Update: The linky for the 2009 Not Back-to-School Blog Hop is HERE ( I think McLinky took it down! 
Bummer!). The 2010 links are here. T0 see more 2011 and link up, please visit Heart of the Matter!
Where we do school. Ha!
So, in theory, we do school here:
Just to keep it real, I snapped those photos, as is, before I cleaned it and organized it for not back-to-school. 
Our school room has many lovable features, but this is one that I get asked about the most. Handy Man installed cork flooring – not on the floor, but on the walls. It’s prettier and more durable than the alternative.
Handy Man also created all those built-in bookshelves. I don’t call him “Handy Man” fer nuthin’. Didn’t he do a beautiful job?! I showed him a catalog of what I was hoping for and he worked for such a long time, cutting lumber, measuring, assembling, painting and crown molding – wait is that even a verb? Well, it is now. He crown molded the shelves and white board. I think I’ll keep him. And them.
The flooring was chosen with rough and tumble boys in mind. It’s rubber. We can drop, spill, scoot, slide, lounge – pretty much anything those boys can dish out, that floor can handle. It was created with places like public airports in mind, so I knew it could handle The Boybarians.
We also have a big ol’ white board that, when I’m not floating, is a fantastic educational tool. It was u-g-l-y until Handy Man trimmed it out with matching white border wood. I bet “matching white border wood” has a more official name.
Here’s a pic of it from an earlier blog post. We used it to play Pictionary at Christmas. (That handsome guy would be my nephew.)
A charming feature is the retro school room lights. I’ll try to get a photo of those soon. I can’t believe I don’t have any! Those were used in schools and classrooms ages ago; it was a fun authentic nod to the classroom purpose of the room. The curtains remind me of Anna Comstock’s Handbook of Nature Study.
Most importantly… location, location, location.
The classroom is located right off the kitchen. I can’t tell you how useful that’s been in the overall operation of our home and managing our days. When designing this home, we really tried to take into consideration all the ways we could make school and life and life and school all a natural fit. Having the school room directly off the kitchen has been one of those “yay, at least we got that right!” decisions.
During Iowa’s fleeting warm months, we’ve also been doing school in the garage. It’s been a fun way to enjoy the weather and still accomplish something. Last week it took me all week and I still only made it to 3/4 of the blog hop entries. This week, I hope to make it to ALL of them.
Thanks for visiting!
Love it! Simply love it-I need to borrow your handy man-I need trim put up all around the house and such-does he charge much? LOL
I LOVE your space! This is our first year homeschooling and I am learning so much from your blog! Thank you!!
That’s a beautiful room. The cork flooring on the wall is inspired!
O.k. I have bookshelf envy!! I am loving the idea of cork flooring on the walls. GREAT space!!
I remember when Handy Man built this awesome space. Beautiful!
I am so glad you made u p this awesome back to school hop! It’s been so inspiring for me the few years, and this year is the first time I was able to participate. =) You have fantastic shelving!!!! I love built in shelves!
God bless you in your homeschooling season,
Angela in Germany
Just love your room . . . I have a Mr. Wonderful at my home who is very handy as well. So blessed to be his wife. Praying for quick recovery . . . have a blessed day.
I love your shelves!!! I hope you get to feeling better and I hope that you have a great school year.
~Lynn
Wow, Wow, Wow! He’s a keeper alright. Beautiful work. I’d also love to learn more about your rubber floors. I’m also super impressed that you plan to make it all the posts this week. I think I’v visited somewhere around 40-50 so far–I’m sure I won’t make it to all of them. Thanks so much for taking the time to share and hope you’re feeling better soon.
Holy cow! That room is awesome. Even messy it’s awesome. I’m afraid I’ll have to clean the drool off my keyboard after looking at all those photos. I have the same curtains in my living room, BTW. I love them.
WOW!!!! This is quite an amazing room. I love that you didn’t make it perfect in order to take a picture. And even a bit messy it still looks like something out of a catalog. Great job hubby! Thanks for sharing!!!
Thanks so much for starting this blog hop, Darcy!!
Your room is amazing! Maybe one day I’ll have the space to use some of your ideas!
Thanks so much for sharing!! Have a great year!
I love your bookshelves. And thanks for keeping it real for us!! =)
I love the built ins. How wonderful to have so much storage.
Blessings,
Dawn
I covet those beautiful built-ins just a tad. Beautiful room!!!
LOVE those cabinets. The white is bright and cheery, and you’ve got it all organized fantastically. Thanks for sharing!
Oh dear. Shelf envy. Wow, what a beautiful space. If you ever move out, let me know. I want it
Oh wow…I totally {heart} those shelves, and the cork-board. So beautiful…and thanks for “keeping it real”!