OLD SCHOOL CHARM

Pollyanna Green’s converted Victorian schoolhouse makes a characterful backdrop for her vintage finds and eclectic style

Vintage finds give this converted schoolhouse in Worcestershire a timeless appeal

Hgreen ouse-hunting with her husband Nick, Pollyanna

had set her heart on a thatched cottage, but everything changed when she spotted a Victorian village schoolhouse on the market. ‘It was love at first sight,’ says Pollyanna. ‘There were wonderful features like the school bell on the roof, the separate boys’ and girls’ entrances, and the coat pegs and washbasins in the old cloakrooms. The interior was tired and the layout confusing, but we knew this was the one.’

The schoolhouse, which dates from 1855, had been converted to a home in the 1960s, but much of the interior had been untouched for decades. Pollyanna put her ideas to an architect, and a plan was drawn up to enlarge and rearrange the property, turning it into a unique home for the couple and their grown-up children, Milly and

Barney. The original frontage would be preserved, and an extension built at the back, adding a spacious kitchen-diner. The vast school hall would become an elegant sitting room, the staircase would be relocated, and the first-floor layout reconfigured. With plans approved, the family moved temporarily into a rented home.

However, work did not go smoothly. After a seven-month delay while a bat colony in the building was relocated, structural problems in the roof were uncovered. ‘Everything needed attention and the interior had to be stripped out,’ says Pollyanna. ‘At one point there was nothing standing but three external walls. That was distressing and hard to watch – I just felt so sorry for this beautiful house.’

Finally, 18 months after they bought the property, the family moved in. Blending the original building seamlessly with the newly

added kitchen-diner was one of Pollyanna’s biggest challenges. Reclaimed woodblock flooring extends through both areas, adding warmth, contrast and a sense of continuity. ‘We just couldn’t save the original parquet, which was sad, but we were lucky enough to source something very similar,’ says Pollyanna. ‘It just looks like it belongs here, and it’s been treated to work with our underfloor heating, so it’s the best of both worlds.’

The schoolhouse’s period charm and character lends itself well to Pollyanna’s personal taste. She is drawn to classic antique furniture, fresh, pretty colours and eclectic country elements, as seen on her inspiring Instagram account @the_old_school_house. Having brought little from their previous home, Pollyanna took pleasure in furnishing and decorating the property almost from scratch. She called on local reclamation yards and pre-owned furniture emporia for key pieces, including large mirrors, lighting, bedside tables and numerous occasional items. ‘I don’t have a particular look, and I tend to steer clear of strong interiors trends,’ she says. ‘An antiques shop, salvage centre or vintage fair would usually be my first port of call. If I see something that appeals, I’ll buy it, love it and keep it for a long time.’

Although Pollyanna is now deeply attached to both her home and the area, she admits that renovating the schoolhouse was a more ambitious and complex project than she had first realised. ‘It was very hard work and not always enjoyable,’ she says. ‘That said, I wouldn’t change anything now. Visitors seem to love my home, too, and I’m delighted to say it always sparks a conversation.’

DINING AREA A pair of green velvet armchairs echoes the colours of the plants, enhancing the sense of bringing nature inside. William armchairs, £765 each; Suffolk dresser, £3,380, all Neptune. Walls in White Tie modern emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

KITCHEN Pollyanna painted the inside of this display shelf pink to make a feature of it. For similar vintage kitchenware, try The Vintage Kitchen Store

SITTING ROOM Rustic and classic wooden furniture is softened by pale pinks and neutrals. Try the Bruges coffee table, £595, Maisons du Monde. Swaggamuffin velvet armchair, £1,045, Loaf

SITTING ROOM Reinstated stone mullion windows are joined by an equally majestic chandelier, which the couple found in a reclamation yard. Bagsie velvet sofa, £2,535, Loaf

HALLWAY Blue-and-white china makes an elegant statement. For a similar vase, try Oka’s Mandarin hand-painted lidded jar, £495. Walls in Parma Gray modern emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

SITTING ROOM A bookshelf painted in a lively green hue creates a focal point. Shelving unit in Breakfast Room Green modern eggshell, £73 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

MAIN BEDROOM A tactile black headboard adds drama and luxury. Olivia velvet headboard, £720, Neptune. Walls in Mizzle modern emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

STAIRWELL A reclaimed oak church pew fits well here, while a vintage step ladder doubles as a quirky shelving unit. Kobe Jade stair runner, from £190m, Roger Oates Design. Printed pom-pom cushions, £25 each, Country Abodes

MAIN BATHROOM ‘A roll-tap bath here was a must,’ says Pollyanna. Try the Polperro slipper bath, £1,235, The Cast Iron Bath Company. Walls in Cooking Apple Green modern emulsion, £53 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball

SITTING ROOM A bookcase built into the guest bedroom door is both clever and practical. Chair in Giselle Grande linen, £75m, Peony & Sage

BEDROOM Vintage-style wall lights make good use of the room’s limited space. Hanson wall lights in antiqued brass, £146.60 each, Jim Lawrence. Luna bed, £845, Loaf