HomeWork: Repurposing The Chalkboard

There is something in the air each year when August rolls around. There is an imminent feeling of autumn and students and parents alike are aflutter with a new school year just around the corner. I believe Tom Hanks said it best in You've Got Mail--"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address." I share that sentiment. For some reason when my thoughts turn to fall, I just want to be in a classroom. Luckily, I have an excited little boy heading into first grade so I will see my fair share of a school campus. Nevertheless, I think that I will bring a little of it into our home as well. My muse? The chalkboard, an elementary component to any classroom, and a surpisingly versatile design element as well with the help of chalkboard paint. Chalkboard paint is liquid chalkbaord on demand. It is great because you can paint it almost any shape, size and design your little heart desires. And what's more, Martha Stewart has a recipe for homemade chalkboard paint. I am partial to the classic green shade, which is surprisingly hard to find, so I love Martha's route. It seems pretty simple and you can customize the paint to any color you want. Here are a few projects that I am toying with right now.

I love the idea of chalkboard in the kitchen. There is so much to jot down in the kitchen: grocery lists, recipes, schedules, menus, etc. I particularly like the idea of uesing a chalkboard surface for labeling. Never again will you have to tell someone which cabinet the bowls are in. Although, I think that I would choose a more neutral shade to blend into the other colors in my kitchen, (Thank you, Martha!).

I have been in search of a calendar that can fit our family's needs for quite some time. So I am excited to create one that is custom made for us. I am thinking of applying magnetic paint underneath and making some fun magnets for the kids to put on when we have a special day as well.

Childrens' bedrooms are a natural choice for a chalkboard. But I especially like the idea in the picture above because it provides a fun place for the kids to play, yet with just a swipe of an eraser and you have an attractive, polished look.