While modern properties are beautiful in their own right, historic homes entice buyers for altogether more inspiring reasons. From a striking Victorian farmhouse dating back to 1892 to a circular mansion constructed in the 1960s, these old-school abodes all boast period features and classic design. Offering a fascinating glimpse into the real estate world of yesteryear, these perfectly preserved pads will have you feeling like you've traveled back in time…

Located in Altadena, California, the McNally Estate was designed by early 20th-century American architect, Frederick Roehrig, and remains one of the country's best-preserved historic buildings. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the three-storey mansion dates back to 1888 and boasts a striking shingle facade and one of the most extraordinary rooms in all of the USA…

Known as the Turkish Room, this mesmerising octagonal space oozes opulence. Middle Eastern panelling and sumptuous silk fabrics enhance every surface, while stunning soft furnishings transport the occupier to Istanbul. Classical and Victorian-style carvings and stylised Arabic phrases decorate the walls, while, the 24-foot diameter and ceiling height balances out the extraordinary room with even proportions. 

The house was commissioned by the American publisher and map maker, Andrew McNally, and no expense was spared during construction. Created to highlight the luxury lifestyle that Southern California afforded, the McNally Estate sits on a raised 34,614-square-foot plot with views towards Catalina Island. With 6,938 square feet of interior space, the nine-bedroom, five-bathroom property is historic and remarkable in equal measure.

Exotic and indulgent, each one of the home's 22 rooms is bright and classically decorated in Queen Anne style. Almost all of its 19th-century features remain intact, from its carved timber staircase to its jewelled stained glass windows. There are 24 authentic gas lamps, three original chandeliers, bronze steam radiators, and decorative stencilling everywhere. Though the price is being kept secret, the house is estimated to fetch $2.78 million (£2.13m) when it sells.

Described by Windermere Realty Trust as "timeless, majestic and unadulterated", this quaint farmhouse was constructed in the American Queen Anne style in 1892. Located in the sought-after Portland neighbourhood of Eastmoreland, Oregon, the property features not one, but three romantic porches, a three-storey tower, an original carriage house and its very own American Heritage Chestnut tree. With this dwelling, the American Dream is well and truly alive.

Inside, the abode is equally as enticing and offers stunning original features throughout its 4,956-square-foot expanse. From traditional pocket doors with exposed iron-gear mechanics to decorative tiled and carved fireplaces, every space oozes period appeal. The home also boasts authentic Tigerwood and Birdseye Maple woodwork throughout, which is said to have been milled and shipped from New England, taking four years to arrive on site.

The home's authentic and spacious kitchen remains virtually untouched since its heyday almost 130 years ago, and benefits from original woodwork, a butler’s pantry, custom built-ins and a classic gas range oven. This pad proves that the kitchen is the heart of the home!

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There are five prominent bedrooms and a staggering 11 bathrooms in this dazzling property. On the top floor, there's also an artist’s studio with skylights and an open staircase that leads to the very top of the tower. It’s said that a captain’s wife once looked out towards the Willamette River from this very spot, awaiting the return of her husband. If you have $1.2 million (£911,988) going spare, then this thoroughly lovely lot could be yours.

For sale with Realtor, this property in Marietta, Ohio, was built in 1900 in the American Victorian style of architecture and features six bedrooms and six bathrooms across its grand 5,810-square-foot interior. Sitting on a quarter-of-an-acre of land, the prominent pad could be all yours for $560,000 (£430k) – a surprisingly good price considering its size and authentic period fixtures.

The Victorian gem has been sensitively renovated and still showcases many of its refined 19th-century craftsmanship. Each space is enhanced by authentic period details, such as large stained glass panels, oak floors, handcrafted mantles, Schonbek crystal chandeliers, oak arches and columns, Palladian windows and original brass hardware. The hallway also features a stunning hand-carved timber staircase, creating a real wow-factor entrance.

Elsewhere in the house, you’ll find a cherry wood kitchen, a great room, and a private office. The ground floor’s versatile layout is perfect for entertaining, while the home’s third level offers an additional 1,200 square feet of living space, with two extra bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom and a balcony. There are also two workshops and a utility room located in the building's converted basement.

If all that wasn't enough, the property also provides a spacious, lofted carriage house in its 9,900-square-foot garden, which comes complete with abundant storage and parking for up to three cars. Blending old with new, the yard's secluded courtyard is kitted out with a hot tub and an expansive patio finished with historic Ohio paving stones.

If you have $889,000 (£682k), then The Brown House could belong to you. Available via Coldwell Banker Real Estate, the property is one of the most well-renowned in Anderson, South Carolina. Historic and architecturally important, the regal abode dates back to 1910 and offers an attached two-bedroom apartment that was built in 2001 – perfect for guests.

