Don’t you love when inspiration hits? It’s a drop everything, I need to do this now kind of thing for me so when I saw Carmel’s on Monday, I was hit hard with inspiration!
Which reminded me of that I have always loved.
Then I did a quick little search on Pinterest and found this, exactly what I had in mind and no, being a cat on a counter was not it.
I was possibly supposed to be have some ladies over for dinner Monday night, needing to make soup, make food for a MOPS meeting the next day, tidy up the house a bit, you know that sort of stuff. Instead I started painting a chalkboard backsplash. I may have made a trip to Hobby Lobby in a snow storm to get a chalk marker too, you know because these things are important when inspiration strikes!
CHECK OUT THE BEFORE AND AFTERS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST TO SEE HOW FAR THIS KITCHEN HAS COME FROM AN OAK NIGHTMARE TO AN AMAZING AFTER!
Step 1: Start with a blah back splash area in need of some whimsy and a checkbook that doesn’t have enough money for new counter tops and a black splash. This is in the plan for the next few years but until then, I thought this might be fun!
Step 2: I already owned chalkboard paint so this was free for me. A quart of Rustoleum chalkboard Paint from your local hardware store should be around $10-$15. After that, paint like a mad woman with chalkboard paint, try to do this at an inconvenient time and when you are hosting a dinner.
Step 3: Run to Hobby Lobby in a snow storm and buy a chalk marker using a 40% off coupon and only pay $3.58.
Step 4: Try to make straight lines yourself and have it end up looking like you were drawing drunk.
Step 5: Involve hubby who has a tendency to be anal very detailed which I am not.
We used a level, a big bistro chalk marker from Hobby Lobby that had a square tip and I would NOT suggest using and some yellow thing that had a straight edge for the drawing the vertical lines straight. I went back to Hobby Lobby today and found a four pack of chalk markers with nice rounded tips, theywere $12.99 but once again, use the 40% off coupon. The chalk markers do not wipe off like chalk does so they are great to use for this type of thing. You can also purchase it . I have had a few questions about it wiping off and it DOES NOT unless you use water and it still leaves behind a line so this should last a while.
Throw in a double butt shot for good measure and also begin to wonder why we are matching in our navy shirts. And that is not my skin showing, it’s a tank top. We really had to get up close and personal while doing this so I would suggest doing this with a spouse or good friend who doesn’t mind you all up in their business.
Step 5: Step back and admire your whimsical, cheap back splash that makes you very happy! (After you take 6,000 pictures of the kitchen only to discover you are missing a vertical line in two spaces, then take 4,000 more pictures).
Enjoy the photo overload!!!
I even love it at night time, it looks amazing with the under cabinet lights on it!
And now for some good before and afters!
You can read about painting the cabinets here and here. The light over the sink was a free Craigslist find and I just added the bamboo shade over the sink which I love! So what do you think? Do you have a back splash already? Are you over the chalkboard craze? Do you love it as much as I do?
Linking Up Here:
SOOO cool! but i have to say the “double butt shot” might be my favorite part.
Total goodness and look how great it ties both rooms together. A little black paint. Cool stuff. Your new drapes are so nice too! I have to go find something to paint with the chalkboard paint. I have a quart already just dying to be used.
Oh my gosh!1 I love it!! I might have to bust out the chalkboard paint tomorrow
Looks great, I also see a new window treatment for the kitchen window!
I LOVE IT!!! I will never be over the chalkboard craze. How cute are you and your hubby working side by side. It really looks fantastic!!!
Looks great in your kitchen. You have the greatest ideas and are so creative.
So cute. Love those chalk markers!
I love it! It looks amazing!
I’m glad to see that I am not the only crazy person that starts a project the day before people are coming over! It looks awesome
What a brilliant idea and it makes a world of difference in your already fab kitchen.
LOVE IT!! I’m a total sucker for some chalkboard paint and your backsplash looks great! So creative. Your kitchen is beautiful! I love the gray cabinets on the bottom and your backsplash just ties it all together perfectly.
Oh my goodness…I love this! Looks fantastic! I saw the Nester’s and Carmel’s remakes and never even thought about doing it outside a fireplace. Great idea!
This is SICK. Like, sick-AMAZING. I am craaaazy about it! I saw these photos when you first posted them on FB, and I thought I must be seeing it wrong because no one can draw lines that straight.
But you did it! LOVE THIS PROJECT.
First off—that double butt shot is HILARIOUS. Love it. Secondly—GAH. This is ridiculously awesome. I love it all!
