If the thought of living in a barn conjures up images of dark, draughty and lacklustre living spaces then think again, because these incredible agricultural homes have thrown out the rule book.

From clever and contemporary conversion projects to brand-new barn-inspired homes, these rural retreats are far from basic – think cathedral ceilings, rustic timber finishes and oversized windows framing dreamy landscape views. Click or scroll to step inside some of the world's most beautiful barns...

Although it might look like a modern, newly-built farmhouse, this gorgeous property is actually a converted horse stable and dairy barn.

Located on 60 acres in the heart of the Edna Valley, in the Californian city of San Luis Obispo, the house has been transformed into a refined, rustic and contemporary space, with plenty of bold nods to its former life.

Dating back to the 1930s, the converted pad is wonderfully modern and comfortable, yet it’s instantly clear that the main living space was once home to individual stalls, where dozens of horses would have lived.

With its soaring ceilings, exposed timber beams, raw concrete floors, structural support columns and sliding barn doors, this space is the perfect blend of old and new.

From equestrian ornaments to horseshoe coat hooks, reins, leather headboards and farmhouse décor, every single space celebrates the origins of this lovely old barn.

As for rooms, the open-plan living area provides a cosy lounge with a fireplace, a huge kitchen and a dining zone. 

Ideal for six guests, the property has three light-filled bedrooms and four bathrooms. From many of the home's Crittall-style windows and doors, you can also take in 360-degree views of the surrounding hills and vineyards. 

Outside, there's a grass patio equipped with Sonos speakers, a BBQ, a fire pit and a dining area. What's more, the former barn is still connected to a working horse stable, so lucky guests of this Airbnb can immerse themselves in farm life!

Positioned at the foot of Mount Iron, in the heart of New Zealand's Southern Alps, this incredible home was designed to resemble a traditional European barn conversion, where the remnants of the original structure are left exposed inside.

However, this stunning self-build is actually just a clever mimic and is anything but traditional.

The property was designed by Condon Scott Architects in 2018 and follows the standard forms of a farm building, with a sloped metal roof and pale timber cladding covering its exterior.

The renovated farm building concept continues inside, where recycled materials beautifully contrast with crisp white walls and modern finishes.

The main living space boasts a double-height ceiling, finished with white-washed shiplap. Solid timber posts and beams have been left exposed throughout, too, while huge windows and sliding doors draw endless sunlight inside and connect the interior with the rural landscape outside.

The living room flows through to the kitchen and dining room. Finished with timber floorboards and an exposed brick wall, created from reclaimed materials, this space adds to the home's rustic charms.

Upstairs, the bedrooms are located under the sloped roof, giving them a cosy, attic-like feel.

In 2018, this striking barn conversion was named one of Britain’s best holiday homes by The Times – and it really isn’t difficult to understand why. Nestled in the tranquil English village of Chelsworth, Suffolk, the property is enclosed by rolling fields and gorgeous country scenery.

The barn is still recognisable, since many of its original beams and bricks were retained during the renovation. An impressive glazed partition sits in the centre of the barn, running from the floor all the way to the tip of the roof.

A dramatic focal feature, the glass also draws natural light inside, resulting in bright and inviting living spaces.

Inside, the barn is wonderfully unique, with a vast open-plan living area sitting in the main expanse of the building. There’s a lounge, a dining area and a handmade, metal kitchen.

Everywhere you look, you’ll spot amazing features – from the exposed timber elements of the barn itself to its seemingly never-ending ceiling, statement pendant lights and bold furnishings.

The property can accommodate up to 11 guests, with six bedrooms and four bathrooms. The master suite sits on the ground floor and benefits from a sitting area, an in-room bath tub and French doors that open to a patio overlooking the fields.

Plus, the property takes advantage of the contours of the hill on which it stands. There are several sunken gardens, which provide outdoor space on three of the barn’s four floors.

The architects at Studio Bua transformed a derelict concrete barn in rural Iceland into a striking home and artist’s studio. Completed in 2021, the amazing conversion project lies in Hlöðuberg, on a former farm overlooking the Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve.

Surrounded by mountains, meadows and fjords, the property had to be sympathetic to its location and suitable for the area’s extreme climate.

