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Clever Conversions Give Old Souls a Second Chance

A lighthouse, train depot, church, bourbon distillery, kiln and even an old missile silo are just some of the places people now call home

Laura Gaskill 14 June 2015

Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers

Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More

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What do a brick schoolhouse, old church, 1800s bourbon distillery and Victorian-era water tower have in common? If you’re searching for a unique place to call home, it might be time to expand your vision of what a house can be – each of these structures was transformed (with plenty of vision and hard work) into a unique living space. Take a peek into these living-space conversions and imagine what life would be like in a house that pushes the boundaries of home.

Sandberg Schoffel Architects

Country getaway in NSW
An abandoned old church caught the eye of architect Michael Sandberg, who happened to be driving past, and he spent a year transforming it into a sleek weekender. Located in the Southern Tablelands of NSW, the exterior remains largely unchanged but the interior is now light, bright and modern.

See the rest of this conversion

User

Lighthouse getaway in Scotland
On the edge of Loch Ness sits a modest inland lighthouse that, for more than a century, guided ships through the narrow passageway into Loch Dochfour. Recently renovated, the lighthouse has found new life as a two-bedroom guesthouse for vacationers.

See the rest of this converted lighthouse

SHED Architecture & Design

Guest barn on Puget Sound
Instead of tearing down an old barn on her Whidbey Island property in Washington state, this homeowner renovated it for use as a guesthouse. Perfect for extended family, overnight guests and events, the refurbished barn exudes comfort and charm.

See the rest of this barn guesthouse

Andrew Simpson Architects

Holiday home on Phillip Island
The owners of this historic slice of Victoria’s Phillip Island searched for years for a traditional chicory kiln they could turn into a private escape. This clever holiday house makes use of mobile joinery they can move around to suit their needs and, best of all, it’s only 600m from the beach.

See more of this historic conversion

Wilmes & Associates Architects

Bourbon distillery in Kentucky
The crumbling stone ruins of a mid-1800s bourbon distillery became part of a unique new home, crafted using materials reclaimed from other structures on the property, including an old tobacco barn and a log cabin. The home retains a strong sense of history while providing all the modern comforts for the owners – and soon for their B&B guests too.

See the rest of this converted distillery

Northworks Architects + Planners

Renovated barn in Michigan
It wasn’t easy to salvage the interior of this old Michigan barn, but for the owner, it was worth the effort. The stunning new home is a creative pairing of original barn interior with a fresh, new exterior and stone-covered foundation.

See the rest of this home

Melander Architects, Inc.

White church in Wisconsin
Architect and homeowner Kurt Melander saw potential in this traditional 1898 white church in the middle of a Wisconsin field, and purchased it for a steal at $25,000 (AU$32,500). After he updated just about everything in the formerly dilapidated structure, the church now functions beautifully as a simple, serene home.

See the rest of this home

Kara Mosher

Train depot in Texas
Many would have passed this funky little building by, but François and Julie Lévy, who were on the hunt for a unique structure to convert into a home, immediately saw the potential. Built around 1904, this decommissioned train depot in Austin had been moved away from the tracks and essentially abandoned until the Lévys purchased it, transforming it into a quirky, charming family home for themselves and their three kids.

See the rest of this home

Sullivan, Goulette & Wilson Ltd. Architects

Sustainable schoolhouse conversion in Chicago
For lovers of the industrial modern look, you can’t get a much cooler structure to work with than a century-old brick schoolhouse – and for a family with five children, filling the space wasn’t a problem. Solar lighting tubes, geothermal heat and creative reuse of salvaged wood are just a few of the ways these homeowners (in collaboration with their design team) made the home both green and beautiful.

See the rest of this converted schoolhouse

LeichtUSA

Victorian water tower in London
One of the more unusual conversion projects in the bunch is this Victorian-era water tower in central London. The tower has seven small stories and additional living space in a modern addition; its highlight is the spectacular view from the top level.

See the rest of this seven-storey home

Alexander Michael & Assoc

Missile silo in upstate New York
Not many people would see a decommissioned missile silo as a potential home, but that is precisely what architect Alexander Michael did when he converted a former nuclear silo into a living space – complete with the original launch control console.

See more of this underground former missile silo

TELL US
If you could live in any converted structure (church, school, fire station), what would it be?

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pmg66

We added onto a 1910 wooden church in Christchurch, New Zealand. With over 2 metre high ceilings it has been a wonderful space to live in. Sadly it was damaged during the earthquake five years ago. We are still awaiting insurance assessment and whether we can save the building or not.

2 Likes 13 August 2015 at 5:03pm

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Shelley Brauer

i bought a convent in central Victoria as a single mum with 3 kids sometimes struggled with reno but its a lovely home now ,it certainly was a labor of love

Like 4 January 2016 at 9:50am

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