When it comes to design — whether it’s home design, fashion, art or anything else — trends generally come full circle. What was popular to wear when your parents were younger will soon come back, slightly refined, but still essentially the same. Modern rustic style is a great example of this in terms of home and interior design. What was born out of necessity for those living on the western frontier is now a favorite home style in rehabbed and new homes.

Since large settlements and manufacturing were typically miles away, early settlers of rural regions needed to survive with only the supplies that had on-hand. That meant cabins with exteriors built entirely with wood and some exposed stone. Sturdy, leather couches were also popular among ranchers for their sturdiness. This took place in every region in the world, not just the American frontier. In fact, modern rustic design draws mainly from early Italian rustic homes.

photo by Restoration Hardware / CC0

Since around the turn of the century, rustic has made a large comeback in home and furniture design. While still using the same materials as the original rustic homes, modern rustic has created a new feel without losing the exposed materials. Along with raw wood and stone, modern rustic homes are notable for their natural colors, large windows that seamlessly blend into nature, modern furniture, and stone fireplaces. The homes below are some of the best modern rustic homes out there today.

Modern rustic homes don’t always have to be newly built: this 19th-century Pennsylvania barn was entirely refurbished. Designers used entirely reclaimed wood to update this barn into a large home perfect for entertaining. The interior wood is almost entirely from the original structure, giving the home a weathered, primitive feel. In order to give the barn more light, large French doors were installed for the front and back entrances. The color scheme in the home is entirely natural: mostly brown with some greens on furniture. If it weren’t for the electricity and central air, walking into this home would be like stepping back into the 1800s.

photo by Unsplash / CC0

Here’s a home in Colorado that is the perfect blend of rustic and modern — with a slight bias towards modern. It features exposed wood, high windows that cover almost the entirety of the back façade, and an elegant yet understated fireplace. The exterior of the home is as modern as it gets with hard angles and dark brick walls. Probably its most unique feature is its modern glass steps, but if you look straight above you’ll see an unfinished ceiling and wooden planks. This home proves that even if you want a modern feel and rustic accents aren’t mutually exclusive.

North Carolina has become a big region for rustic homes, with this mountain home being the perfect example of rustic living in the Tar Heel State. The wood and stone exterior create a perfect transition with the natural scenery around the house, which includes beautiful views of the forested mountain. Each room is carefully crafted with weathered barn wood and features that make you unsure of where the house ends and the outside begins. The back patio is covered, but raises high to allow for beautiful views that the homeowner can enjoy just to themselves. There’s also multiple trails around and on the property, giving the owners the ability to live the rustic lifestyle with their rustic home.