Old School House Renovation – Home Tour
This old school house in Canada has been carefully crafted into a home that is bursting with charm. Bringing the outside in was key to this remodel and the talented homeowners are avid DIYers whose work will impress! Intrigued? Let’s head inside and see more!
Oh the fun of scoring an old school house to renovate! To be closer to family as a motivating factor, Karan Barton and her husband were thrilled to find this 100 year+ old structure in their Canadian homeland. Last year I had the pleasure of spending some time with Karan and hearing stories of this old school home conversion really intrigued me! As an interior designer and avid DIY lover she has taken on lots of tasks and wears many hats in renovating this old home.
Old School House Renovation – Home Tour
First and foremost she is a mother of two and grandma to three and is completely obsessed with anything home decor and DIY. Karan and her husband Tom are now empty nesters, sharing their home with two black lab mixes that rule the house and one very bossy tabby cat.
Karan’s kitchen is truly the heart of the home and has been beautifully reimagined without losing structural integrity.
“Working within the design and social media field for the last 13 years, I’ve have never been happier. I’m completely hands on and love my power tools. I am as comfortable with a paint brush or table saw as I am cooking in my kitchen. I’ve learned a lot over the past several years, such as the fact that I’m not afraid to make mistakes and grow from them. But most of all, I’ve learned that we can do anything we set our minds to.”
She has taken that paintbrush to almost everything in her home and given much of it a fresh coat or two of white. This has really opened up the space and brought in much needed light.
A sideboard that Karan put her artistic touches on and you can see many more projects over on her popular Instagram page – Designs By Karan
“There is something about creating home that makes me so happy, whether it is within my own home or one belonging to a client. I’ve been creating home from the time I was a little girl decorating for my Barbie dolls and my GI Joes. It was only natural that I eventually would end up creating home as a living. I’ve gone from nursing to early childhood educator to social worker and, finally, to Interior Designer and Social Media company owner and it’s taught me to always go after those dreams.”
“I have always had to work within a budget and with that came some creativity and some DIY projects. There is just something so amazing about taking a piece that someone else felt was garbage and creating something beautiful.”
“Our last home was built in 1890 and we slowly brought it back to life one room at a time over 14 years. We worked hard to keep the original character alive, but still wanted it to suit our family and our day to day lives.”
Karan’s old house was full of cottage charm!
“At the old house, I wanted the original floors and trim details as well as the stairs to shine, so the pieces I brought in were more traditional.”
A party thrown at the old house.
“I would have to say my style is more eclectic, traditional farmhouse…I’m not trendy with my choices. I believe in order to create a home that is “yours” you need to build around those pieces that you love.”
“With this old school house, we fell in love with the view, the beams and the fireplace. So our walls are neutral to bring the outside in and to emphasize the arched windows, the solid wood beams and the stone fireplace.”
Before painting it drew the ceiling down…
After painting and you can see a tutorial on Karen’s fireplace whitewash technique over on her blog here – How To Whitewash A Stone Fireplace.
Karan says… “A home to me means somewhere that people want to curl up, put their feet up and stay a while. A kitchen where people can gather and everyone can pitch in with the cooking. That is what we hope to create here, that is home.”
A few more cozy views…
If you would like to stay connected to Karan, please follow her on INSTAGRAM & HER BLOG. We hope that you enjoy the tour!
More Old House Home Tours that you might like to see:
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Janet,
It is an absolute honour to be shared here. I appreciate you and am so glad we’ve become friends.
Karan
My pleasure to share your fabulous renovation Karan! Sending you love…Janet
Hi Janet — Is there a way I can subscribe to Kathy at R.House without going through Instragram? We do not have either Instagram or Facebook and must rely on our PC. Thanks for the great home tours you invite us to enjoy! — Jan(et)
Hi Jan! Unfortunately she does not have a blog or website, so it’s not possible.
When I was a little girl long long ago, we live in a one room school house that was over 100 years old. Did not look like this ! Karan, it’s beautiful.
How fun that must have been…I can only imagine!
Your schoolhouse turned home is so beautiful! Could you possibly tell me the color of your paint on the wall by your white staircase near the kitchen? I have been looking for just the right blue-gray and I think I have found it in your home! It is lovely. Could you also please tell me what direction the room faces? Thank you so much!
Since this is a home tour Diane, try going the link provided for Karan’s Instagram account.
I too, would like to know the paint colors, but the blue and the green! You have created a beautiful home!
Callie…since this is a home tour we don’t have that information. You can head over to her link on Instagram to possibly find that!
What a beautiful house. It appears so much bigger inside than it seemed outside. I love how bright and cheerful it looks. Thanks Janet for all the posts and finds you lead us to.
I’m so glad that you enjoy my posts and take the time to leave comments! Happy weekend Diana
Another enjoyable tour Janet. That sideboard is to die for! I love this home.
Thanks for sharing. Its one I will revisit again and again.
Ann, I am glad that you enjoyed this and I have another fun home tour coming your way soon!
Such a beautiful home tour! I love everything about it! Thankyou for sharing Janet!!:)
Thanks for visiting this tour Cindy!
What a beautiful home! I too love that sideboard😊. Perfect location. Actually everything flows perfectly.
I love this home as well and they did most of the work themselves!