Chalkboard Wall project

We actually did this project a few months ago and I have been meaning to post about it but I kind of forgot.  This week though two bloggers that I occasionally read posted about chalkboard walls  (here and here) and it reminded me that I never posted ours. Anyway, I have wanted to do this in our mudroom for a few years.  I wavered back and forth between the classic old school black or a color (from here or here).  I LOVE the Nantucket Blue color from Tilano but I was too impatient and it is very expensive to order/ship.  Maybe I will use it next time.  You can also make your own chalkboard paints.  There are lots of tutorials floating around on-line.

 NO ONE and I mean NO ONE in the peanut family was with me on this project.  They all thought it would be way too dark. But I have to admit, they all like it now. And me?  Well, I LOVE it!

Okay... here is the mudroom before.  It is painted a simple antique white.  It was an absolute MESS!  The kids throw backpacks, sports stuff, school papers and everything on that bench.

 My goal is to have a cushion made for the bench but picking a durable fabric that won't get filthy has been a challenge.  I was kind of waiting to post about this until I had a cushion made but I realized that might be a very long time coming.

So, first, I cleaned out the mudroom.  Then we scrubbed the walls.  Dave taped.....

We used frog tape.  I cannot recommend this tape enough.  Dave used it when painting the stripes in Kate's bedroom too. It is fabulous and worth the extra $.

We needed 3 full coats of the chalkboard paint. Then you need to wait at least 3 full days to let it "cure."  It looked really nice all clean and black.  You are supposed to prep it by rubbing chalk sideways all over the surface.  That made a huge mess (and our chalk was "dustless" HA!).  The kids had fun though.

Look at all that DUST!

And here is the mudroom today (it really is a mud hallway).....

I kind of wish it had pretty little sayings and pictures like this...



or this....



(via Brooklyn Limestone)


but my kids are having fun making their own art:)

And a little help if you will... last week, I saw the cutest weekly to do list on a blog.  It was a free pdf and I adored it.  I tried to print it but my printer jammed and now I cannot find the blog.  If anyone knows or has seen it, please let me know.  I really liked it.

Art cables from Ikea.  Rug from World Market. Privet House burlap bag from Target. Monogrammed Striped pool bag from Scout.