Luxury apartments on a six-acre site by the sea in Sutton cost from €1.4 million to €3.5 million, writes Jack Fagan.

Dublin's most expensive - and spectacular - apartments go on the market next Thursday in a superb waterfront location at Sutton, Dublin 13.

The 19th century Sutton Castle - formerly Sutton House Hotel - has been converted into eight apartments and nine more have been provided in a new north wing which also overlooks Dublin Bay.

Prices will range between €1.4 million and €3.5 million for the two and three-bedroom apartments and duplex units in the new wing. The eight two and three-bedroom homes created out of the arts and crafts-style castle are all aimed at the very top end of the market and are priced from €1.7 million to €3.3 million.

Ronan O'Driscoll of Hamilton Osborne King and local agent JB Kelly are handling sales. Viewing will be by arrangement with the agents, starting from June 30th.

The design and development of what will be among Dublin's most exclusive homes was inspired by having a classical late Victorian building on over six acres of stunning gardens.

It was the ideal site with the right characteristics, according to Sean McKeon, head of MKN Properties, who is completing all 17 apartments before putting them on the market. Buyers will see exactly what they are getting for their money.

Eight of the units have been carved out of the former home of the Jameson family, of whiskey fame. All 17 homes have a real badge of individuality and distinction.

The apartments in both the castle and the new wing are expected to appeal, first of all, to couples trading down from large family homes mainly in north Dublin. "Buyers will be bowled over by the luxurious finishes, the space and the overall style of the apartments," says selling agent Ronan O'Driscoll.

MKN has capitalised on many of the distinctive features of the castle. The main staircase has been restored and still features giant stag heads. A solid French oak floor with a weaving pattern has been installed along with a huge crystal chandelier in the main hall. Mosaic tiling and stained glass windows in the outer hall have been retained along with the Jameson's coat of arms and motto - sine metu (without fear).

MKN has retained the deep windows to be found in many rooms, the good proportions and the handsome joinery; skilled craftsmen have replicated beautiful joinery in other parts of the house. The ceilings and elaborate plasterwork are much as they were in 1895 when Andrew Jameson decided to move from his Fitzwilliam Square townhouse to the Howth peninsula.

The 40-room mansion is distinguished by many Victorian-style features and dramatically high gables and chimneys. The main reception rooms have always been located on the first floor to give the best views of the sheltered bay and the Dublin mountains in the distance.

The house was eventually converted into a hotel in the 1970s and continued to trade up to a few years ago, when MKN set about restoring it and converting it into apartments. All have either balconies or garden terraces.

Five show apartments are going on view, three of them in the castle and two in the new wing which has a brick façade identical to the castle.

Four different interior designers have worked on the show units; Portuguese-based Herma Becker, Nicola Pollard, Suzanne Garuda and Peter Johnson. Becker has been responsible for two of the homes in the castle including number 14, known as The Baily: the livingroom features rich red soft furniture, a large Portuguese limestone fireplace and a glass panelled mezzanine suspended above the room.

A second balcony is located off the main bedroom with views across the garden into the ancient woods. Two other apartments also have impressive period fireplaces, one of them a beautifully carved 12ft high pine fireplace which dominates the livingroom. The other also covers most of one wall of a former reception room and is surrounded by panelling and shelving.

The kitchens and bathrooms are among the best finished in the Dublin market. German Alno kitchens come with hand-painted doors, ivory granite tops and Kuppersbusch integrated electrical units.

Bathrooms are equally impressive. Cawleys has fitted luxury wardrobes with hand-carved ivory panelled doors and maple insets in bedrooms. All apartments come with wooden floors and carpets.

Each one has views of both the sea and the very extensive gardens which have a huge mixture of rare trees, shrubs and plants. Additional planting has been carried out, new walks have been opened through the woodlands and three water features have been introduced to mark a new phase of gardens.