Once places of worship, these buildings are inherently special, sacred spaces. So when it came to converting them into residences for modern living, their owners approached them with reverence, keeping intact the buildings’ original character while tuning them up for daily life. Read on for some of our favorite updates to historic churches.

Near Amsterdam, a Couple Turn the Top of a Former Chapel Into Their Home and Studio

A Converted 19th-Century Church in the English Countryside

A Sumptuous Home in a Converted Neoclassical Church in San Francisco

Measuring over 5,300 square feet, the multilevel home retains much of its original character, including 30-foot cathedral ceilings, exposed brick walls, and stained glass windows. The great room is surrounded by multiple dining and seating areas which can be arranged in a number of formats across the central gathering space." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Lunghi Media Group" photoUserId=""/>

A Divine Intervention Is Staged for a 16th-Century Spanish Church

Rent One of These Stunning Lofts in a Converted Brooklyn Church

A Converted 17th-Century Church in Italy

A Former Church in Austin Turns Into Airy, Loft-Style Homes

A Brick Church in Quebec Becomes a Resonant Home

A Glorious Live/Work Pad in a Former L.A. Church

At Home in a Modern Church

For Santiago and Bonnie Suarez, the question was, in carving out space within the space, "how much to let what we were doing show on the outside." In keeping with the architects’ aesthetic principles, the answer was, as little as possible: to let the exterior walls of the church read as they had been written more than 150 years ago." layout="wide" credit="Photo by Juliana Sohn" photoUserId="6133431425898708992"/>

A 1930s Church in Melbourne Gets a Dramatic Conversion

In Australia, a Couple Recast an Adorable Church as Their Family Home

Related Reading:

These 10 Refreshed Barns Bring Modern Living to the Countryside

20 Modern Farmhouse Design Ideas That Are Irresistibly Chic

Also Appears In

A Converted 19th-Century Church in the English Countryside Asks $923K

12 Churches That Have Been Turned Into Heavenly Homes