Renovating and decorating our new/old house, a cozy cape cod built in 1940. It won't happen overnight, so join me for the journey.
Ok, so I did it, the whole wall in the kitchen is painted black with chalkboard paint.
One of the first things we did when we bought this house was open up the tiny doorway between the living room and kitchen. It was one of the best things we ever did and allowed us to have a kitchen island.
I figured because I was painting a small wall it would be fine. It wasn't, instead of the doorway feeling open like it did, it felt closed in.
Here is another before...
And after...
Sadly, I'm going to paint it back the way it was. Mr. 65th wants to keep it so we can have fun with it over the holidays. He already had a fantastic idea to draw Santa and his sleigh on this wall and a few reindeer flying over the doorway with Rudolph leading the way, but it's already taped so I'm hoping to just paint over it and all will be ok....I really don't want to paint the ceiling right now.
This will be a great test for the frog tape I used. If I'm able to paint it black then back to the original color with two coats and not have bleed through along the ceiling it will be a miracle! Aura paint from Benjamin Moore has a built in primer, I used it in this room originally so we shall see how it performs going over black.
I still love idea of a chalkboard wall but for me this just isn't the right spot for one. You probably weren't expecting this were you? Maybe in a different house I will have the perfect wall to draw on.
oh man.... i am soo sorry you are having to do all that work and for nothing. well for a lesson i guess. can't wait to hear how the ben moore aura does over the black!
ReplyDeleteI'm not 100% sure of this... but I think even if you paint over it it will maintain it's ability to be drawn on with chalk. Either way, there are other colors of chalkboard paint also that aren't as dark. That way you could keep the light open feel but have fun with chalk still? Maybe even different colored chalk? Just thinking for you!!
ReplyDeleteYou had the nerve to try it and I applaud you. Let us know hoe the BM with primer works!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
Oh that stinks! I like it, but maybe it's not the right spot like you said.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
xx
Sorry it didn't work out for you. What about a really big board in a frame, or just a section of the wall? Have the best of both worlds? Either way, kudos to you for trying it!
ReplyDeleteOh man! I'm so sorry it didn't work out for your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteOh no!! I remember reading in MSL years ago that you could make your own chalkboard paint. You mix grout and regular paint (any color) in some kind of perfect combination. I'm sure it works because Martha wouldn't steer us wrong, would she? I'm going to research that for you. I want to see Mr. 65th's Christmas artwork!! I do think it's ideal to repaint before you tear off all that tape though!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with 'The Lincolns', I think you can still use it as a chalk board! Kudos for trying it out! I used the frog tape for our 'big boy room' recently and was pleasantly surprised! Great seal if you press it down well. Love your blog!
ReplyDeleteI had exactly this problem with our kitchen. The feeling of having a wall coming in your face, whereas before it has been quite unobtrusive. Isn't colour amazing! It can change things so much!
ReplyDeleteSarahx
Oh, I forgot to add: I painted right over the dark colour and it was lovely and light again!!
ReplyDeleteI'm I crazy? I like it!! I love Mr. 65th idea. you could have so much fun with it! Add some white crown molding (?) sorry to see it go. I always love a chalkboard wall! well, when you're handed lemons....
ReplyDelete-denise
I agree with Denise. I'd keep it for the holidays, if you can stand it, and see if it grows on you. It's such a big change but I love it.
ReplyDeletewhoa, whoa, whoa londen!!!!
ReplyDeletewhat am i missing here? i ADORE it. i love, love, love it. what don't you like? it is so great and maybe the pictures are not reflecting the way it looks in person but i think it's amazing! the original wall color was nice but predictable. this is so unexpected and really sets the living room off. but i know that pictures don't always translate well. it takes guts to do something like this and i for one applaud you.
~janet
It's hard to get a feel of a room just from pictures, so if you are sure that it doesn't feel right then yes you should repaint.
ReplyDeleteBut I gotta tell you I love it...it is so cool. And when you draw on it and it ages a bit it will lighten up. I wish I had a big enough wall in my kitchen to do that to. Sorry you have to do all that work...hope you aren't to disappointed...better to have tried than not to have known.
P.s...I never thought about that..Leaves of a table...LOL i'm not sure either.
I like your husband's idea. I think that it being a whole wall including a doorway is what you don't like.??????? Why not tape off a big square and make like a big blackboard and then paint the rest. You got to leave some of it if not at least for all your effort. I want to paint my pantry dood all in balckboard paint. Doesn't go with my kitchen at all...we'll see. Good luck. Sorry you don't like it.
ReplyDeleteOh my dear...I can only imagine your frustrations when you stepped back and "analyzed." The best thing I can say is give it a few days..and then repaint. I almost did that with our main color {throughout the whole great romm} when I 1st painted but after seeing it and living with it for 72 hrs....I liked it.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with the trials of paint.
Cheers~
e
Well, at least you had the guts to try it!!!
ReplyDeleteHope the painting-over part goes smoothly for ya. :)
Big bummer...if the black is too over powering, they make chalkboard paint in various colors now. You could always do a coordinating color and still be able to use it as a chalkboard wall. Sorry to hear that it didn't work out, but it never hurts to try!
