I Will Spend a Lot of Time Here {our school room}

People have been bugging me to show pictures of our new home.  We are STILL waiting on new curtains for some of our rooms (long and boring and frustrating story there!) so I haven't wanted to show things until it is all done.  Now, seeing as we are Indonesia and building standards are nothing like you would find in the west, I don't know that anything will ever be truly done.  But, things are getting close enough.  We love our new place and we are so thankful for they way God worked it out for us to be here -- we weren't even looking for it and it just sort of fell in our laps.

When we first looked at the house, and then decided to move, we had no idea what we would do with this room.  Indonesian homes often have two living rooms -- one for guests (right at the front door) and then another one farther in the house (for family).  Our two rooms are only separated by a few steps so we didn't feel like we needed a second sitting area.  After lots of changing ideas and plans, we finally decided to make "the upper living room" our homeschool room.  And we LOVE it. 

Since it is totally in the middle of the house -- with no walls of separation --  the paint and furniture needed to fit our decorating in the other rooms.  As much as I love bright and cheerful, especially for kids, this room needed to be kid friendly as well as "fit" with the rest of the house.  And although we are far from done, we love the space so far and can't wait to see it evolve.  So here it is...where we have school.

Here is a view from the top of the little stairs. The room looks out over our front yard and I adore having all the light during the day.  We had the little table and chairs made with lots of storage underneath (one of the perks of living here is being able to pick out anything I want from Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel and have someone make it for a fraction of the price .)

These are the shelves that I almost didn't use for this room.  They were on a different wall and I HATED them.  I told Jason I needed 24 hours just to look and think and once I moved them to this wall I was in love.  They used to be in the entry way of our old house.  The shorter shelves at the bottom (that used to be for shoes) work great for crayons, coloring books, and puzzles. 

 

The shelves explained:

A: Craft idea books and misc craft supplies (butcher paper, crepe paper, fancy scissors, etc)

B: Our THIS WEEK shelf -- all the books and supplies for this week of school

C:  Craft supplies, writing utensils, and office supplies (tape, stapler, etc)

D: Paper tray (white, colored, and cardstock) and iPod docking station

E: Non - school kids books

F: Coloring books, activity books, and crayons

G: Old laptop and Leap Frog learning pad

H: Window on the World and misc teaching books/supplies

I: Jar of Fun, math manipulatives, clock, and misc teaching supplies (science kit, etc)

J: School books we aren't using this week

K: Basket for scrap paper and other "stuff" that just seems to collect

L:  Toddler/preschool hands on activities for the little ones

M: Puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles -- foam, cardboard, wood...we have them all.  And love them all!

N: More space for puzzles (looks like a few are being used in this photo!)

Close up of our craft materials.  I have been organizing our crafty stuff like this for a few years and LOVE it.  So simple...some plastic cups, some muffin tins, and you get great organization and you can actually SEE what you have.  I want all of us to be inspired all the time -- you can't do that when it is all locked away in a box or a cupboard. 

Our reading couch.  This photo isn't very accurate though -- I almost never see just one person on it.  Usually it is packed with 4, 5, or even 6 people (and a sweet yet overactive puppy).   The couch also faces the TV armoire but it so rarely gets turned on that I usually forget that it is hiding in there.

And, our little name signs at the table :)  They just make me happy.

Comments

[Tiffany]

I love the craft storage idea! The window is beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing!

[Sisterlisa]

:O) cute name sign! I have seen other small tables and chairs just like that in this blog hop. Where do you get those at?

[steadymom]

Love your school room and your blog name is wonderful!

Jamie

[Jessica S.]

Beautiful and Elegant School Room! Have a wonderful year!!

[Kiva, Farmstead Lady]

What a lovely room!

[Becca]

your craft storing idea is brilliant. we are overrun here at times with craft supplies and I've never found a good way to organize them. I'll have to try this. Your room is beautiful overall!

[Tracy]

Love the LIGHT!!! WOuld make me a great studio! LOL

Have a blessed year!

[Diane]

You should seriously win some kind of award for that craft organizing idea! Your room is so beautiful.

[Bobbi]

Wow all that light is just fantastic. I think I'd hangout there every moment I could. Thanks for sharing. Love the muffin tin idea - I may snag that one :)

[Sarah]

Beautiful! And so organized! I love the craft supplies cups!

[Robin E.]

You have the most beautiful school room I've ever seen. I LOVE it. Come decorate my room, please, but bring that "fraction of the price" furniture with you ;o). Thanks for sharing on the Blog Hop.

[Laura]

Love your room!
I just found your blog through the Blog Hop, but your family looks so much like mine that I will be back to read about your school year!

[Kristal]

That is a beautiful room. Love the window and the shelves!

[Nicki]

I'm definitely going to copy the craft supply organization! Thanks for sharing your beautiful school room.

[sondie]

I love the muffin tin/paper cup organization for the crafts. My hubby just cleaned out our basement and I'm ashamed to say that there was tons more craft stuff then I ever thought I had down there. I'm looking for ways to organize and keep this but still make it accessible for the kids and I. I think this will work out great!

[Gina]

Beautiful room! It looks so clean and inviting, and that window! I love it!

[Kellie]

That looks like a room I'd never want to leave! Love your storage ideas.

[Heidi @ Mt Hope]

That room just makes me sigh with happiness and an all-over peacefull feeling. Gorgeous. I'm going to have to use the muffin tin/plastic cup idea. Thank you!!

[Christin P]

Just love it! I'm an Indonesian currently living in Michigan. I'm from Jakarta and my family still lives there. Makes me miss home:)

[Susan]

Of the over one hundred rooms in the Homeschool Room Hop( yes I looked at them all on one rainy afternoon...and called it research!~) I loved yours the best! I love the simple and clean lines and how everything in its place.

Even though I am a former classroom teacher (AKA lover of the wall chart and bulletin board) Our 18 years of homestyle learning takes place everywhere, but our together learning and "table time type activities" usually happen in our dining room so the school books and supplies get housed in a lovely gifted shelving unit much like yours.

Part of our open floor plan with no walls flanked only by screens, a partial wall and a kitchen island from our kitchen and living areas, the dining room table is used for EVERYTHING from haircuts to hosting meals and has to flow within our lives and the rest of the household happenings.

I loved how your clean pallet was full of space to relax reflect and yet I am sure it can be full of chaotic creativity in a moment's notice. It reminds me of our special space and inspired me to appreciate what I have and just make some minor adjustments (as per some of your notes) and celebrate the learning space(s)God has provided.

Thanks again,

Susan Bogue