Welcome to our new schoolhouse!
I haven't painted it yet, but hopefully I'll have cooperative weather and time in the next few weeks. The model at Lowe's was a cute red barn, but we'll be painting ours to match our house (yes, painting the house, too... not keeping that awful grey and purple!) The siding will be "Blanched Thyme", the doors "Cooper Molera Fandango Red" and the trim "Honeymilk". We need to paint the house, the shed and the school - but so far I've only purchased a gallon of each color.
It's 10'x12', with double doors, a storage loft, a gable window, 4 side windows that open and have screens, shutters and window boxes. I've added shelves and a white board. Eventually we hope to add counters so the kids will each have their own workspace, but for now, a card table is doing the trick. We also plan to add insulation, electricity and heat (a space heater anyway), to make it more useful during the winter. I'm on the lookout for an old bell, to make it look more like a school, I want to add a little box with a bell on top, but I have to find the bell first. I'm envisioning about 10-12" in diameter. So if you're at a garage sale or flea market this summer and see something that would work, let me know!
We bought this shed mostly for homeschooling. It's been great to have a space set aside with all of our supplies and less distractions. We generally head out there at about 10 each morning, do our school work, then head back home for lunch between 12 and 1. Yesterday I moved the kids' computer out there, though it's not completely hooked up yet, and we have to run an extension cord out our bedroom window for power. I'm not sure exactly how well it will work during the winter months, but we'll do our best. For now, we're thinking we'll keep doing school throughout the summer (it's really quite pleasant out there with the doors and windows open on a warm day), just in case we need to take some time off during the colder parts of winter. Gotta love the flexibility of homeschooling!
I'm also using it as a craft space, for scrapbooking, etc. I can't wait to have a few friends over on summer evenings to scrap in the schoolhouse. I've always wanted a dedicated craft room, and this is good enough for me! It's a nice getaway. And with the doors open, I can see the kids playing in the yard while I play with my paper and embellishments. I can also use my laptop out there - the roof blocks the glare on the screen, while I still get plenty of fresh air and can supervise the kids.
Love your school house Hil!!! AWESOME!!! So excited for you and your new space to do the things you love. Let me know when you need help painting...I'm there....just don't let me try and do any edges. :) Love ya- K
Posted by: Kristie | 05/20/2007 at 08:26 PM
That is so cool, Hilary! I would think it will make everyone focus more too, being in the "school" environment rather than transitioning from this is the dinner table, but now it's school time. I am sure that works, too, but this seems great. Good vision you had!
Posted by: shawn | 05/23/2007 at 01:48 AM