interest, calligraphy. Alan panelled the large corner bath, while Grainne colour-washed the walls, painted the calligraphy frieze and accessorised the room with masks brought home from a holiday in Turkey.

The house, because it was a post office, is right in the centre of Bohermeen, about five miles from Navan. It's right beside all the local amenities, from the primary school, shop and pub to the local football ground and church.

It hass been painted bright pink in the style of a lot of country village houses today, and is a real landmark among its neighbours.

The front door opens onto the street but the big surprise is at the back: a three-quarter acre garden laid out in lawn and surrounded by mature trees and shrubs.

It's a wonderful playground for children . . . or an inspirational canvas for a new owner to create the perfect cottage garden suffused with summer flowers and organic fruit and veg.

Price: 395,000 Agent: T& J Gavigan, Navan, Co Meath, 046-902 3232