Editor’s note: This is the second of two articles on the transformation of an old schoolhouse into a primary residence. Click here to read Part I.
Making a schoolhouse from 1780 into a primary residence certainly has its challenge. After almost two and half years of renovations, we can finally say its finished…for now. Part I in this two-part series included the history of the house, how we landed in the Berkshires, and some of the initial renovations. I decided to keep part II short and sweet and to dive further into the renovations with pictures of before and after moments.
We partnered with Portner & Phillips to give new life to a tree that was taken down. There were many trees on the property that needed to be taken down. Some were growing into the house, others were dying or wreaking havoc with the integrity of the home. Although trees came down, there is no shortage of trees, as the property abuts Beartown State Forest.
In addition to the coffee table, we also collaborated with P&P to fabricate built-ins for the dining room and kitchen. As with many old homes, there was a severe lack of storage. The dining room built-in includes ample cabinetry storage, open storage for wine and books, two window seats and floating shelves above the countertops. The kitchen built-in includes a pantry with sliding drawers, an area for recycling, and a bar with floating shelves above.
We worked with Sermini & Sons to complete most of the major renovations. One challenge was turning an odd closet on the second floor into a bathroom. We had to blow out the ceiling and add a dormer. In addition to some interior renovations, S&S also built a sun room that was once a dilapidated screened porch.
We maintained the structural and architectural elements of the main portion of the schoolhouse. However, there was a beam that was resting crosswise on two other beams. Its weight was significant and was bowing the other beams. We decided to cut it and use it as a mantle for the fireplace, seen below in the before and after photos.
As work began on tearing down the existing screened porch, we discovered that the concrete slab could not be reused for the new sun room. It all had to be ripped up and new footings and a foundation needed to be installed. Below are some photos of the process.
The house needed a new roof and we decided on a black standing seam metal roof with black gutters. The entire exterior of the house required a paint job and we settled on breaking away from the Cottage Red that was on the house and went for Cheating Heart from Benjamin Moore. I took on the task of doing all the landscaping and it is certainly a work in progress. I built the fieldstone retaining wall in front of the sunroom and I think my back still hurts months later.
There were so many moments we thought we were in over our heads. Through a lot of patience, planning, and working with incredibly talented people, we were able to make our dream a reality. There are moments I take a deep breath, look around and think how grateful I am to have this little slice of earth in this amazing community. Below are some additional interior and exterior shots.
You can follow Studio Riggleman and our progress on Instagram, @studioriggleman, and visit us at www.studioriggleman.com if you’re interested in working with us.
What will the next project be?….
