6 unusual conversion homes
These stunning houses have history
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Austin. In the 1940s this 1890 former firehouse became the famous Capitol Saddlery, where Al Capone and Arnold Palmer bought boots. Converted into a three-bedroom home in 2008, the open-plan space has pocket doors, Fortuny wallpaper, Italian chandeliers, a gold-leafed ballroom, and a courtyard.
The mixed-use building is two blocks from the Texas Capitol. $4,950,000. Kumara Wilcoxon, Kuper Sotheby's International Realty, (512) 423-5035.
Montara, California. The Old Montara Grammar School, built circa 1915, is currently a residence and dance school. Downstairs is an auditorium with elevated stage and catering kitchen; upstairs are a family and dining area with fireplace, a kitchen, four bedrooms, and a cupola.
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The 40,000-square-foot property, near Half Moon Bay and 25 minutes from San Francisco, includes a patio and a one-bedroom apartment with its own yard. $3,100,000. Sue and Petra Team, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, (415) 412-4480.
Rockport, Maine. Built in 1856, this former Baptist Church has been completely renovated as a three-bedroom home. The furnished interior features 20-foot ceilings, stained-glass windows, full bedroom suites, the preserved organ and nave, and a studio in the bell tower with views of the harbor.
The landscaped property includes an attached garage and flower and vegetable gardens. $1,575,000. Alex Cohen, Camden Real Estate Co., (800) 236-1920.
Orlando. This three-bedroom home is one of five townhouses inside a 1928 former Pentecostal church. Features include the original arched steel windows, brick walls, and cathedral ceilings; a private elevator; wet and dry bars; a modern chef's kitchen with waterfall granite island; and a rooftop patio.
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The Mission-style building is close to Lake Eola Park, a sports arena, and stores. $1,395,000. The Matt Davies Team, Coldwell Banker
Residential Real Estate, (407) 342-5547.
Los Angeles. Styled as a live-work industrial loft, this two-bedroom corner unit is in the former Barker Bros. furniture warehouse, a century-old building in the Arts District. The open-plan home features floor-to-ceiling windows, brick walls, exposed steel frames, wood floors, and courtyard views.
Building amenities include designated basement storage; a rooftop pool, spa, and gym; and a covered parking space. $1,180,000. Jennifer Chan, Compass, (626) 991-1132.
Port Chester, New York. The Life Savers Candy Co. building, constructed in 1920 as a manufacturing facility and headquarters, is on the National Register of Historic Places. This loft apartment on its top floor, extensively renovated in 2015, has a gourmet kitchen with Carrara marble island, hardwood floors, walk-in closet, and a staircase to a sleeping loft.
The building includes a full gym, rooftop pool, and concierge. $285,000. Bonnie Stein, Julia B. Fee/Sotheby's International Realty, (914) 262-0915.
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