Parquet floors and satiny wallpaper lend French-inspired elegance to the handmade brick walls of this restored barn in the English countryside. Built in 1825 as part of a model farm on a larger estate, the stables were recently restored to become a comfortably open-concept retreat. The villa sits on the 150-acre grounds of Fairoaks, nestled into the rolling Malvern Hills, 2 miles from the pub.

Set out on a walk around the grounds; take out the football, cricket, and croquet equipment; and pop in to the shared indoor pool for a swim beneath its barn-inspired wood paneling. The villa has its own private garden for sunny mornings and comes stocked with logs for the log burner for cooler evenings.

True to their 19th-century heritage, the stables boast a range of traditional elements, from parquet floors and exposed ceiling beams to handcrafted brick walls. But they also have a few welcome contemporary touches, such as floor-to-ceiling windows giving onto pastoral views and an open-plan layout that encompasses living area, dining area, and fully equipped kitchen.

The villa makes an ideal base for walks in the Malvern Hills, home to some of the oldest rocks in England, followed by dinners at the pub 2 miles away. The town of Ledbury, 5 miles away, has a great biweekly market, and Cheltenham, 20 miles away, hosts a renowned literary festival. Take a day trip to the quaint villages of the Cotswolds.

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