WE have, dear reader, been a busy little bee on your behalf this week – in town and out of town, putting together a collection of very different properties from period pieces to modern Millies to city centre town houses.

And as we are talking about contrasts we will start with a pair of superb – but quite different homes – on the books at Ashtons.

The first is a brilliantly presented mid-terrace period house in Murray Street, York, close to West Bank Park and with nice views of Holgate Mill.– a sought after spot thanks to it being more than handy for the city centre and the railway station, while having an excellent range of local amenities in its own right, including shops and schools.

The house offers a superb open plan kitchen/living/dining room including a built-in range cooker and dishwasher and utility room (with fridge freezer and washing machine available on request).

This is a wonderful, light, bright and airy spot, very much a ‘heart of the home’ area with exposed wood flooring, a feature fireplace housing a stove, an elegant set of wall and base units in the kitchen area and with the dining area having doors opening on to the very pleasantly arranged rear courtyard garden.

There is also a separate reception room to the ground floor with a wall mounted Sony TV a modern luxury among the more traditional pieces including period style feature fireplace, coving and ceiling rose.

There are three bedrooms and a family bathroom to the first floor and a loft conversion provides a fourth bedroom.

A super property to start this week’s round-up, it is offered by Ashtons at a rental of £995pcm.

The contrast comes in the shape of a very tastefully extended four-bedroom modern family house in Acomb Wood Close. another popular area. This home has size as well as style. – inside and out – with four bedrooms (the master having an en-suite) and a smart house bathroom on the first floor.

On the ground floor there is a lovely flow to the accommodation. – and there is plenty of it, too. there is through living room/dining room which in turn has doors opening to a superb sun room overlooking the rear garden. There is the added benefit of a study and a long garage to the side of the house. The kitchen has a built-in electric oven and gas hob but no white goods. The rental is £1,000pcm. Again, apply to Ashtons.

Next, we have a double dose of country living – in villages which both very much have their own identities but which are handy for York and commuting routes.

The first of these is a well presented detached house in the very attractive village of Skirpenbeck. just outside Stamford Bridge.

If you like outside space then this could well be one for you as it benefits from around an acre of gardens. The property has been recently refurbished and offers an entrance hall leading to a breakfast kitchen with fridge/freezer, oven and dishwasher.

There is a living room with an open fire and a dining room and conservatory. The master bedroom has an en-suite bathroom, there are two further double bedrooms and a single and a smart family bathroom.

This one is offered by Linley and Simpson at a rental of £1,395pcm.

The same agent provides our second rural retreat – in the shape of a pretty detached house in Whixley (very handy for A59 and onto commuting routes into Harrogate, York and the A1). This is a best of both worlds home with plenty of character mixed with modern comforts. A tour around the premises will discover a living room with open fire, dining kitchen with oak units, cooker, dishwasher and fridge with the additions of a utility room, cloakroom and useful study.

On the first floor there is a double bedroom with en-suite shower room and two further double bedrooms and a family bathroom.

The package is wrapped up by an attractive garden and private rear patio. The rental is £1,150pcm.

And now for our final set of contrasts we are off back into town…firstly to look at a period home in Fairfax Street in the des res Bishophill area. This is a smart house with a kitchen and living dining room and a ground floor bathroom. On the first floor there are two bedrooms. Outside there is a rear walled courtyard. The rental is £775pcm through Hudson Moody lettings.

From trad to modern… we now slip along to Postern Close, another des res spot, this time in a riverside location. just a few minutes walk from the city centre and the uberchic Bishopthorpe Road shops and cafes. Newly decorated and carpeted, this modern town house has a smart layout over three floors. beginning with a double bedroom, bathroom and cloakroom on the ground floor. You then have a first floor lounge/diner leading through to an attractive conservatory/covered balcony from which you can watch the world go by.

On the second floor there is a double bedroom and a good-sized single and a modern shower room. There are the distinct advantages, for a city centre property, of driveway and single garage. It is offered by Letters Ltd, unfurnished, for £995pcm.