Studio Bua retained as much of the original barn as possible, stabilising and reinforcing it before a new, two-storey extension was inserted into its ruins. Pebbles and volcanic sand from a nearby beach were used to fill holes in the existing brickwork, while the part of the barn that was deemed too delicate to utilise, was left in place to create a walled courtyard.

The new timber addition is clad in corrugated industrial Aluzinc; one of the few materials able to withstand the site’s extreme weather.

Inside, the home strikes the perfect balance between family home and workspace. Suitable for living, entertaining guests and exhibiting artwork, the property features a kitchen, dining area, bedrooms and a double-height artist's studio, with views of the surrounding landscape.

Plus, the owners wanted to keep their waste output to a minimum, so all of the interior doors, handles and sinks were salvaged from Reykjavik's recycling centre.

The interior blends a simple palette of exposed concrete, stained birch plywood and plaster walls. Despite the extreme weather conditions of West Iceland, the modern barn is highly thermally efficient and sustainable.

A ground source heat pump supplies the home with heat and hot water, while underfloor heating and triple glazing ensure every room stays cosy, even during the depths of the Icelandic winter.

This converted barn is quite unlike any you might have seen before. Incorporating an original farm silo, which was once likely used for storing grain or feed, the mesmerising property lies in Litchfield, Connecticut, on a pristine 170-acre estate.

Available to rent on Airbnb, Silo House blends traditional and modern elements to dazzling effect. From antique furnishings to contemporary pieces and statement artwork, the property is respectful of its origins while also celebrating its new lease of life.

The dramatic, open-plan ground floor features a sitting area, a dining space and a fully equipped kitchen. High-end finishes can be seen throughout, too, from glossy hardwood floors to exposed beams and steel accents.

Upstairs, in the barn's eaves, you'll find two separate bedroom lofts. One features a king-sized bed and the other provides two twin beds. From up here, guests can take in views of the surrounding landscape.

Plus, during the day they can enjoy access to the entire estate, which benefits from beautifully manicured landscaped gardens and breathtaking views.

Completed in 2021, this modern barn-style home lies in Flinders, on the Mornington Peninsula in Melbourne, Australia. Designed by Abe McCarthy Architects, the property is made up of three interconnected pavilions, allowing the rooms inside "to operate independently and as a whole", the architects explain.

Described as a "functional farmhouse", the home was inspired by the warmth and comfort of traditional timber chalets. It features three gabled roofs and extensive timber cladding, which add to its barn aesthetic.

Inside, though, it’s all about double-height living spaces and walls of glass.

The aim of Abe McCarthy Architects was to create a ground-floor living space that was integrated with the surrounding landscape, with intimate and cosy bedrooms positioned on the home's loft level. "This allowed the design to employ dramatic double-height spaces while maintaining a sense of engaging warmth and homeliness," they explain.

As for the material palette, the house boasts Australian timber, limestone and steel. Plus, it’s incredibly sustainable and eco-friendly. In fact, it was designed with off-grid living in mind.

It benefits from a biomass boiler, a solar array and rainwater storage, allowing the homeowners to reuse rainwater for washing their clothes, irrigating their land and even fighting bushfires. 

This stunning property might look brand-new, but it is actually 400 years old. The ancient English barn lies in the New York hamlet of Water Mill in Suffolk County and thanks to a thorough renovation it's now modern, light-filled and bursting with charm. Let's step inside...

Available on Airbnb, the property is comprised of two 17th-century English barns. They were masterfully reconstructed in the early 1980s and extensively renovated in 2019.

Inside, there’s a dramatic entrance hall with sky-high steel casement windows and 12-foot, retractable steel doors that open the living space up to the heated pool outside.

There’s a great room, a dining zone and chef’s kitchen, all topped by a 25-foot ceiling. There are five bedrooms and six bathrooms, too. Every room features white stucco walls, hand-hewn black oak beams, aged bricks and custom steel doors.

Yet the master bedroom is perhaps the home's best asset. With its statement vaulted ceiling, exposed beams and grand proportions, the suite is a dreamy retreat.

