17,797 Country Exterior Design Photos

Conversion and renovation of a Grade II listed barn into a bright contemporary home

Troy Hodgson

Hidden within a clearing in a Grade II listed arboretum in Hampshire, this highly efficient new-build family home was designed to fully embrace its wooded location. Surrounded by woods, the site provided both the potential for a unique perspective and also a challenge, due to the trees limiting the amount of natural daylight. To overcome this, we placed the guest bedrooms and ancillary spaces on the ground floor and elevated the primary living areas to the lighter first and second floors. The entrance to the house is via a courtyard to the north of the property. Stepping inside, into an airy entrance hall, an open oak staircase rises up through the house. Immediately beyond the full height glazing across the hallway, a newly planted acer stands where the two wings of the house part, drawing the gaze through to the gardens beyond. Throughout the home, a calming muted colour palette, crafted oak joinery and the gentle play of dappled light through the trees, creates a tranquil and inviting atmosphere. Upstairs, the landing connects to a formal living room on one side and a spacious kitchen, dining and living area on the other. Expansive glazing opens on to wide outdoor terraces that span the width of the building, flooding the space with daylight and offering a multi-sensory experience of the woodland canopy. Porcelain tiles both inside and outside create a seamless continuity between the two. At the top of the house, a timber pavilion subtly encloses the principal suite and study spaces. The mood here is quieter, with rooflights bathing the space in light and large picture windows provide breathtaking views over the treetops. The living area on the first floor and the master suite on the upper floor function as a single entity, to ensure the house feels inviting, even when the guest bedrooms are unoccupied. Outside, and opposite the main entrance, the house is complemented by a single storey garage and yoga studio, creating a formal entrance courtyard to the property. Timber decking and raised beds sit to the north of the studio and garage. The buildings are predominantly constructed from timber, with offsite fabrication and precise on-site assembly. Highly insulated, the choice of materials prioritises the reduction of VOCs, with wood shaving insulation and an Air Source Heat Pump (ASHP) to minimise both operational and embodied carbon emissions.

Original stone church with sheep shed attached to one side has been converted to a holiday house.

Résidence du vignoble Ce cottage s'intègre parfaitement dans le magnifique vignoble qui l'entoure. Nos clients souhaitaient une maison qui capture le charme de la campagne tout en s'harmonisant avec le décor environnant. Leurs inspirations, comportant des éléments en bois ainsi qu'un look chaleureux, nous ont été très utiles lors de la conception extérieure. À l'intérieur, on y retrouve une cuisine et une chambre principale avec des plafonds cathédrale, ainsi qu'un salon avec un plafond haut, créant l'effet "wow" recherché. Nous remercions ces clients pour leur confiance tout au long du processus de leur projet. Le résultat est à couper le souffle ?. www.nathaliestmartin.com

Claudia Pelizzari - PH Giorgio Baroni

Gate posts at driveway entrance. Photo: Bernardo Mantilla Baca

EXTERIOR. Our clients had lived in this barn conversion for a number of years but had not got around to updating it. The layout was slightly awkward and the entrance to the property was not obvious. There were dark terracotta floor tiles and a large amount of pine throughout, which made the property very orange! On the ground floor we remodelled the layout to create a clear entrance, large open plan kitchen-dining room, a utility room, boot room and small bathroom. We then replaced the floor, decorated throughout and introduced a new colour palette and lighting scheme. In the master bedroom on the first floor, walls and a mezzanine ceiling were removed to enable the ceiling height to be enjoyed. New bespoke cabinetry was installed and again a new lighting scheme and colour palette introduced.

The Official Photographers - Aaron & Shannon Radford

Un mariage parfait avec la maison! Chaque pierre a été taillée et posée à la main pour respecter le caractère bicentenaire de la propriété. Un travail colossal réalisé par 4 experts en 25 jours! - A perfect marriage! Each and every stone has been handcut and installed to respect the bicentennial look of the house. A tremendous work made by 4 experts in 25 days!

Fotos: Nina Struve

This 1930s period property in Hampton, SW London was extended and refurbished by L&E to create a large and comfortable 5 bedroomed family home. Don't move, extend. Photographer: Gabriel Bosko