The house has been beautifully maintained and comes decked out with original stained glass windows, 11 period fireplaces, and inlaid hardwood floors throughout. As well as plenty of historic features, a variety of modern conveniences have been added, making it suitable for a variety of buyers. 

The dwelling's 7,000-square-foot interior features 15 gorgeous rooms, including a grand foyer with a sweeping staircase, several formal parlours, and a butler's pantry. There are six bedrooms and five bathrooms, a new kitchen with a breakfast area, a sun room, and a balcony overlooking the garden – the only place you'll want to enjoy breakfast after you’ve settled in.

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Ideal as an exquisite family home, an opulent bed and breakfast or an impressive venue for weddings and celebrations, this traditional mansion also boasts an authentic covered carriage entrance with an original stoop, from which you could depart your carriage in true Scarlett O'Hara fashion.

If you're looking for an apartment with bags of British character, then pay attention to this listing. Located inside a stunning Grade II-listed mansion in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, the apartment is currently for sale with The Modern House for $442,000 (£340k). Originally built in 1927 for a retired army officer, the building has served several purposes over the years and was converted into stylish flats in 2018.

Positioned at the end of driveway off a quiet residential road, the apartment occupies the former ballroom and is the largest of the eight flats that make up the building. Known as the Chapel in the Woods, the exquisite pad has been beautifully restored and blends modern touches with classic architectural details, including oak panelling, honed-marble and chevron-parquet oak floors.

The main open-plan living zone – which is home to a dining space, kitchen, and lounge – has soaring ceilings, double-height windows, and theatrical oak doors that act as a breathtaking focal feature in this seemingly never-ending room. Elsewhere, there's one double bedroom and a single bathroom.

Available with a 196-year lease, this superb property won't be available for long. Once you opt to leave this vast open-plan living space, you’ll be greeted with a well-maintained communal hallway and a second private entrance, accessible via the rear courtyard. Outside, you'll also find an attractive private courtyard garden with flower beds and an expansive pergola and solarium. 

If you're looking for a grand Art Deco-style abode, then look no further. Positioned in the Burradoo area of New South Wales, Australia, this glamorous property is reminiscent of The Great Gatsby and dates back to 1936. Nestled on over one-and-a-half acres of parkland, the 6,759-square-foot residence oozes Golden Age character.

For sale through Di Jones Real Estate, the Art Deco home boasts a dominant ’30s exterior with a classic Porte-cochère front door, and an interior defined by geometric shapes, lavish ornamentation, and antique finishes. From the elegant timber panelling of the entrance foyer to the original open fires and large picture windows of the lounge, this dwelling is stylish and bold in equal measure.

The property's extensive ballroom is more like the interior of a classic English gentleman's club, while all of its five spacious bedrooms are charming and filled with light. With a guide price of £2.58 million ($3.38m), all offers are currently being presented and considered for this property, so if you play your cards right you could end up securing this pad for a bargain sum.

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We adore the home's original family bathroom, which comes complete with a vintage teal suite, cream tiles, and nostalgic mirrors and lighting. Elsewhere, there's a stand-alone guest cottage, a Jacuzzi, a sun room, and a covered exterior deck. The property also has state-of-the-art security system and hydronic heating, combining the best of old and new.

This incredible house can be found in the popular residential neighbourhood of Sherman Oaks, California. Known as The Asher Residence, the cool pad was designed by mid-century designer, and hands-on builder, Rodney Walker, and was completed in 1949. After seeing the homes that Walker curated for the American Case Study House program, the Asher family hired him to design them an original family residence. The result, we're sure you'll agree, is inspired.

The Ashers had a grand budget and left no expense spared, opting for a large-scale property complete with refined interior details. Yet their adventurous plan also took into account the spirit of Walker's Case Study work, making the house a unique blend of luxury mansion and classic mid-century retreat. Today, the property is considered one of the designer's most important projects and it isn't difficult to see why.

Listed for sale with Crosby Doe Associates for $3 million (£2.3m), the stylish 40s dwelling was designed to have a flexible layout, which would allow the Ashers to alter their living space as needed. Depending on how the family wanted to use the space, the floor plan could include up to four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms, while the open-plan communal area has a dining zone and numerous dens. There's also a media room on the lower ground floor, with its own separate entrance. 

The mid-century mansion spans 2,598 square feet and offers three distinct levels. A time capsule ffrom the ’40s, the home remains almost entirely untouched and acts as a museum for the pioneering architecture of one of America's greatest property designers. With extensive glazing, timber-covered walls, feature fireplaces, and natural beams adding texture to the ceilings, this residence is pretty much unlike any other house in the world.

