Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Chalkboard Wall

Does anyone else have that “dead space” at the end of their cabinetry in the kitchen?  It seems to be quite common, and it was bugging me in mine.  I added a magnet board last year, but I was never fully satisfied with it.

IMG_1295 Then, I planned on putting some wood trim around it to beef it up.  But then it just would have been beefed up dead space.  You dying to know what I did with the dead space?  I’m sensing a theme here, are you?

IMG_5056_thumb[3] Chalkboard paint, of course!  I just taped off the trim that was already in place (as opposed to my original plan to add molding to it), and painted away.

IMG_5302

Of course, I had to test it out before the kids got home from school.

IMG_5303

IMG_5304  

But then…the kids got home from school. 

IMG_5317 But this, of course, MORE than made up for it!

IMG_5322

Apparently, that’s Big Foot.  And I don’t know what that is on the chalkboard!  Ba dum bum!  I’m here all week folks! 

IMG_5326I leave you with one last pretty, ‘cause it will NEVER look like this again! IMG_5310 

77 comments:

Katy said...

wonderful way to fill up dead space !! love the idea.
p.s.
i'm also loving the LARGE nest in your grill.

To The Moon and Back said...

LOVE IT! Think I can move my fridge to the family room so I have some dead space I can use chalkboard paint on?

Jenny said...

That's awesome! I don't have a large space like that, but it looks great!

crazy train said...

That looks beautiful!

Days of Whine & Noses said...

I have contemplated using that paint myself and you are so right...it will never look as pretty as BEFORE the kids got to it BUT how they will remember having that spot on the wall to use chalk! How fun!

Patricia said...

that's awesome. What a great idea. Absolutely love it.

Nicole A. said...

What a Great Idea! It looks Awesome!!

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

This is a wonderful idea and it looks magazine perfect! Cudos!

Tracy said...

Love, love, love that idea! I just recently bought some chalk paint to paint some framed prints...I love the idea of painting this dead space with it! = ) Great job!

Suzann said...

Awesome Idea! I'm thinking about putting some chalkboard paint near the garage door entrance so our busy family can leave each other notes. Teenagers are always out and about.

Nancy Hood said...

your baby girl looks just like you, Kris! and I love the idea~

phillips phamily said...

So lovely! I'm sure my kids would wish they had a mom cool enough to do that!

Paula said...

That truly is a good idea. You are very inventive. :)

gkgirl said...

i love this idea...
now i just need to find some
dead space
in my too tiny
badly planned out
kitchen...
:O)

Pam said...

Great idea! Looks like the kids are lovin' it!

Betsy said...

LOVE that idea!

Carrie said...

Oh, they will have a lot of fun with that...and it looks great!

Maybe they will let you put a few lists or menus on there once in awhile! LOL!

LOVE it!

Jessica said...

Looks great! I have been searching for somewhere in my home to use that stuff!

Jodee said...

Great idea! I should borrow it!

Jessica said...

PERFECT!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Love chalkboard paint. We can't get enough. I'm having hubby draw a huge dinosaur (because mine would look like a prehistoric blob) in magnetic paint in the boys' room and covering it in chalkboard paint.

BTW-I was your 799th follower. Man, and I was so hoping to be #800!

michelle said...

LOVE! I've been trying to find a place in my house to use chalkboard paint! Our house is on the market now, so I'll have to wait until we move! Love the pictures; thanks for once again giving me inspiration!

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam said...

Such fun. I just bought some to paint the end of my kitchen island. :)

stephanie h said...

Oh, it turned out great! I LOVE it!

Christi @ Writing the Waves said...

That looks great! You always have the best ideas...and even better...you make them happen! :)

southerninspiration said...

Cute idea and cute kiddos!

Suzanne

Martha said...

That is a great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Martha

Laura said...

Just wondering how many coats it takes? Looks great, and your kids will have a blast.

Danielle (Life with the Hewitt Family) said...

Such a great idea. I have always wanted to do something like that. We have a small chalkboard in our kitchen and my son LOVES to write on it...I only wish it was bigger!

Alicia {Murry Mayhem} said...

