Blackrock apartments from £275,000

One of the most stylish developments of new apartments and houses aimed at the upper end of the Dublin market goes for sale today at Stradbrook Road in Blackrock. Two-bedroom apartments are priced mainly from £275,000 while three-bedroom apartments range from £375,000. Four stunning penthouses will be priced from £775,000.

The scheme in the grounds of the former Rockford Manor school includes 48 three-bedroom houses costing between £335,000 and £375,000, according to selling agents Hooke & MacDonald.

In a buoyant market where new homes sell quickly, it is seldom enough that developers complete a scheme before offering it for sale. Sorohans have done just that in their latest venture, Rockfield Manor, so that buyers can see exactly what they are getting for their money. Viewers will undoubtedly be impressed by the high specification and the attention to detail. Buyers will be equally chuffed by the extensive gardens at the rear, shielded by old fir trees. A wooden gazebo has been built in one corner and, apart from the lovely walks, a putting green and croquet lawn have been developed as a diversion for residents. The gardens at the front of the site have also been tastefully landscaped, a seven-foot granite wall has been built to one side of the old convent and an attractive water feature adds variety. However, it is the interiors which put this development among Dublin's very best. The 40 apartments and penthouses are in two four-storey blocks facing the Blackrock College rugby grounds. There are 18 two and three-bedroom apartments and two penthouses in every block, which have granite entrances and a double-height hall.

The two-bedroom apartments have a floor area of 800 sq ft, including a large open plan livingroom/diningroom/kitchen. The fit-out is impressive - cherrywood doors and skirting, French oak floors and a mixture of granite worktops and Shaker-style units in the kitchen. There is a broad pine bay window beside the dining area and a stainless-steel balcony at the front.

The two double bedrooms are carpeted and the main bedroom has an en suite bathroom with a corner shower unit. The three-bedroom apartments have luxuriously roomy proportions, just over 1,000 sq ft, excluding the balcony, and eye-catching oak floors as a standard feature in the reception areas. Once again, the cherrywood doors stand out, along with the kitchen. The living/diningroom is also terrific with a fitted fireplace and gas fire and lots of windows which makes the area bright and cheerful. There are two doubles and a good-sized single bedroom along with two bathrooms, one of them en suite.

There is a controlled access via the lift to the two penthouses which share the top floor, each of them with 2,300 sq ft. All the rooms are large, none more so than the atmospheric entrance hall. The livingroom is equally elegant, 18 ft by 21 ft, and it opens through a glazed door into a superb diningroom with views all along the coast to Howth on the north side. The kitchen/breakfastroom is one of the most impressive in any Dublin penthouse. It comes with a full range of stainless steel electrical appliances, a stainless steel hood over the double-sized cooker and two levels of polished granite tops along one wall. At the opposite end of the kitchen is a handy enclave with full height, facing maple fitted units that could store enough supplies for an army battalion. The kitchen is one of the great features of the penthouse.

For families who still prefer a conventional house, Sorohans are offering a choice of 48 three-bedroom terraced houses, almost half of them in a courtyard setting. They homes have a floor area of 960 sq ft, including a generously sized livingroom with bay windows to the front. The fitted fireplaces have a gas fire but they can be used alternatively for burning solid fuel.

The livingrooms open through double doors into a combined dining area and kitchen designed for easy living. There are full height pine doors leading out on to a patio and a rear garden which comes with a wooden shed. Upstairs are two double bedrooms and one single. The main bedroom has an en suite bathroom with a corner bath.