ReplyDeleteLonden,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry you are not loving it and it isn't what you expected. If you choose to paint over it, I do not think you can use it as a chalkboard again. I would definitely call the company before ruining your new paint job. They do make tints for the paint so you can have say a pink wall in chalkboard, but painting over with a regular latex isn't the same. I am thinking if you broke up the wall a bit you'd like it better. Have you seen Melaine wall at My Sweet Savannah? She has framed pics of her kids and such and it helps break up the giant wall. She wrote out the 12 days of Christmas on hers, very cute. Our daughter's room gets a ton of light, so it never seemed dark with her one wall black. I am hoping to post pics of her finished room this week.
I hate it when that happens! I have a suggestion thought (if you haven't painted over it yet). What if you painted just the header (the section over the doorway--I'm not really sure what it's called) and the top of the wall (to match the header) with your light color. I hope that makes sense--basically a border on the top of your lighter paint color. Then get some molding and frame out the large section of the wall (so it would look like a huge chalkboard hanging on the wall). I think it would lighten it up a bit and still give you a giant wall to play with chalk on.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the pictures again, I think just painting over the doorway would be all you needed to do to lighten it back up (and help with the transistion from the kitchen to living room). Chalkboard paint is so fun, I'd hate to see it go before you all had a chance to play with it.
ReplyDeleteThats a neat idea ...drawing santa and having a little fun with it before paiting it back is also a great idea.
ReplyDeleteDhalia
Hello everyone,
ReplyDeleteI got up this morning and read all your comments, I feel so lucky to be part of this amazing blog world! Thank you everyone for your suggestions and honest opinions, I LOVE them all!! The wall is still the topic of conversation here at 65th Ave this morning. Today is paint day for me and I’m going back and forth AGAIN! :) I guess part three will reveal the final color. Thanks again and have a wonderful day!
Londen
Compromise with Mr. 65th? Keep it until after the holidays then re-paint. Imagine the fun you could have with it - and the photos with the fun memories to cherish! If you do keep it for the holidays, I can't wait to see the pictures:)
ReplyDeleteThat stinks to put all that effort into it and then not like it! I would suggest living with it for a little while, then make your decision. From a light color to black can be a huge shock to your system and might just take a little time to grow on you. Plus, I think hubby's idea is great! That would be such fun for the holidays!
ReplyDeleteLonden,
ReplyDeleteI meant to say Melaine wrote out "Twas the Night Before Christmas" not the twelve days. Anyhow, I've been thinking about the differences in your wall versus the one in our daughters. A couple of things I've noticed...one-our daughter has a double window on hers so lots of white with the woodwork and blinds and lots of light, but you do have your entry to the living area two-she has chunky white crown molding as well as her baseboards, helps break it up. We also broke up the top using white magentic strips as the magnetic paint didn't work. I am thinking if you trimmed out the doorway with molding painted in a lighter color (say white/cream) and had crown molding (can't tell if you do from pictures) that maybe you'd like it better. It is another project however!!
I like it! But it is you that has to like it. At least you tried it! Maybe leave it up for a bit, it may grow on you and maybe draw something on it, that may change your mind. :) I am just getting into chalkboard paint and have only done little projects. Thank you for finding my blog and leaving such sweet comments! Your blog is so great and I love all your inspirations!! Good luck with the wall! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad you're painting over it. I would make a large frame on the wall with molding and keep the area inside the frame chalkboard, repaint the rest of the wall space back to normal.
ReplyDeleteLike others have said it is really hard to give a room justice through pictures, but I like it. I was wondering if when you have stuff actually drawn on the wall if it won't look so....black? Anyway, if you are going back a forth maybe just keep it through the holidays and see if when there is drawings and sayings on it if it looks better.
ReplyDeleteBest of Luck!
This reminds me of the time I had the idea to paint all the doors in our house a deep plum color. After a week, I primed over them and painted them a nice cornmeal yellow. Some things work better in theory than in practice. You never know until you try, though, so bravo to you for trying (I agree with you: The color is way overwhelming.)
ReplyDeleteI actually like it. Keep it for a while. You can add some frames all over with different deli and restaurant menus.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for trying! Its much better to try something than to always wonder 'what if'. Remember this as you paint over the black chalk board paint!:)! I was totally inspired by your chalkboard 'fireplace' and am actually going to do that in our dining room. So, many thanks for the inspiration. Have a great day:)
ReplyDeleteLonden I just painted some walls a dusty lavendar and hated it so much I had to repaint right away, so I totally understand how that is...it just had to be done and I feel so much better now. Hard to tell from your pics, but I have to say I see what you see..if the wall was not dividing your living spaces and was alone on a back wall it may have worked better.
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the re-paint! Somehow I just saw this post... but bless your heart in trying to figure this out! I always go nuts when painting a bold color... nervous that it won't turn out right. But, thank goodness, it's only paint :) Maybe, instead, you could paint a big square piece of plywood with the chalk paint and put that up on the wall? That would give you a huge, fun (temporary if you wish) chalkboard space without sacrificing your entire wall? Just a thought!
ReplyDeleteI'm late to the comment party! I can't wait to see what you did! I like your husband's idea...and think it really is kind of fun. I applaud you for sticking to it though. I'm sitting in my kitchen that I like, but think I would have been happier with more white. :) I know whatever you do, it will be beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTry painting a large section of it, leaving a white border around it. Or use one of Hudson Paints colored chalkboard paints to lighten it up. I recently painted a backsplash behind my stove leaving a large white area around it so it's not so intense and it looks fab!
ReplyDeleteOhhh Boo! Well, you had to try it right!? I don't think it looks terrible. I like the idea of keeping a large portion, but framing it out. Maybe add some more white trim to break it up.
ReplyDelete