Gracefully Homeschooled: School Room Reno : Before

So we're planing to have the school room finished by mid-August, and I could not be MORE excited. Seriously.

We moved into this house 2.5 years ago, and I had GRAND dreams of everything I wanted to do to personalize every room. It hasn't quiet turned out like I expected, but when does it ever?

So far…we've painted the main rooms downstairs. and when I say main rooms I mean the formal dining, living, and foyer. The kitchen is still a nasty burnt orange... that is likely my next plan of attack after the school room..

That's it. I don't even have my pictures hung…pitiful. No wonder I've had a hard time adjusting here!

In my defense I did get pregnant within three months of moving here. And I was siiiiiiiiiiiick that whole 10 months. And then I had to survive the first year with three kids. Which brings us roughly to today!

So here's what the playroom/future school room looks like today…

It's cluttered. Clutter is my enemy. And we've actually pared down A LOT on what toys we have in here. I have just been so tired of the mess. The only reason it is as clean as it is in this picture is because the clutter is somewhat manageable now!

I love our kidney bean table. That was a craigslist find shortly after we moved here. Middle's therapists stressed the need for him to have a table short enough to put his feet on the floor. The man who sold it to me was so kind…I think he had another buyer who wanted it for a preschool but he felt we needed it more. And it has been well loved. We will continue to use this table for homeschool.

Those unfinished cabinets are going to be part of the reno. Another craigslist find. There is a guy in my area who does custom built utility sheds, but wants to branch out into custom cabinetry. In the real world these cabinets should have cost me upwards of 500$. But I was able to get all 4 of them for about 240$.

I've started to get things organized into these nifty clear shoeboxes from Michaels. Heavenly Father is pretty awesome…He inspired me to go check on a workbox cart I have been waiting to go on sale since January. Not only was the cart on sale, but ALL storage was on sale, with an additional 25% off coupon! So I picked up a couple of these boxed sets of 14 clear plastic boxes! Yay!

Annnnnnnnnd then there is this…