I love chalkboard paint! I painted a huge heart on a wall in my daughters room...there was some dead space that needed to be filled, and it was perfect. Then I had the idea to paint our front door with the chalkboard paint! Silly I know, but it's great!Our friends leave us silly notes and Caroline loves to draw us pictures!

Sara said...

That looks great! I did love your flowers, too! I will have to figure out where I can use chalkboard paint

Megan {The Brick Bungalow} said...

I've been wanting to add some chalkboard paint to my kitchen. We have one little end to our pitiful cabinet space but was actually thinking about putting a towel rack on it (which we don't have anywhere else in our kitchen!). I have a wall between two doors that's semi out of the way and have been thinking about adding a framed chalkboard there. But I don't have kids to draw on it yet ... but that leaves it for me! :) Thanks for all the inspiration!!!

Lydia said...

I love that! I have always wanted to have a place in my house where I can use chalkboard paint... I'm just waiting til the day I finally have a place of my own! Ha

Richella Parham said...

Oh, oh, oh. Now that is brilliant. Not often that you can come up with a design idea that looks great, showcases your creativity and style, AND makes your kids love you. Way to go!

shizzknits said...

Love this! I have been thinking of doing something similar, but the spot I want to use is wallboard with a texture so I don't know if it will work. I'm afraid the texture will show thru completely and we will be writing on a bumpy wall.

Your wall is gorgeous and the kids will love it!

Ashley said...

I have the perfect spot for this!!! Need to show this to the husband so he'll let me chalk up our kitchen cabinets! :)

Anonymous said...

I love it!!! SO so cute!

Jenny said...

Fantastic idea - love how you took that space and made it more fun.

Jack said...

Love this idea. Wanted to do it myself but hubby veto'd it. Instead we're having a 4'x5' one made for the wall, which is cool, too, but I still have that damn 'dead' space to deal with! You rock it again, Chris!

Kelsee said...

Holy Honk! I did almost the exact same thing only I gutted an old door and framed the chalkboard with it. Looks awesome! -Kelsee

Julie said...

Chris I love the chalkboard wall grat idea! and that last post don't you just love it when that happens:)
Have a wonderful weekend
julie

Shannon said...

Love that! I love chalkboard paint and would love a wall like that. I guess I am the only one without dead space???? I want dead space!!!!!! :)

Lisa said...

CAN WE SAY PERFECT!!! I TOO AM GOING TO DO A CHALK BOARD WALL. I DON'T CARE IF WE ARE RENTING. ITS JUST PAINT RIGHT?

HUGS FROM MAINE

Shawn/LifeatButtercupFarm said...

THAT is a great place for a chalk board. I have a MOVEABLE chalkboard that I take outside and lean against a tree during SUMMER Days. It is a KID magnet...they really can't help themselves.

I am working on refreshing our CREATIVITY STASH for the summer and need to add CHALK to my list...thanks for the reminder...I almost forgot.

http://lifeatbuttercupfarm.com/taking-stock-for-summer-creativity/

Inspired Kara said...

That is DARLING!!!!

Sprinkel Queen said...

Super Awesome idea for your space!
I'm looking for where I can add that fun for my kiddo!

Desiree said...

Wonderful idea! Of course you know me I love the magnet board but I can see how that would get boring. What did you come up with to hold the chalk? Knowing you you probably screwed some sort of cup or other holder into the wall, right?

I have been toying the idea of replacing my pantry door (which by the way is exactly like yours, same position in the kitchen even) and replacing it with a non-paneled door so I could paint it with chalkboard paint. Maybe when my daughter gets a little bit older I will do that.

By the way, your daugher is a splitting image of you :-)
-Desiree

AJ said...

I love it!! I've been thinking about painting my pantry doors with chalkboard paint. They're bifold doors though and I'm afraid it would be too much space to make a mess, I mean, create beautiful art work! Thoughts?

And please remind me again of where you get your energy??? I only work part time and seriously have had a major case of the lazys lately!! I can't get anything done!!!

Jill@Barnes Yard said...

Looooooove it! I'm really thinking about doing it myself. I have the perfect spot. I just have to wait for my husband to leave...
-Jill

Meghan said...

