Greetings from Syracuse where I am busy working on a nice project with Jordan. It is truly going to be a rags to riches story.
Before I flew here this morning, I put the final touches on a little upgrade I did in my craft room. For those of you new to our blog, it looked like this after we completed our remodeling last year. It was new and pristine with no paint smears, dust balls, fabric scraps, and paint samples in sight.
I was able to recycle the previous owner’s pantry cabinets and use them in my craft room. This is what they looked like before I unpacked all of my junk craft supplies. They were newly painted, inside and out, and just waiting for my treasures.
The nice thing about those recycled cabinets is that the surface is smooth and without any molding. Usually we want to add molding to areas, but these cabinets were a blank slate (pun intended). I decided the doors would make great chalk boards, and in less than 30 minutes, I painted all four doors. Then I forgot to take a photo until it was time to condition them.
Chalk board paint needs to cure for a few days, and then you condition it by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk all over it. This gives it a dusty surface, just like the chalk boards in school, so that you can make the words disappear completely when you erase it. If I didn’t take this step, then all of the words I write on the board would show up slightly after they were erased. Are you following me here?
Removing that original layer of chalk gives it that nice chalk board patina. I used a paper towel because I haven’t bought an eraser yet.
After I returned the original pulls, I labeled each door to identify what is behind it – just like Monty Hall. I’ll take door number 3……..
Considering the mess potential of having chalk board cabinet doors, I would never do this for a kitchen or pantry, but for my craft room, they are the perfect solution. I can make my “to-do” lists, write my “to-buy” lists, and practice graffiti calligraphy.
They’re the perfect addition to my craft room.
*****
Take care.
Alicia says
Oh how wonderful! They turned out great and how handy to be able to label them like that. I still say that you and Jordan should have your own show on HGTV!!
Yvonne @ StoneGable says
This is such a great idea! Very practical and so so much fun!!!!
Your project would be perfect to share at TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS, my new weekly linky party! It is live every Wednesday evening at 8:00. Come on over and join in!
Mary Alice Patterson says
I love this idea! Perfect for a craft room with storage cabinets.
Mary Alice
Kathryn Griffin says
Great idea!! Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Savvy Southern Style. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-5.html Wishing you a grand evening. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Kathryn Griffin says
Hi There! Got your comment on The Dedicated House. The Make it Pretty Monday party goes live 8am central time on Monday’s and stays live all week until Sunday’s at 4pm CST. Hope to see you link up! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
CH says
I really enjoyed seeing how easy this is. It looks great!
Pondside says
I like this idea – maybe for my laundry room, which is in need of a little ‘interest’!
Maggie says
what a fantastic idea!