Co Kildare: Viewers in the Naas area will be utterly seduced by a restored 18th century country cottage with four bedrooms and half an acre of old-fashioned gardens, to be auctioned on October 16th.

Douglas Newman Good's Naas branch is guiding €500,000 prior to auction for Rose Cottage, one of the prettiest properties to come up for sale in Co Kildare for some time.

The owners have wisely kept the original features, such as sash windows, exposed brickwork and ceiling beams, and combining traditional looks with modern convenience.

The 186 sq m (2,000 sq ft) cottage is in the unspoiled village of Rathmore, with its school, Montessori and two churches.

Rathmore is about 40 minutes from Dublin city centre, using the improving Arrow rail service from Naas.

Rose Cottage opens straight off the street to a panelled hallway running from front to back.

Off this is a bright kitchen/breakfastroom with beech-topped cream units and many useful integrated appliances.

Original ceiling beams, wood flooring and a Belfast sink add to the warm country kitchen look.

Steps lead up to a formal diningroom with ceiling beams, polished wood floor and sash windows with old brick surround. The beamed sittingroom includes a Mexican pine fireplace with cast-iron inset and there are shutters on the windows.

A small office has fitted bookshelves.

The four bedrooms on the first floor are equally well fitted out, with shutters on the sash windows.

A walk-in wardrobe and en suite shower room have been added to the main bedroom and the family bathroom includes a step-in bath.

Lined with bookshelves, the wide landing has its own cast-iron fireplace.

The gardens extend to half an acre and are dominated by a 300-year-old sycamore tree which spreads its branches over the lawn.

A small orchard of plum and apple trees is at the southern end of the garden. Red and black outhouse doors add colour to a picturesque ivy-covered walled courtyard.