What is probably the finest house on Mountpleasant Square, Ranelagh, Dublin 6, has been beautifully restored and converted into eight apartments. They go on sale today at prices from £135,000 to £189,950.

Number 31 Mountpleasant Square, an early 19th century house standing four storeys over basement, was originally the home of Jack Dolan, who built much of the square. He would have enjoyed fewer comforts than the occupants of the new flats will take for granted following the complete refurbishment of the house by Larry Berry and Sons, a company specialising in restoring old buildings. Four one-bedroom apartments, which have an average floor area of 400 sq ft, are priced from £135,000 to £145,000, according to Ken MacDonald, of agents Hooke & MacDonald.

There will also be four two-bedroom homes with between 550 sq ft and 800 sq ft, which will cost from £179,950 to £189,950.

First impressions of the work done by the developer are very positive. Good use has been made of space, light and architecture without destroying the elegance of the house. The apartments are greatly enhanced by the Georgian decor, which was carried out by Mary Berry. The house has an impressive entrance, a handsome door flanked by Doric granite columns with an overhead Georgian fanlight. The hallway, complete with cornicework, centrepiece and stained-glass feature window overlooking the rear garden, serves as a gracious entrance hall for the whole scheme.

Several apartments are particularly attractive, notably the one-bedroom unit at hall level and another one immediately overhead overlooking the square with its floodlit tennis courts. The unit at hall level has a magnificent livingroom with a tall window looking down on the landscaped rear garden. The livingroom opens through an arch into a kitchen which, as in all the other units, has a range of electrical appliances.

Virtually all the units differ from each other so there is no such thing as a "typical" apartment.

All the apartments have pine fireplaces and gas fires. Back-up heating is supplied by Gold Shield electric storage heaters. Each of the apartments has a storage space and some of them have two areas set aside for this purpose. The overall conversion by Larry Berry is skilful and sympathetic and hopefully will encourage other developers to embark on similar projects. The apartments are among the most attractive to be offered for sale in the city over the past year.