A family transformed a 1930s schoolhouse into an adorable cottage with an original cloakroom and chalkboard — see inside

Kelsey NeubauerMay 30, 2023, 06:54 IST

The schoolhouse-turned-home.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

A family renovated a 1930s schoolhouse in upstate New York into a charming little home.
They planned to use it as an Airbnb, but decided to list it for $129,900 to focus on their business.

In 2021, the Hallett family paid $70,000 for a schoolhouse in upstate New York, near the scenic Finger Lakes region.

The schoolhouse after its renovation.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

The schoolhouse is in Springwater, New York, according to the Realtor.com listing and blog post, which is a rural town that's a 45-minute drive south of Rochester and a 90-minute drive southeast of Buffalo.

A schoolhouse had been on the lot since the mid-1800s. After a fire destroyed the original property, this one was built in the 1930s.

The view from the rear of the house.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

The family, who live on the same street, planned to turn the house into an Airbnb. But their business, running an auto-collision shop, takes so much of their time that they decided to list it for $129,900.

They also gave it a new coat of paint.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

The family, who live on the same street, planned to turn the house into an Airbnb. But their business, running an auto-collision shop, takes so much of their time that they decided to list it for $129,900.

The charming 1,068-square-foot cottage got four offers and went into contract within 10 days this month, according to the sellers' realtor, Bridgett Hoag of Empire Realty Group.

Inside the front door, there is a small foyer, with small chairs resembling ones that could have been used inside a schoolhouse.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

Source: Realtor.com

The charming 1,068-square-foot cottage got four offers and went into contract within 10 days this month, according to the sellers' realtor, Bridgett Hoag of Empire Realty Group.

Source: Realtor.com

The main room includes an open kitchen, a dining area, a living area with an original propane fireplace, and a small bedroom area with a child-sized bed.

The window-filled main room was freshly painted blue and gray.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

The kitchen area includes a white stove, natural wood cabinets, a sink, and a breakfast bar.

The kitchen also has a dishwasher, according to the listing.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

There's a small sleeping area in the corner of the main room, with the original chalkboard hung beside it.

A bedroom area for a child.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

A walk-in-closet has more than a dozen hooks, which students used to use for their coats and bags.

A closet area that pupils used.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

The bathroom needed more work to be suitable for round-the-clock residents. The family added a bathtub and shower, and redid the plumbing.

The bathroom.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

The wooden wainscoting adds a rustic feel, while newly painted green walls add a pop of color.

The sink area of the bathroom.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

A lofted bedroom is enclosed with floor-to-ceiling rails for safety.

The loft.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

Outside, a porch overlooks the half-acre property.

The porch.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

The schoolhouse is near nature reserves and parks, including Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, which has a 20 miles of trails.

The tranquil grounds around the schoolhouse.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

Honeoye Lake and Conesus Lake, two of the area's Finger Lakes that give the region its name, are also located nearby.

Honeoye Lake.Eilif Mikkelsen/Getty Images

"In small rural communities like Springwater, you don't really see anything like an old schoolhouse come up for sale," Hoag, the sellers' agent, told Insider in an email.

The front of the house.Livingston Begy for Empire Realty Group

"In small rural communities like Springwater, you don't really see anything like an old schoolhouse come up for sale," Hoag, the sellers' agent, told Insider in an email.

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A family transformed a 1930s schoolhouse into an adorable cottage with an original cloakroom and chalkboard &mdash; see inside

In 2021, the Hallett family paid $70,000 for a schoolhouse in upstate New York, near the scenic Finger Lakes region.

A schoolhouse had been on the lot since the mid-1800s. After a fire destroyed the original property, this one was built in the 1930s.

The family, who live on the same street, planned to turn the house into an Airbnb. But their business, running an auto-collision shop, takes so much of their time that they decided to list it for $129,900.

The charming 1,068-square-foot cottage got four offers and went into contract within 10 days this month, according to the sellers' realtor, Bridgett Hoag of Empire Realty Group.

The main room includes an open kitchen, a dining area, a living area with an original propane fireplace, and a small bedroom area with a child-sized bed.

The kitchen area includes a white stove, natural wood cabinets, a sink, and a breakfast bar.

There's a small sleeping area in the corner of the main room, with the original chalkboard hung beside it.

A walk-in-closet has more than a dozen hooks, which students used to use for their coats and bags.

The bathroom needed more work to be suitable for round-the-clock residents. The family added a bathtub and shower, and redid the plumbing.

The wooden wainscoting adds a rustic feel, while newly painted green walls add a pop of color.

A lofted bedroom is enclosed with floor-to-ceiling rails for safety.

Outside, a porch overlooks the half-acre property.

The schoolhouse is near nature reserves and parks, including Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area, which has a 20 miles of trails.

Honeoye Lake and Conesus Lake, two of the area's Finger Lakes that give the region its name, are also located nearby.

"In small rural communities like Springwater, you don't really see anything like an old schoolhouse come up for sale," Hoag, the sellers' agent, told Insider in an email.

A family transformed a 1930s schoolhouse into an adorable cottage with an original cloakroom and chalkboard — see inside