Country living has long been associated with a rustic way of life and a sense of tradition. This strong appreciation of rural traditions does not mean, however, that all country homes are relics of the past. Contemporary solutions and innovative ideas work equally well when old spaces are given over to new uses, converted, renovated or just revived. A country house is intimately connected to the land and all its seasons and is built to last using natural, indigenous materials. These are the core qualities of the countryside style, whether old or new.