Turned out awesome! What a creative idea!! Thanks for sharing,
Krista
You were not kidding on the gazillion pictures, but I love each one! I think you did a creative and fun finished project! Way to go Ange!
This looks fantastic! You did a great job! I’m your newest follower
Jamie @ somuchbetterwithage.com
It looks amazing! Glad to have inspired something so awesome! =)
What a great idea! I’m also like that when inspiration strikes- gotta drop everything and go with it. Love it!
I love this so much! It looks very high end. What happens if you have to clean up the backsplash? Will the husband remeasure everything? That’s love.
i think
this is all kinds of brilliant
wondering how it
cleans up?
i am a splatterer…
{alison}
a bold and fabulous new way to use chalkboard paint! how does the chalk stand to being wiped up?? or splashed on?
What a clever idea. It really looks amazing. I see the gray drapes in your dining room…does that mean that’s the ones you went with? I originally voted for the others, but I have to say that I really like the gray ones now that I see them from the kitchen. Your kitchen looks really beautiful with all of the changes.
I really, really love how this turned out! I can’t believe it’s as simple as a little chalk paint and chalk. I’m heading to read your posts about painting your cabinets. I’m thinking I may tackle that myself this summer.
So cool! I think it looks great!
I really love this idea. I might steal it and do it in my kitchen. I don’t have a backsplash and I just painted it the same color as the rest of the kitchen. I am not feeling it though. I really really like this. I am hosting a link party and would love it if you would share this.
Ange! That looks FABULOUS! Seriously. I really love the difference it makes. What a great creative project for a tight budget. Love love love it! I’m including a link back in this week’s DIY favorites/highlights.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Wow, looks wonderful.. and yes, how does it clean up if you splash salad (oil) dressing on it? NO, don’t try it just to answer me… grin. I love it.
Wow, what a difference! I love that something as simple as chalkboard paint can totally change the look and feel of a room. The black looks so classy in your kitchen
And awesome before and afters! I love that vaulted ceiling in your family room.
Your transformation is amazing it looks beautiful you did a fantastic job (found your site via hometalk)
Holy cow!!!!!!!! Genius!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t have a back splash and have been wavering between going for a fun color and choosing something neutral and sensible. Once I commit to a tile backsplash, it would take an act of congress to change it. But chalk paint????? Oh my word. I could try one thing for a while and if I don’t like it, I could try another. I think I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By the way – I have read lots about the chalk markers. The recommendations for removing the lines are Windex or Coca-Cola. Apparently those specific brands are important. The off brands or alternatives don’t work as well. The coke sounds like a sticky mess, but the folks who use it, swear it’s fantastic and no stickiness is left behind. Several write ups were by people who had large chalkboard walls. I haven’t tried it because I don’t have any in the house.
WOW! What a fun and clever update, love it and all the photos!
Love the backsplash & was super excited to subscribe to your blog by email but even though you have the button you don’t have it enabled. VERY sad!!! If you’re not going to enable it please take it off your blog.
Hello.
Lovely job! I saw that you mentioned that it’s a chalk marker and doesn’t smudge. Is it not dusty-chalky? I would be worried about chalk dust with dust allergies and being in a kitchen around food. Looks fantastic though!
toddlindsey.com
LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! I really like the new curtain panels in your dining room too. I liked your kitchen valance in the first kitchen picture better than the bamboo because of the cute pattern
I just found your blog through Hometalk. I love your kitchen colors and may do my kitchen the same way when we move into our new home. Anyhow, about he chalk paint back splash, does it wipe down easily? It is a back splash and will tend to get….well….splashed. How well does it clean up, and does the paint stay put when you do wipe up any splashes? Thanks in advance for your answer. Love, love, love your kitchen.
Fabulous job! I just love it! I have a black Travertine backsplash and I just love the black… The chalkboard backsplash is a wonderful option for so many, thanks for sharing!
What an amazing transformation, love it. I also adore the colour you have painted your dining chairs, its gives a great pop of colour.
Alison
Fabulous look! So glad you have hubby to help with the lines!!
Such an awesome post and a genious idea, Ange. But whoah, that really was a lot of photos!
Love the before/afters at the end!
I really like the new kitchen! The fruit display i saw reminds me of this food art jar. Looks so real, and very elegant!
love this! Featuring you on the blog and sharing on FB tomorrow! Thanks so much for linking up with OPC and the DIY village to support Habitat4Humanity. Hope to see back tomorrow night. facebook.com/oneprojectcloser
So, I was thinking since chalkboard paint is tintable. What do you think grey chalkboard paint and the bricking would look??
that looks so stinking good! the paint marker is like the perfect tool for this. love it!