London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 22, 2025

A 19th-Century Barn Is Revived as a Cozy Mountain Retreat in the Czech Republic

A 19th-Century Barn Is Revived as a Cozy Mountain Retreat in the Czech Republic

A Czech designer partners with local stonemasons and carpenters to convert a tattered structure into a boutique guesthouse in the Carpathian Mountains.

At the foot of the Western Carpathians in the Czech Republic sits an inviting, two-story holiday home that dates back to the 1800s. Known as Mezi Lukami-which is Czech for "between meadows"-the historic barn was restored by Czech designer Daniela Hradilová and her partner, Petr Hradil, to serve as the fifth guesthouse for their nearby boutique hotel, Mezi Plutky, which the duo opened in 2017.



Set in the village of Čeladná in the Beskydy Mountains (which are part of the Western Carpathians), the restored Czech guesthouse was originally built to serve as a house and barn.

The 19th-century building, which was originally built in the typical vernacular of the Moravian Wallachia region, had fallen into ruins when the previous owners approached Hradilová and Hradil to rescue it. After getting a proper sense of the structure’s storied past as one of the oldest buildings in the area, the designer and her husband were eager to revive it.



As part of the renovation, the former entrance hall was converted into the main living room.

Hradilová placed great emphasis on the building’s history to influence not only the new design, but also the surrounding setting. "An essential aspect that all my projects have in common is that they are created with great care and calm," she explains to Urlaubsarchitektur, Europe’s leading platform for architecture-focused holiday homes. "I approach them with respect and humility for the buildings and the people who lived there."



Hradilová decorated the home with simple pieces that emphasize the interior’s original details. In the living room, a gray sofa complements the stone floors, while wooden chairs and storage consoles contrast with the whitewashed walls.

With the help of experienced local carpenters and stonemasons, Hradilová relied on "ingredients" found on-site-such as natural stone and wood-to reconstruct the volume into an inviting space that encourages visitors to linger.



An oven that resembles a wood-burning stove infuses the kitchen with warm, cozy vibes.

Now, the converted guesthouse spreads across nearly 2,800 square feet in the alpine village of Čeladná, which is located in the Beskydy Mountains within the Western Carpathians. Timber walls and beamed ceilings pay homage to the structure’s past, while also complementing the restored, stone-clad walls and floors. Sliding glass doors and large picture windows imbue the moody interiors with a natural glow.



The former barn’s small, yet fully functional kitchen offers all new appliances. A dark-blue cabinet unit adds a bold pop of color to the room’s neutral palette.

The Mezi Lukami guesthouse comfortably sleeps four guests, with one bedroom located on the main floor and another on the upper level-both fitted with original floorboards and whitewashed wooden walls.



The dining area is located in what used to be the passageway between the house and the barn. Lighting designer Davide Groppi’s Moon luminaire hangs above the table near tall, sliding glass doors that extend the space to the enclosed yard.

According to Hradilová, the detailed renovation wouldn’t have been possible without the help she and her husband received from local people who work in various trades. "At a time when traditional craftsmanship is disappearing, their art and passion is a kind of miracle," she states.



The bedroom on the main level is fitted with wide-plank floorboards, whitewashed walls, and exposed beam ceilings, which presents a similar aesthetic to the primary living spaces.



Blue hues continue into the guesthouse’s bathroom, where an elegant, oversize sink is controlled by a black faucet handle carved into the stone wall.



Upstairs, a loft awaits with picture windows that overlook the alpine landscape. The deliberately placed lighting enhances the moody ambience of the space.



The loft also features a gallery above the dining area, which connects to the additional bedroom.



The dark, timber-clad walls and ceilings recall the structure’s pastoral heritage while presenting a calming oasis for guests to sleep, read, and unwind.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
After 200,000 Orders in 2 Minutes: Xiaomi Accelerates Marketing in Europe
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
Trump Called Viktor Orbán: "Why Are You Using the Veto"
Horror in the Skies: Plane Engine Exploded, Passengers Sent Farewell Messages
MSNBC Rebrands as MS NOW Amid Comcast’s Cable Spin-Off
AI in Policing: Draft One Helps Speed Up Reports but Raises Legal and Ethical Concerns
Shame in Norway: Crown Princess’s Son Accused of Four Rapes
Apple Begins Simultaneous iPhone 17 Production in India and China
A Robot to Give Birth: The Chinese Announcement That Shakes the World
Finnish MP Dies by Suicide in Parliament Building
Outrage in the Tennis World After Jannik Sinner’s Withdrawal Storm
William and Kate Are Moving House – and the New Neighbors Were Evicted
Class Action Lawsuit Against Volkswagen: Steering Wheel Switches Cause Accidents
Taylor Swift on the Way to the Super Bowl? All the Clues Stirring Up Fans
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Apple Expands Social Media Presence in China With RedNote Account Ahead of iPhone 17 Launch
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Cambridge Dictionary Adds 'Skibidi,' 'Delulu,' and 'Tradwife' Amid Surge of Online Slang
Bill Barr Testifies No Evidence Implicated Trump in Epstein Case; DOJ Set to Release Records
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
The CEO Who Replaced 80% of Employees for the AI Revolution: "I Would Do It Again"
Emails Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Character.ai Bets on Future of AI Companionship
China Ramps Up Tax Crackdown on Overseas Investments
Japanese Office Furniture Maker Expands into Bomb Shelter Market
Intel Shares Surge on Possible U.S. Government Investment
Hurricane Erin Threatens U.S. East Coast with Dangerous Surf
EU Blocks Trade Statement Over Digital Rule Dispute
EU Sends Record Aid as Spain Battles Wildfires
JPMorgan Plans New Canary Wharf Tower
Zelenskyy and his allies say they will press Trump on security guarantees
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Escalating Clashes in Serbia as Anti-Government Protests Spread Nationwide
The Drought in Britain and the Strange Request from the Government to Delete Old Emails
Category 5 Hurricane in the Caribbean: 'Catastrophic Storm' with Winds of 255 km/h
"No, Thanks": The Mathematical Genius Who Turned Down 1.5 Billion Dollars from Zuckerberg
The surprising hero, the ugly incident, and the criticism despite victory: "Liverpool’s defense exposed in full"
Digital Humans Move Beyond Sci-Fi: From Virtual DJs to AI Customer Agents
YouTube will start using AI to guess your age. If it’s wrong, you’ll have to prove it
×