Collection by Allie Weiss
Schoolhouse Salvaged as a Cozy Cabin
Joining Shobac—a historic farm in Nova Scotia now filled with cabins available for rent—is a 1830 schoolhouse converted into a two-bedroom cottage. Rehabilitated by Brian MacKay-Lyons of MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, the one-room schoolhouse hails from the town of Chebogue. MacKay-Lyons purchased the decrepit structure—it had closed in 1950 and fallen into misuse—to save it from demolition, and restored and transported it to the Shobac site.
The benches around the dining table are also original. "The reason I bought the schoolhouse is because of those benches," MacKay-Lyons says. A black kitchen unit adds a modern touch. "The freestanding central core allowed the completely restoration of the wainscoting, and lets you to see the full 36-foot-long sides of the schoolhouse," he adds. The countertops and sink are black granite.