Schoolhouse Converted into Private Home with Amazing Home Decoration Ideas
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Hallway Renewal
The Beginning
In the Beginning...
There was a lot that needed attention. The school hallways were dimly lit by 48 outdated surface-mounted fluorescent fixtures, many of which were damaged or not working at all. The terrazzo floors hadn't been polished in decades and were worn dull by foot traffic over the years. Tired, mismatched bulletin boards were screwed to walls along the hallway, presumably one for each grade. Doors were tired and the paint everywhere was absolutely depressing. Overall, it was a sad sight.
We saw lots of potential.
There are seven alcoves along the school hallway, each one with shelving and coat hooks for the students....no lockers. These alcoves could become areas to feature some collectibles and artwork. Great.
We also had the original blueprints for the school, so we knew the locations of the Principal's Office, the Library, Teachers Lounge and classrooms. This worked in our favour, providing an opportunity to decorate by theme.
The first projects would be to refurbish the terrazzo floors and modernize the hallway lighting.
Grinding Terrazzo
Techstone Canada of Ottawa was contracted to repair & restore the school's original terrazzo floors. It took several stages of diamond disk grinding with a 400 pound planetary grinding machine, starting with 30 grit and working up to finer grits until the desired effect was achieved.
Grinding Terrazzo
It took almost 6 weeks to complete the work at a cost of $16,000.
Compare that to installing terrazzo floors in the school today at a cost of well over $150,000.
Hall Painting Took 6 Weeks
The main hallway is about 160 feet long by 10 feet wide. Priming and painting of walls and trim began as soon as the terrazzo work was completed.
This photo shows painting underway and original fluorescent lighting being replaced with LED pot lights.
Painting took 6 weeks. Cost $15,000.
Adding Colour
After the walls were painted white, yellow was used as the accent colour. All hall door frames were painted black as were the 3 sets of school entrance doors.
Alcoves 2019
Each of the seven alcoves along the hallway contained old wooden shelves with coat hooks for the students.
Shelving was removed from three of the alcoves to provide larger display wall space. Today, all of the alcoves are used to hold & showcase our personal treasures and memories.
Alcoves
The alcove pictured above, with the name stickers, is immediately inside the double-door entrance at the east end of the school. We restored the shelf & replaced hooks so that we could use the area to display some of the original school Year Books with old school photos.
The hats and rain slickers were added for effect.
Alcove 2022
We had brass plates made to commemorate some of the original name tags and maintained coat hooks in one of the alcoves.
We have had visitors who recognized and recalled some of those names from when they attended the school as a student themselves!
Alcoves
This particular alcove holds part of our collection of Mexican Catrinas along with photos taken in the Village of Ajijic Mexico.
Catrina has come to symbolize El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and the Mexican willingness to laugh at death itself.
A set of Texas Longhorns acquired at M.L. Leddy's in the Stockyards, Fort Worth Texas, hangs above the Catrinas.
Hallway Coatroom
A paper supply room opening onto the hallway, near the east entrance, was renovated into a walk-in coat closet.
We never had enough coat closet space until now!
Where do you hang your hat?
Hallway Coatroom
Shelving was torn out; walls repaired and painted; and Black & White porcelain floor tiles installed. This conversion took a week.
Hallway Coatroom
View through the opened doorway.
The door was varnished and remains in place.
Hallway Coatroom
There are hat & glove cubbyholes, boot trays and more rack space than you need. The room measures 8'6" x 12'.
Future plans call for strategic installation of cedar panels.
Renovating took 2 weeks. Cost $3,500
Signs of Things to Come
In 1964, it was not intended for the gymnasium to be completed for the school opening. Instead, it was to be used as a general play area and was labelled "Playroom" on the plans.
We collaborated with RoomTagz in the USA to produce custom signs which would identify the school rooms as they were labelled on the original archetictual drawings. Appropriately, the Main Loft is our Playroom.
Artwork & Decor
There is a lot of photography and eclectic prints to add flavour and interest along the hall and we will add a page devoted to the artwork at a later date.
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ENJOY !!