If living somewhere with historic pedigree appeals but you want super contemporary interiors and up-to-date features too, some people look to renovated mansions for the perfect combination.
But they are a unique find and so can be a very popular option for buyers, as not only are they providing a unique home, they are saving a period building.
It can be rarer though to find a mansion in an urban setting that has undergone an upgrade or a conversion from empty or offices to dwellings. Maybe even rarer still for that mansion to be one of the best located to easily access two of the most popular areas of a city.
Read more: Frozen in time renovation project in one of Cardiff's most popular suburbs
But Suffolk House in Cardiff combines all of these elements.
Situated at the junction of Llandaf Road and Romilly Road it could be argued it is the gateway to the trendy suburb of Pontcanna in one direction and cool Canton in the other direction.
A familiar sight for people regularly travelling between Llandaff and Canton and within the Conway Road Conservation Area, the house is perched above the junction in an elevated position, commanding attention that it rightly deserves.
Step back in time ten years ago and the historic house was a busy office but walk along the pavement during 2021 and the site was a centre of construction activity rather than desk-based work.
Quin & Co are the local company behind the new lease of life for the landmark building, transforming it from offices to 10 apartments in and attached to the main house, plus seven townhouses on the grounds.
John Pinn, director of the company, says: "Suffolk House was built in 1865 by Benjamin Wright as a wedding present for his daughter. We are in contact with the family, who are delighted that the locally-listed villa is being restored.
"Through years of alterations, commercial use and squatters, the inside of the villa needed complete restoration, with the resulting apartments being developed for modern living."
The houses range in price from £615,000 to £645,000 and the apartments are £295,000 to £375,000, so are way above the average for the capital.
According to property portal Rightmove in 2021 the average price of semi-detached properties in Canton was £304,118 and for flats around £170,298.
But Suffolk House has clearly been no average development to potential buyers.
The uniqueness of the homes on offer has ignited buyers' excitement and all homes have sold before any of the units are actually complete, the welcome mat laid and the front door keys handed over.
The process of converting the site into a hub of new homes began in early 2021 after planning was approved.
Help with your hunt for a home here:
The first stage was to remove the modern extensions at the back and side of the listed main building and begin restoring the property's distinctive and pretty period facade.
John says: "My favourite part of the apartments in Suffolk House is actually the main entrance up to the front; to be able to walk through a set of birthstone pillars every day when arriving home feels so much grander than a new-build apartment!
"The villa has some stunning original features like the entrance portico with bath stone pillars and stucco detailing, and we're restoring it back to its former glory, including new double-glazed timber sash windows.
"We have undertaken a substantial extension to the villa which will boast Portland stone window surrounds to fit in nicely to the original villa."
Each owner of a ground-floor apartment at the mansion will have walk-out, private patios, with many of the upper floors also having private balconies overlooking the grounds, and all apartments will have the use of communal, landscaped gardens.
The seven brand new townhouses that look out over Romilly Road are called Suffolk Mews.
Their design has continued the use of Portland stone window surrounds and copper standing seam cladding, as well as red brick and gable features.
The mews houses have private rear gardens and traditional wrought iron gates to the front door via a small front garden off the main street.
Inside, each semi-detached house has three-storeys, doors out from open-plan living space on the ground floor into the garden and a master suite balcony.
The whole of the ground floor is dedicated to an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge space, with a handy laundry space and cloakroom, tucked under the stairs.
The first floor has a separate lounge with a Juliet balcony with a sliding door, as well as a family bathroom, a single bedroom that could easily be a home office, and a double bedroom.
The top floor is where you will find the third of the four bedrooms, plus the master bedroom suite which includes a walk-in wardrobe and dressing area and an ensuite.
Although the homes are all sold, their interiors still need to be fitted out.
CGI images show that the interior design scheme throughout the site will be contemporary but with touches of classic design paying homage to the vintage of the main house, such as herringbone tiling, engineered oak flooring and feature panelling.
The decor within the spaces will be elegant, using soft tones and matt finishes, but with elements of contemporary accents such as a choice of metallic hardware.
The company's overarching objective is to bring buildings back into use that may have otherwise fallen derelict, and their portfolio also includes The Bank in Cardiff Bay and Marlborough House in Roath.
But Suffolk House is the one that has captured John's heart so much he could easily see himself living there, and the location is a large part of this too.
He says: "This particular project appealed to us not only for restoring a stunning building but because of the local community; Canton and Pontcanna are known for being vibrant, with tons to do on the doorstep, offering different things to do without being in the city centre."
One thing the new owners of units at Suffolk House won't have to worry about is any renovation work for many years to come, only what style of furniture and accessories they want to fill their modern home within its historic shell.
Suffolk House was sold exclusively with CPS Homes.
Another unique transformation that has gone from being empty and appearing on SAVE Britain's Heritage's 'at risk' register to a collection of homes is Tathan Hall, also known as Balfour House.
This Vale of Glamorgan former rectory was empty for years, then saved from ruin and transformed into apartments. Find out more about that here.
Never miss the best property, renovation and interiors stories, sign up for the Amazing Welsh Homes Property Newsletter here.
