You’ll Never Believe What These 6 Amazing Homes Used to Be

Surprising though it seems, that rustic interior belongs not to a boutique European hotel, but rather, an old windmill. Built in 1874, the converted windmill continues to grace the Dutch countryside with its dramatic silhouette. Topped with a charming mansard roof and four graceful sails, the artfully adapted abode stands only a few miles from bustling Amsterdam, yet it transports travelers to a quieter time and place.

If the interior of this property recalls a bygone era, that’s because it’s situated inside an ordinary railway carriage from a more genteel age. Voted among the top five “Best Spots to Enjoy the British Seaside” by “Condé Nast Traveler,” the little beach “house” offers plenty of windows, relics of its life on the tracks, from which to view the pristine western coast of Wales.

Comprising a basement, ground floor, three traditional floors, and a unique “in-between,” or half, floor, this towering seven-room property makes the most of its impressive vertical space. From the atmospheric fireplace and kitchen-diner on the ground floor, to the walk-in shower on the second floor, every room in the sky-high sanctuary is arranged with an eye toward maximizing space and utility.

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The lofty ceiling and windows with pointed arches inside this ethereal interior exemplify the exquisite craftsmanship of the Carpenter Gothic style. An open floor plan encourages creative decorating and accommodates a main living area with two bedrooms and one bath as well as a cozy mother-in-law studio complete with one bedroom and one bath.

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If you’re an architecture buff who spotted the ecclesiastical elements of the woodsy interior, you may have guessed correctly that the building once served as a church. Erected in 1867 and rebuilt in 1911, the Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Key West was converted into a detached home over a period of 30 years. While the 2,692-square-foot property no longer houses the church’s devoted congregation, the structure’s steeple and tall double doors attest to its religious roots.

Though its straight, narrow floor plan calls to mind a classic shotgun house, this distinctively direct structure was actually adapted from a historic covered bridge. The two hipped end posts of the bridge lend a sense of drama to an otherwise ordinary porch, while the series of braces flanking the side of the house hint at the staggering span of the bridge in its heyday.

Spare furnishings and fixtures with eye-catching silhouettes confer a modern minimalist look on this four-bedroom home in San Francisco’s affluent neighborhood of Noe Valley. In a surprising design decision, a silver-toned spiral staircase grants residents quick access from the spacious foyer, media room, and wine cellar on the ground floor directly up to the fourth floor, which is graciously appointed with a master bedroom and an outdoor terrace.

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Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!