The Evolution of a School Room

When we moved in we had our hands full.  And we still have our hands full.  A 180 year old house demands constant attention even after years of making it your own.  We're balancing the demands of maintenance with the desire of nesting, which means it's taking a while to accomplish anything obvious.  i.e. We're fixing crap way more than fixing it up.
However, I put the school room at the top of my list, because I needed it to work and feel right pretty much immediately.  Seven months later and just in time for our Summer break....we're getting somewhere!  I still have several details I want to add--art prints to hang, bits and pieces from IKEA that always make life easier, and curtains to make. (After I remember how to sew.)
Here's how things have panned out:

It was our catch-all at first.  I don't know how long this lasted--I've repressed that memory.  But it gave me enough grief as long as it did.

 We FINALLY got things put in their proper place and "most" of the junk out of the school room.  That whole mess in the corner eventually vanished thanks to Craigslist and the curb!

 I have already praised my husband for the secretary's desk you now see has replaced the trusty IKEA desk.  It has been such a wonderful addition to the room--and it is more functional that I ever imagined.  Here, above and below, we are preparing to paint the dark panelling.  The ceilings are low, so we needed brighten things up.  And it just kind of smelled old.  I'm weird about smells.  If it doesn't smell good--and I mean GOOD--I can't sleep at night.

Below: we finally got it painted!!

 Notice the graffiti covered desks?  Remember those for later.

It's a perfectly suitable school room, but it's also nice to have an extra room when there are many children afoot.  They can eat in there if the dining room is too crowded, or do crafts before things get wild.

I found this jewel at my favorite antique store.  It's simple enough, and anyone can do it.  It's just an old footboard painted w/ chalkboard paint.  It's a good place for me to put good quotes and memory verses.

Remember the graffiti desks?  I was happy to let the kids draw all over them because I knew we were eventually going to sand and paint them.  I also knew it would take me forever to get to it, so in the mean time they could have a little fun defacing property.  B.daddy finally made this goodness happen.  Against my better style judgement, I let each kids pick their own color to spray paint the legs. Bright pink, bright green, and dark purple. (I so would have gone with a classic cream for all three.  Alas.)

Originally I thought it was just a fun idea.  Then it dawned on me last night that this would be the perfect place to keep the days tasks before them.  I've never had a good spot for that, so I've just kept up with it in my head and they've never really owned it.  But they love the new system.  Each morning I'll write which subjects they'll complete during lessons, and as the morning goes by they get to cross off what they've done.  At the end of the day we wipe it clean--which is my favorite part!

 Crazy kids.  These two had risen, dressed (it's a double-hat day), eaten breakfast, and listened to their scripture reading before Li'l Bit even stirred.  Sweet girl stays up till all hours reading in bed.  I just can't bring myself to say "Stop reading and go to sleep."  The sleep part's okay, but not the cease reading.  So she's started to sleep till 8 or 9.  Wish I could join her.

So that's how it's come to be that we have a mostly functional, beautifully blue school room.

But, in the end, no matter how wonderful we manage to make the school room...this is the best place to do school!  In full sunlight and cool breezes.