Rathfarnham: from €1.2mAnyone on the lookout for a large family house in the Rathfarnham area could check out a small development of 12 four-bedroom houses with airy proportions and a luxurious interior spec.

Butterfield is in the grounds of Lisheen, a period house off Butterfield Avenue at the Washington Lane junction.

The original Arts and Crafts five-bedroom house has been restored and is also for sale at this weekend's launch through Lisney. Showhouses will be open for viewing.

Given the current market uncertainty, Lisney is asking what it says are realistic prices of between €1.2 million and €1.35 million for seven four-bedroom semis, measuring from 141.5sq m (1,523sq ft) to 156sq m (1,679sq ft).

One semi-detached house was sold prior to the launch. The showhouse, lavishly furnished and decorated by Mary Ryder Designs, is on offer for €1.3 million, including all contents.

These houses are entered off Washington Lane and have designated parking at the end of the short cul-de-sac.

Two four-bedroom detached houses with big front gardens and electronic gated entrances off Butterfield Avenue are 193sq m (2,077sq ft) and cost €1.95 million.

The original Arts and Crafts house, Lisheen, has all the timbered charm of its era and has been restored to an exceptional standard.

Developer Astondale Homes has carefully preserved the galleried inner hallway and staircase and the marble fireplace is one of a number of fine originals. This 300sq m (3,229sq ft) period house costs €2.8 million.

Architects Niall D Brennan & Associates designed the new houses to blend with the old. They have half-brick fronts and old-style double bay windows. Their aim was to match, as far as practical, the craftsmanship of the main house, so windows are timber, staircases have dark teak bannisters and ceilings are higher than usual at nine feet.

Porcelain and travertine marble tiles are laid in hallways, kitchens and bathrooms and wardrobes, by Cawleys, are full height.

Modern technology such as underfloor heating, central vacuuming and surround-sound wiring are included and hot water systems are pressurised. Gold specification Smart Homes technology is also installed.

Big eat-in kitchens with sitting areas are fitted with cream-panelled units, brown granite worktops and a full range of integrated appliances, including an American-style fridge-freezer.

Waterford Stanley range cookers have a six-burner gas hob. The utility rooms come with a washing machine and tumble dryer.

Bathrooms, en suites and guest toilets are glamorous spaces, with Jacuzzi baths, heated vanity mirrors and towel rails, and wall-hung sanitary ware.

The detached houses have en suite showers in two of their four bedrooms. Floor and wall tiling is also part of the package.

Sittingrooms in some houses have long window seats in the bays and all houses have white limestone fireplaces ready plumbed for a gas fire.

Semi-detached houses are laid out with a separate sittingroom off the hall, guest toilet and an L-shaped kitchen/dining/sitting-room spanning the rear. French doors open to a deck and manageable back garden.

Upstairs, three of the bedrooms can fit a double bed and there is a fourth single room or study.

The two detached houses have interconnecting sitting and diningrooms and doors to a large kitchen/livingroom opening to the fenced back garden.

On the first floor are four good-sized bedrooms, two with en suite bathrooms and a family bathroom.

Lisheen, the creeper-clad original house, is now a very elegant trophy home with enough space for the largest of families.

The chequered entrance halls leads into an inner hall of baronial proportions, with a fine marble mantelpiece and magnificent oak staircase climbing to a gallery landing. Leaded window panels on the landing match those originally in the house.

There are formal drawing and diningrooms and an open-plan kitchen/livingroom running the length of the house, with a utility off.

Kitchen units and appliances match those in the newly built houses and cream-painted wardrobes are installed in all five bedrooms.

Two of the five bedrooms are en suite and the family bathroom is as large as the smallest bedroom.

A narrow staircase climbs to attic level, where a study has been fitted under the eaves.

Gardens come fully landscaped and planted, with terraces, lawns and flowering shrubs.

A management company will maintain the common areas, which mainly comprise the planted and cobbled avenue where the semi-detached houses are sited.

Work is almost complete at Butterfield and all of the houses will be ready to move into within two months, say the selling agents.

Earlier schemes by developer Astondale Homes include Dodder bank, Milltown and Orwell Woods in Rathgar.