School is back in session for my boys today, and I have mixed feelings. I love that they are back to utilizing their brains for learning something valuable, rather than just coming up with hair-brained ideas on how turn a normal activity into something that usually ends up with me questioning their choices. I’d really like to be that mom that can just call it ‘boys being boys’. Or the mom that says that they are just being ‘adventurous’. But it seems their ‘adventures’ usually lead to someone getting hurt, something getting broken, or both – usually both. Can any other #boymoms relate, or am I flying solo on crazy boy island over here?
On the other hand, while I’m happy they’re back learning to be productive members of society (a mom can dream), I’m sad to say goodby to our leisurely summer lifestyle. Days filled with summer camp fun, frog hunting, swimming at the beach and baseball games give way to early morning hustle and after school homework. No more late summer nights letting them stay up long past bedtime to hang with neighborhood friends, play at the park, or just to sit around the campfire and talk. Sometimes I think I might be more upset than my boys about the end of summer.
Yes my dear friend summer, it’s going to be a long school year until we can meet once again. But, if we must give way to school, then the least we can do it in style – schoolhouse style. I had a specific agenda for this house tour – find an old schoolhouse that had been converted into a livable home, and all in good taste as well. I hit the jackpot on this one because not only is this place a gorgeous renovated schoolhouse that sits in a picturesque village just about an hour north of Amsterdam – it’s also an Airbnb. A total score for anyone headed to the Netherlands soon – unfortunately, that’s not me (but my husband is Dutch, so perhaps one day)!
This converted schoolhouse has the old-school (pardon the pun) architectural details like exposed brick and tall windows that make it special, but with a bright modern edge. A neutral pallet in the common areas with a mix of rustic, vintage and modern furnishings make the space feel fresh and new, while not diverting too much attention from the historic uniqueness of the home. So, while I’ll continue to silently protest the new school year in my mind (being careful not to start a revolt in my house), I can now also spend my time dreaming of a schoohouse vacation here: 
All images via Airbnb.
1 comment
It is so gorgeous Cristy. I have not used Airbnb but I have heard of it. How cool that they took a school house and converted it to look like this? About the school, my 5 year old just took on the adventure so I get the rushed feeling rather than the laid back of summer!