What a clever, clever idea.
You are one creative b*tch :>)
That is a compliment, please don't take it any other way.
Can I move in?
I won't take up much space.
I just have to bring the 2yo whirlwind boy with me. The man child & older boys can stay at my blah, boring, uncreative home :>)

Thrifty Decor Chick said...

Serious, is that nest for real???? What. the. ??
This is AWESOME! If you find a cute way to store the chalk, let me know. I have a contraption set up but it falls apart all the time.

Suzanne said...

that's such a cool idea. I have always wanted to try and make my own chalkboard, but it scares me. I love yours though.

Astrid in Bristling Acres said...

AWESOME! Fantastic idea for that otherwise dead space!

Farmgirl Paints said...

We did a chalkboard wall in my daugher's room. It looks wonderful, but I haven't found a good way to ever get it back to black. The chalk doesn't erase all the way. Anyway your kitchen looks marvelous!!

Buzzings of a Queen Bee! said...

Yeah! I love this! What a great way to use that dead space. I like the flowers...but I am sure the kids' drawings will be more prevalent!
Carrie

Robin Johnson said...

Great Idea! i really need to do something like this.

Jen said...

Such a great idea!! Once again you AMAZE me! I love your flowers BTW

Unknown said...

Love it!! What a great idea. Thanks for sharing.

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

Uhhh Chris I would have to say this is brilliant! And of course thought of by a ...yes a woman, a mother...a woman with brilliant ideas going through her head while she is driving, cleaning, dusting, vacuuming,,,,,,the list goes on! You go girl!
blessings,
Debbie
I need a chalkboard on the dash of my car so I can write myself notes~~~

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

Meant to say this before. I think placing the dog's water & food bowl in front of the fridge is such a great summer-slim-down strategy. I might try that tip as well. :) :) :)

Chris said...

Aack! I was hoping no one would notice, but yes, Maximus' dog food and water are in front of the fridge. I'm painting the mudroom, so they got moved for the day! Oops!! Thanks, #799! ;-)

Sara said...

What a great idea! So creative, I bet the kids are loving it!

Tara said...

It is so funny because that is what I did with my god awful brown 70's cabinetry! I was cleaning one day and a light bulb went off -so off to Home Depot. I painted mine with magnetic paint first and then chalkboard on the back of my cupboards that face the dining room. The girls and I spend so much time here, what better way to use up some space. I also hung a roll of paper and a rod with 3 baskets to hold crayons, chalk, etc. Check out my blog for some pics! By the way I am waiting for new cupboards because I was almost tempted to paint all my cupboards with chalkboard!

Sarah said...

I love that idea!

Kim said...

I love it. Now, can you give me ideas on how to do something with my fridge? Mine doesn't match the rest of my appliances and I'd love to disguise it!

Momma-of-5 said...

I love it! I have a "dead wall" that I can't figure out what to do with. If I can convince my DH...maybe I can have a cool chalk board too! =)

April said...

not many brave souls would do this and now I want to be part of the brave soul association. my son would adore this and it would keep him out of my hair without having to keep an easel around. I've heard you can put magnetic paint under but don't know how well it works.

and sheesh- you have it all ! The kiddos are so cute!

Mary RC said...

i still think the chalkboard paint is far too brave for me. i love my cabinets! but i DO have dead space, i will admit. love your magnet board though, i know im so five minutes ago.

About Southern Belle said...

I recently discovered your blog and love it. The before and after pictures of the laundry room were fantastic! I am inspired. = )

Anonymous said...

Great idea, but I was wondering what color your kitchen is painted.

Thanks!

Jennifer said...

Love it!! I did chalkboard paint on the door from my kitchen into my laundry room and love it. I absolutely LOVE the rug you have in front of your frige....where did you purchase that?

Kirsten said...

Oh, that looks fantastic! I'd love to use chalkboard paint someday.

Online Printing said...

I wish my mom made the walls of our house like that so she didn't have to scold us every time she sees a doodle on our wall. Haha!
The chalk board is a great idea, though.

Online Printing said...

I wish my mom made the walls of our house like that so she didn't have to scold us every time she sees a doodle on our wall. Haha!
The chalk board is a great idea, though.

Unknown said...

Love it - definitely inspiring me into action!

Beth said...

Aw, this was the post where I became 799 :). Do you still use your board?

nannykim said...

Great place for it!

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