What’s more, the house comes with a gorgeous garden. As well as the heated saltwater pool, there's also a tennis court, a dining area with a fireplace, an outdoor shower and a BBQ. There’s even a gym with an infrared sauna.

This multi-award winning conversion project can be found close to Sudbury in the enchanting countryside of Suffolk, England. Part of a series of dilapidated farm buildings that once belonged to the nearby Assington Hall Estate, which was destroyed by fire in the 1950s, Church Hill Barn was carefully restored and reworked by the experts at David Nossiter Architects.

Described by the architects as "a unique contemporary barn conversion of epic proportions", the building extends 5,000 square feet and boasts cathedral-like rooms, topped by a mesmerising, 26-foot-high vaulted ceiling.

To ensure the existing roof structure could be exposed internally, while still conforming to modern standards of thermal performance, insulation was added to the exterior of the roof, above a new timber deck. Slate roof tiles and timbers were also salvaged from the other agricultural barns nearby.

The home's external walls were insulated with sheep’s wool, before being clad with larch timber, while inside the rooms proudly showcase reclaimed and raw materials, such as timber beams, polished concrete floors, red brickwork, ply cabinetry and metal detailing.

The main living space benefits from a broken-plan layout, with the spacious kitchen opening up to a cosy lounge that provides views across the surrounding landscape. 

Bespoke sliding doors connect the interior to an exterior courtyard, while huge roof lights draw ample daylight into the heart of the home. As well as an open-concept living space, the barn also provides a separate dining room and five bedrooms, which all filter off from the central gallery – including the two-storey master suite.

The property also boasts a biomass boiler and underfloor heating, as well as a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system, making it highly eco-friendly.

Known as the Ancient Party Barn, this incredible historic building was once a series of functioning farm buildings. Dating back to the 18th century, architects Liddicoat & Goldhill rescued the derelict structures, cleverly reworking them into a magnificent residential home.

Comprising a former dairy barn and several stables, the home overlooks the scenic North Downs Way in Folkestone, Kent.

As avid collectors of reclaimed architectural artefacts, the owners wanted their discoveries to play an important role in the home's design. "Our task was to combine the quality of the surviving barn fragments with the texture and tone of their found materials," architect David Liddicoat told Dezeen.

The building's original green oak frame was in poor condition, so had to be carefully dismantled and restored by specialists. The frame is now supported by a steel shell, clad in structural insulated panels (SIPs) – a highly thermally efficient building material.

An impressive tapered chimney is the highlight of the 2,295-square-foot interior. It supports a dramatic mezzanine floor, which is accessed via an industrial steel staircase that's akin to a slide.

The mezzanine houses an open-plan master bedroom and bathroom, both of which overlook the living area below. The kitchen sits at the opposite end of the barn and combines both new and reclaimed furniture, as well as custom-made steel beams that support the structure further. There's even a "floating ‘crows nest’ sleeping platform" located in the roof.

Plus, the main living space boasts a large, mechanically operated window, which pivots from a central hinge, allowing the entire pane to be opened up like a garage door.

Positioned in Pullenvale, a suburb of Brisbane, Australia, this awe-inspiring property was designed by Paul Uhlmann Architects as a weekend getaway for a city couple and their children.

The idea of crafting a modern barn-style home was embraced since the building was intended to be a place where the family could go and ride their horses.

Having spent time living in the United States, the couple initially requested an American barn, so Paul Uhlmann Architects took this idea and elevated it. With glazed gable ends and a sharply curving roofline, the contemporary barn is covered with Australian hardwood and topped by a corrugated zincalume roof, formed from both aluminium and zinc.

While the exterior is remarkably impressive, the interior is perhaps even more so. The double-height living space is decorated with exposed structural beams and topped by a dramatic ceiling.

There's a lounge, a dining zone and a kitchen that's tucked directly against one of the home's glazed gables. Sliding wooden screens at either side of the property allow the interior to be opened up to the grounds outside, while endless glazing draws light into every corner.

Upstairs, you'll find the home's bedrooms and bathrooms. The master suite overlooks the living area below, while this bunk room is perfect for the couple's children and any visiting friends.

Skylights in the bedrooms allow the occupants to watch the clouds pass by and take in views of the night sky after sunset. If this is barn living, then we're sold!

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