But though it is young, it possesses a maturity well beyond its years, thanks largely to the imagination of its interior designer owner Rita Burke Keane of Kildarebased Ski Interiors.

Her attention to detailing, both in the build and the finish at Rose Cottage ensures a sweet and charming home on a 0.9 acre landscaped garden near the town of Youghal and a short drive from the sandy beaches along the "gold coast".

The 107sq m (1,160sq ft) house was built on the site of a derelict house in the grounds of the historic D'Loughtane estate in Co Waterford. As such, it was designed to complement the large old house and farm which was owned by Rita's husband Joe's father.

Tradition is the order of the day as the luxuriously cosy interior of the home complements the landscaped gardens. Outside, there are lawns, mature trees, shrubberies and a little apple orchard. Inside, the leaded windows, beamed ceilings, polished pine floors, painted country kitchen and stucco plasterwork make for a very pleasing combination.

"We built it so we could stay there in the summer and when we visited, so we wanted it to work in with the old house, but also for it to feel very homely and lived-in as soon as you opened the door.

"All you have to do is light the fire and you feel you've always been there, " says Rita Burke Keane.

This is a two-bed house but there is, subject to planning permission, room to extend.

Agents Harty and Co Auctioneers say the house is likely to appeal to somebody commuting to work in Youghal, Dungarvan or even Cork city because it is so handy to the N25 without being on the main road.

Inside, the original solid teak front door opens onto the bright handmade kitchen.

This is in painted, country style and is made of solid wood with a handy island unit. There are wall and floor presses, and integrated appliances and a double hob are included. There is also a utility room which is plumbed for a washing machine.

The open plan living area is arranged around a traditional fireplace, with slate hearth and an overmantel beam.

This room has a doubleheight ceiling but it still feels cosy because it is set off by more old beams, a polished solid wooden floor and handmade country style curtains.

An iron spiral staircase winds upstairs to the minstrel's gallery which overlooks the living space below.

Upstairs, there are two bedrooms, each vibrantly styled under the sloping ceilings of the dormers. The master bedroom has its own traditionally styled large en suite with a power shower. The second bedroom is a double room overlooking the rear garden and it also has its own en suite shower room.

The Blackwater river circles the farmland and, says Rita, from some parts of the land you can look across to Lismore and down to the bridge at Youghal.

"It's a place where you can turn off the clock in Dublin and just go and live life at a completely different pace.

When you get there, everything stops and you can just relax."

Rita Burke Keane and her sister Helen Smullen and niece Ciara Smullen all run Ski Interiors, a large Kildarebased interiors firm which has earned a reputation in the area for its interiors advice.

The company does everything from making curtains to planning the entire interior of a house before it's even built. "We do homes in every style from the very modern to more classical, depending on our clients' needs, " says Rita.

"We have a huge library of fabrics and wallpapers, and we also supply bespoke furniture as well as antique pieces."

Price: 350,000 Agent: Harty & Co Auctioneers Telephone: 058 41377