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Chalkboard Wall project

Monday, May 21, 2012
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.

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 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.....

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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.

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Look at all that DUST!

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

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

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or this....

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(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.

37 comments:

  1. Kim-

    First of all, love the entire mudroom - we desperately need one in our home (especially love the chalkboard wall!).
    Second, are you thinking of the list that Kacey Hughes highlighted at the beginning of the month(5/2)? If so, it is over at apairofpears.com (11/7/11) post. I hope this helps.

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    1. YES! YES! YES! That is exactly the one I wanted so I can see my weekly goals at a glance. I must have spent an hour trying to re-trace my virtual steps last week looking for it!!!! I know it is super simple but I really liked it. Printing it right now and saved it. THANK YOU!!!!

      Kim

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  2. I wish I had a mudroom more than anything else!!! Love the chalkboard wall! I bought paint to do a wall in Sophie's playroom several months ago and it is still sitting there unopened. You have inspired me to get it done!! Or maybe I could just have Dave come up to help me? LOL!

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    1. I wish Dave could come help you and we could hang out. Go for it Sarah. It is pretty easy.

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  3. Love, love, love the chalkboard! A few weeks ago Seleta at Simplyseleta.com showed a cute "to-do." It's a free download as well and I love it.

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    1. Thanks Glenna. I follow Simply Seleta too. I will check hers out. I need a little more accountability and I find a to do list does that for me:)

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  4. Looks awesome.
    I am pretty sure that we found a house! It's so cute I can't even stand it...it has a fireplace and alcove.
    Once we are in and moved (end of summer), I would love your input as to what to do with the fireplace (does not work) and the living room alcove (huge bay window in front).
    I wish I had your designer "gene"... :(
    I have had zero luck finding anything I like on pinterest

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  5. LOVE it!!!!!!! And love seeing yours kid's drawings. Lillie's and Lola's look more like the picture you showed when you were covering the whole thing with chalk - haha!

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  6. Hi Kim! Thanks for leaving a comment on my (never updated these days) blog :) We have a chalk board wall in out kitchen and I LOVE it! I write what we are having for dinner on it, quotes of note (sometime Bible verses) and the boys even do homework on it. Your mudroom is shaping along nicely. Ours is a complete (COMPLETE) disaster. sigh. someday...

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  7. VERY CUTE.. .Love it.. I had that in KyLee's old room and put moulding around it and also put the magnetic paint behind the chalk board paint... it was very cute....
    Have a great week..
    Hugz..

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  8. Love it! I painted one on a wall that is right next to our door to the garage. Comes in handy for little sweet notes to the kids, schedules, meals...etc! We have a lot of fun with it!

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  9. I helped a family do this in their play room. We added an edge of thin trim molding turned sideways (perpendicular to the wall with the baseboard to support it) to catch the dust. I am now in Houston and the chalkboard in question is in Maryland but I will try to get a picture to show you when I visit there this week. It makes a huge difference in keeping the dust off the floor and gives you a ledge to put the chalk on.

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    1. Oh...we are in Houston too!!! I'd love to see a photo although the dust is not a regular problem...it was just bad when we were conditioning the wall.

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  10. Can I ask where you got the hooks, I love this idea!! Thinking about our boring hallway that connects the kids rooms. Very cool, great job! :)

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    1. The hooks by the cubbies were there when we bought the house. The hooks/clips on the art cable are from Ikea! Hope that helps.

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  11. So fun! Great way to spruce up the mudroom

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  12. What a great improvement! Love the clothesline idea for kids art. may have to steal that!!

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  13. http://pinterest.com/pin/195062227580554584/ here is a link... hope this is the one

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  14. That turned out soooo cute! It is just my style!

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  15. Love this Kim! I haven't checked in on you in a while and needed my Peanut fix! I want that burlap bag, things have been so crazy I haven't even been to Target! I need to get there soon I guess! Hope you are all doing well, miss u!!

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  16. Looks great Kim! I have missed u!!! I love the chalkboard area, so fun!!! I need that burlap bag, so cute!!! Hope you are all doing well!

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  17. Kim..I love this! Besides the fact that it looks amazing, what a fun thing for the kids to do. Practical and great looking...great job!

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  18. love love love it!!

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  19. Kim
    This turned out great!!!!!!!! I wish we had a full wall in our mudroom.. Your's is set up perfectly leading outside that way. I love the light you get!
    I really need to look at those art cables!

    Have a great day!

    Love,
    Diana

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  20. This turned out precious! I have always been scared of the chalk dust. It looks great!!

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  21. Love this!! Wish, wish, wish I had a mudroom and a chalk board/wall like this! Turned out great!!

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  22. Kim, this is the most awesome idea ever!!! The kid art just gives it an even more special touch!! My girl LOVES! LOVES! LOVES! writing on her chalkboard easel! She would be in chalkboard heaven with this idea! I can probably borrow the idea of the hang art, but the walls...well unfortunately living in a townhouse will not allow us to do this to the walls. Thank you for sharing all your neat projects! I live vicariously through you! :)

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  23. This is such a great idea and I love how yours turned out! I get the aesthetic arguments for wanting to have a clean, light colored wall, but overall I love this awesome way to personalize your house. It must be fun for the kids, too.

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  24. my boys would have loved this when they were little. heck, they might still like it! it came out beautiful. xo janet

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  25. You live in my dream house, Kim! Beautifully appointed, yet child-friendly. I love your colors, your doors, GAH! I do not need pinterest anymore. All my favorite ideas are collected in your real house!

    Happy, happy hallway.

    thanks for sharing!

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  26. We have a bench in our mudroom as well and are having a cushion made now. The guy making it for us suggested using an outdoor fabric, which I hadn't thought of. I guess if it can stand up to the elements it has a better shot of standing up to messy kids!

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  27. We have a bench in our mudroom, as well, and are currently have a cushion made. The guy making it suggested choosing an outdoor fabric. I was also worried about it standing up to messy kids! I guess if it can stand up to the elements it has a better shot of surviving the messy kids!

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  28. this is amazing! wishing my husband would let me paint chalkboard paint on our wall :(

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