Church conversion

Jo and I have a thing for church conversions. The creativity to turn a structure like a church into a home is pretty inspiring to think outside the box. I came across one last night while I should have been doing other more important things (like finally getting my tax paperwork together, late of course). This conversion (found here) is of an 19th century Protestant church in downtown Cape Town, South Africa. It's painted all white with wood floors left in their original, rough state with modern furnishings to liven the place up. And the enormous suspended frame with blinds is a great way to delineate the kitchen from the living/dining spaces.

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A church turned castle

Yes, that's right. How creative must someone be to convert a church into a castle? Tammy emailed us about this INSANE home in Austin, Texas that was the creation of her friends Priscilla Glover and Ivan Spaller of Urban Nature Inc. It was formerly a mission style church built in 1925, and Urban Nature Inc. decided to modernize it with a bit of rock and roll while keeping some old world touches. Talk about a party house! Tammy is their realtor and has since sold the church, but stay tuned tomorrow for another project of theirs just down the road (that is for sale last I heard).

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Loft conversion

I was back on Location Partnership checking for more funky pads (since this one was such a hit), and I came across another amazing space - a "loft conversion with many original features and sleek interior. The property compromises cast iron radiators, Victorian porcelain brickwork, old de-commissioned lift and exposed wooden beams". WOW. This loft is huge and I could cram it with so much stuff it's giving me heart palpitations. The potential is astronomical, although the current residents have done not too bad a job doing it up.

Holy home

For as long as I can remember I've always dreamed about converting a building, such as a barn, a mechanics shop, a church, into a home. Well, some folks in the UK have converted done just that. They purchased a church for £92,000, spent £300,000 in renovations, and it's now worth about £650,000. I'm not sure that I could live in a home surrounded by gravestones though....EEEKKK!! Would you want to live here?

I am so disappointed with the decor. So much to work with...those blue sofas gotta go. I think the hole thing is just way too church-y. Photos found here.

Stalking in church .... again!

What is it with Australian architects and property developers and their obsession with church conversions? (Or is it that I'm obsessed with them?) I have found yet another while stalking my favourite real estate site. LOVE the bookcase by the window, the use of colour and I would live quite happily just in the bedroom and it's rooftop balcony. It appears to be one of a multi-residence conversion so there's more than one chance to get your hands on a little slice of heaven. Re-use of significant buildings is to be applauded especially re-use in urban areas where the demolition of the building would would so alter the character of the area.

realestate.com.au