Modern Country

On an empty plot of rural land in New York State, interior designer Steven Gambrel and his architect collaborators have conjured this elegant newbuild, which feels both contemporary and rich in history, imposing yet comfortable

Once two keepers' cottages, this eighteenth-century, flint-and-brick house was discovered on a visit to the South Downs by the owners, who have transformed it into their ideal weekend home, furnished with salvaged finds and contemporary art. We revisit the house story from 2019.

Called in to decorate this farmhouse and barn in the Pennsylvania countryside, Madeline Hause filled it with characterful antiques and judiciously chosen contemporary elements, creating a tranquil backdrop for family life

Deep inside a protected nature reserve on Mallorca’s northern coastline, the American sculptor Michael Prentice has spent decades building an enchanting retreat.

The team at Sims Hilditch have used natural materials and light colours to make a sanctuary of this seaside house

With its low ceilings and dark beams, this Arts and Crafts house in Surrey was looking sad and neglected, until interior designer Sarah Peake brought a new, energetic spirit to its rooms using a bold palette and pretty prints

Making use of a skilled team, the English owners of this stone house in the Luberon have restored its original details and layout, decorating and furnishing it with a light touch to allow the architecture to shine. We revisit the archive story from 2021.

Interior designer Tom Morris, director of Morrisstudio, has combined traditional architecture with muted colours and a clever mix of 20th-century pieces in this classic honey-coloured Georgian house

Looking for a rural retreat close to their Manhattan home, the owners of this house were sold on its 50 acres of Connecticut countryside, though less impressed by the original 1920s building. But with the help of designer Hugh Leslie, they have created a timeless home in the same beautiful spot

Not consciously in the market for a new project, the furniture designers Russell Pinch and Oona Bannon nevertheless fell for the possibilities offered by Devon farm buildings once used as an ice-cream factory. The resulting interiors reflect their great passion for detail, materials and craftsmanship

Making the most of a series of delays, interior designer Marion Lichtig has collaborated with the owners of this newbuild near Padstow to create a coastal retreat with an established feel, thanks to a blend of vintage textiles and decorative antiques

With the help of architectural studio Bindloss Dawes, the colour curator at Farrow & Ball replaced an ‘unliveable’ structure with a build that is contemporary yet sympathetic to the rural landscape, and which has just won a prestigious RIBA award for architecture in England's south-west

On acquiring a generous Georgian-style house in rural Berkshire, a young London family brought in interior designer Nicola Harding to help them make their own colourful mark on their new home.

Working with decorator—and longtime friend—Rita Konig, tastemaker Deborah Needleman takes the slow approach in crafting her house.

On the lip of a granite rock in Maine’s storied Down East peninsula, Maura McEvoy celebrates a beautifully preserved mid-century house by the architect Emily Muir, in an exclusive extract from The Maine House II

Creating a newbuild with soul can be a challenge, but thanks to American design firm Ashe Leandro this barn-like home on Martha's Vineyard belonging to comedian Seth Meyers has it in spades, combining a quiet palette with a well-chosen mix of reclaimed materials

Though originally converted in the 1990s, this former mill in a steep-sided Wiltshire valley retained a frustrating layout that made moving through the property awkward. Rising to the challenge, architects David Liddicoat and Sophie Goldhill reconfigured the floorplan and added an extension to create a more coherent space.

Called to bring personality to a new-build house in Connecticut, Elizabeth Hay applied her clever blend of bright colours and patterned fabrics to enliven the blank canvas and make it suitable for every season

It was a case of right place, right time for Mike and Becky Goss when the barn next to their 19th-century Connecticut farmhouse came up for sale. This plot offered an opportunity to commission a newbuild, providing the extra space that they needed and allowing them to embrace a more modern aesthetic.

From wool trading to music recording, this unusual stone building in Somerset has been used as a centre for craft and creativity since the 16th century. Thanks to the vision of its owners and their choice of architect, Jonathan Tuckey, it has been thoughtfully reinterpreted to create a modern home and workspace.