Old and new homes – in pictures

Historic home: Norfolk. The agent suggests this two-bed barn conversion in Ludham would make a low maintenance second home or impressive holiday let. The hayloft has plenty of character with high vaulted ceilings, exposed timbers and wood latch doors, but the whole includes enough modern comforts, like underfloor heating and a wet room, to keep holidaymakers happy. It’s also smack bang in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. Cost: £225,000. Waterside , 01692 531034 Photograph: Waterside New build: Essex. There’s nothing like a bit of clapboard to make a new property look homely. This £199,995 three-bedder in Colchester has an uber-modern kitchen, laminate flooring on the ground floor, and the master bedroom has an en suite shower room. There’s also a separate family bathroom. Taylor Wimpey , 01206 598060 Photograph: Taylor Wimpey Historic home: Somerset. This £132,500 soft-grey stone cottage in Shepton Mallet is like the Tardis: it looks compact from the outside. But the living room is 23ft long, there's a decent-sized kitchen cum breakfast room, and a separate utility room. Upstairs are two double bedrooms and a bathroom. It’s all very cute apart from the dark wood kitchen cupboards – you might want to give those a lick of lighter paint. Merridian Properties , 01749 681032 Photograph: Merridian Properties Photograph: Action images New build: Hampshire. The rooms of this three-bedder in Preston Candover, near Basingstoke, are pretty generous in size: the kitchen/diner, for example, measures in excess of 19ft by 12ft, and the bedrooms are all proper doubles without the need to squeeze around the bed to get to the (built in) wardrobe. The open barn-style garage is attractive but may not suit homeowners who like to store everything from the lawnmower to the kiddies’ bikes. On the market for £399,950. Enfields , 01256 274035 Photograph: Enfields Photograph: Action images Historic home: Buckinghamshire. The three bedrooms are snug in this stone cottage in Stoke Goldington, Newport Pagnell: the biggest measures 11.5ft by 8ft. But the interior is neat and light, with a modern kitchen and bathroom, although the front door leads straight into the living room. You will want to spend lots of time outside anyway: the lawned back garden is enclosed by beautiful stone walls with trees at the bottom and a field to the side. On the market for £224,995. Astons Estate Agents , 01908 711252 Photograph: Astons Estate Agents Photograph: Action images