High spec near the harbour

Howth: from €410,000  Followers of the Findlater St Lawrence scheme in Howth will be interested to know that The Villa conversion is now ready to view.

Part of a larger development which encompasses the old Findlater premises on Harbour Road, this two-storey building has been refurbished and extended. It is across the from the Dart and a few minute's walk to the pier. Findlater's has just opened a bar and Lemongrass restaurant on the block.

Douglas Newman Good is offering two 93sq m (1,000sq ft) apartments on the ground floor of the Villa, priced at €990,000. A one-bedroom 54sq m (581sq ft) apartment newly built at the rear is at €410,000. The two upstairs apartments are being retained by the developer.

Also for sale are 10 two-bedroom apartments in buildings either side of the refurbished villa - two in the almost finished east wing and eight in the west wing which is due for completion next February. These cost from €475,000-€675,000 for 67-81sq m (720-870sq ft) of living space.

Developer Peninsula D.S. and architects Fitzgerald Kavanagh & Partners have produced a high quality specification. The two-storey building has overhanging eaves and twin chimneys.

Inside, the height and proportions of the rooms in the villa reflect the building's Victorian origins. Ceiling roses, cornices and dado rails have been restored and three fine arched windows capture views across the harbour. Majestic Victorian Corbel fireplaces in cream limestone are fitted with a cast-iron inset.

Kitchens have maple units with granite worktops and integrated Neff appliances. Bathrooms are in the luxury class with floor and wall tiling and good quality fixtures, including glass shower screens and heated towel rails.

Bedrooms to the rear are south-facing, with fitted wardrobes and a terrace off the en suite main bedroom.

The standard spec includes an integrated audio/visual multi-room system, wiring for a home cinema and wiring for an aqua television in the main bathroom.

Two free car-parking spaces are included with the two villa apartments and one space with the new-build units. This is the final phase at Findlater St Lawrence and most units are ready-to-go, apart from a small number of apartments in the west wing, which will be completed early next year. Annual maintenance charges average around €2,000.