Listed for sale with Funda for $1.8 million (£1.3m), this mid-century masterpiece was designed by celebrated Dutch architect, Herman Haan. Created in 1956, the detached villa can be found in a leafy suburb of Rotterdam, Holland, and offers a striking facade and an even more impressive interior. As if frozen in time, this historic home is every architectural enthusiast’s fantasy…

With almost 2,000 square feet of inside space, the striking abode is characterised by walls of glass, exposed brickwork, and is seen here funished by complementary mid-century pieces. The entrance vestibule features a cool floating staircase, an indoor pond, and crazy paving slabs that ooze retro charm. Thanks to the seemingly endless glazing, almost every space also enjoys views onto the home's attractive 9,687-square-foot garden.

Offering plenty of post-war modernist character, the six-room pad has an unusual layout. While its open-plan living areas are located on the first floor, all four of the home's bedrooms are positioned at ground level. By placing the main lounge higher up, Haan allowed for panoramic landscape views from its extensive windows.

If you're a lover of vintage style, then you might just fall head over heels for the home's ultra-cool kitchen. Unchanged since its creation, the space offers a colourful retro floor, antique pendant lighting, and old-school fixtures. While some may want to modernise the space, others will cherish its playful character and mid-century touches. There's also an underground garage with space for two vehicles. 

Prepare to be amazed, because Oculus House is a truly exceptional piece of by-gone architecture. Designed and built in the 1960s by Australian architect, Frank Fox, the three-storey house boasts a notable circular facade and is dominated by curving glass. If you love the exterior, then you're going to adore what's going on the inside...

Sitting on 10,000 square feet of land, Oculus House can be found in the heart of Sydney, Australia, just a short distance from the city's best beaches and golf courses. The vintage dwelling beautifully blends mid-century elements with innovative fixtures, such as the free-form recycled black-butt joinery screen that subtly segments the main open-plan living area. 

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There are numerous standout features throughout the house, including a domed roof and retractable curved windows that were designed to wrap around the whole building. Not only do these allow natural light to flood into every room, but they also provide 270-degree views across the garden. As well as a retro timber-and-stone kitchen, there's also a butler's pantry, a home theatre, a wet bar, and a five-car carport with vehicle turntable.

The home has six bedrooms and five bathrooms, with lift access to each of the three floors. The exterior balcony is the only spot you'll want to enjoy your morning coffee, while the master ensuite blends mid-century style with contemporary drama. For sale with Sotheby's International Realty (POA), ’60s architecture doesn't get any better than this.

Designed by celebrated architect Syd Furness in 1979, this sleek property is perfect for admirers of retro properties. Covering a single floor, the home offers four bedrooms and is considered one of the most outstanding pieces of modernist architecture in Cambridge, England. 

For sale with The Modern House for $1.68 million (£1.295m), the residence is positioned in a tranquil oasis close to one of the city’s most sought-after streets, Hills Avenue. Furness designed the building for his own family, after discovering the secluded plot on a walk one day. Constructed from timber frame, the '70s abode is reminiscent of the works of Frank Lloyd Wright and features extensive glazing, decorative timber beams, and a sleek but unusual layout.

Light-filled and practical, the pad is laid out around a large living room with an original open fire place and centralised seating. The kitchen and dining area can be found off the main lounge area, while four prominent bedrooms sit at the other side of the property. The retro kitchen has some handy purpose-built shelving, while the home's private study enjoy marvelous views across the garden.

Benefiting from 1,680 square feet of inside space, every room is finished with stunning period details, still intact over 40 years after they were installed. From white-washed timber ceilings to elegant hardwood floors, the whole house is wonderfully retro and extremely beautiful for it. Support beams break up the open-plan layout, while skylights allow natural light to travel through the interior. We don't know about you, but we think we're in love.

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Fans of 1980s design ware bound to fall head over heels when they see this gorgeous house designed by ‘romantic modernist’ architect, Norman Jaffe. Built in 1980 at the dawn of the decade, it was a bespoke commission to make the most of this amazing plot in East Hampton and so it has a modest footprint despite its 3,500-square-foot floorplan.

It’s not often that houses like this hit the market. It’s in absolutely pristine condition, still as gorgeous as the day it was built. On the market for $4.8 million (£3.7m) with Corcoran, it has three bedrooms and two bathrooms that share the open ground floor with a kitchen, dining, living room and home office. The timber-clad interior highlights the bold angles with the grain of the wood, and the floor is made of natural stone.

Spaces unfold dramatically in the work of art, disguised as a family home. This atrium has stunning views of the 4.5 acres of undisturbed waterfront that comes with the sale, including an 800-square-foot granite swimming pool and built-in spa facilities. These open tread stairs allow the light to flood into this double-height atrium - a perfect spot for a grand piano, we think!

The master suite takes up the entire top floor and includes a private study, offering stunning views of both the Accabonac Harbor and Gardiners Bay. There are several of these stone fireplaces too, for roaring open fires while you rest under the stars, thanks to this huge skylight. We're ready to go back to perms and leg warmers if it means we can live here!

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