Okay, you asked for brutal honesty, STUPID. Why in the world would you put chalk boards in the living room, I'm just asking?

.....Jane

I like it the way it is.....classy idea....my only comment is to either mat the print on the mantle smaller....or put it somewhere else. That large square of white is distracting to me.

I'd group them all on one side, and find something else for the other side. I don't really love them in the living room, YMMV. I think having them matted would be sort of odd.

Hmmm, I'm listening. I guess I should invest in some art before the new sofa? And here i thought htey were cool and eclectic ;-)

In the absence of having something you like, can't you just leave it empty?

I dont love the look. I think it would look better if you just removed the chaulk boards and left the walls bare...BUT if thats what works for you and your family then you should stick with it! Im sure most of whats in my house people would say to get rid of but....its still here! I do applaud you for trying to come up with a creative solution and in general I lean more towards the creative solutions than the store bought ones in most cases. If your not completely satisfied with the look, maybe you can find something else you have to fill the space. Or, pull out a pad and pencil and create some artwork of your own.

You know, it's too bad the largest chalk board doesn't have a chalk tray. They would look nice as a collection with the largest one horizontal and the other 2 leaning on it.

How about something like this? To make the chalkboards more elegant and still just as functional:

http://www.myhomeideas.com/decorating/design-ideas/room-buy-room-traditional-dining-room-00415000067683/elegant-chalkboard-00415000067678/index.html

I'm sure you could find those neat frames in smaller sizes and such if you like the idea.

The one thing I would point out about your current setup is that I think the chalkboards should be symmetrical. Maybe one of the same size on each side of the fireplace. Or two on each side.

Here is a link that might be useful: Elegant Chalkboard

Do the chalkboards have a purpose for being there? I guess it would seem a little more reasonable to me it they did. I have a HUGE train set that has found its place on my living room floor for the past 2 years. However, I do have a 4yo and thats were he plays with it...so it stays - for now.

Do you use the boards to write notes or are they purely decorative?

I have a couple of thoughts. One is that I think the chalk boards would seem more at home in a living room that is more rustic or country/primitive. Everything I can see in your room does not fit that bill. They would still seem unusual, but I could be convinced more easily that they worked in a different style of room. Second, they would seem like fun, unusual "works of art" if there were actually something drawn on the boards. Maybe get some chalk and draw a picture on each of the smaller boards, and then write a favorite quote (or something) on the larger one? I dunno. I'm trying to make it work!

I think that FUNctional chalkboards are a nifty idea for a spot where people can and will use them at-will. Is this the spot or is by a door, in a hallway or a bathroom a better idea?

For inexpensive "art", you could buy frames from yard sales and thrift stores and put wallpaper, fabric samples, photos or illustrations from damaged books, photos, kids' art or pressed leaves or flowers behind the glass.

I think they are eclectic, but would work better in a kitchen/family room combination. Have you considered black and white photographs? You could even take your own and have them blown up on a copier. I think Kinko's might be able to do very large copies if you want. I have seen some that are large blow-ups of part of a face (an eye or the curve of the back of someone's neck, for ex.) or a single small thing. With matting, they can look quite spectacular and be place holders for when you are able to hang that perfect piece of art.

Jane, this is so unlike you! Daisychain01 didn't ask for "brutal honesty". I mean she did ask for either "brilliant or stupid", but honey the all caps was too much.

Daisychain01, I happen to love the quirkiness of your chalk boards. Don't tell my hubby, but when I get the chance I'm going to paint the walls of our water closet in black chalkboard paint. That way we can write love notes to each other. Hee hee. :^D
I too was thinking on the lines of Sue in drawing or writing something on the boards and it looks as though you may have done that at one time, but erased them. I also love gastroc's idea of using fancier frames on them. I'd measure them and see if you can't find frames that either fit around the current frames or in place of them.
You know how I love doing virtuals so I did this for you to give you an idea of what it could look like. I did the frames in silver though you can't tell very well. If you draw pictures I'd buy some colored chalk too.

Forgot to mention I think the chalk boards look great with the black of the fireplace. I'd keep them no mater what others think. I'm with eclecticme, though I'd like others to like what I've done with our home, that doesn't mean I'll remove something others don't like.

I kind of like the chalkboards. They're different and intriguing.

If you want to relieve the blackness of them, I don't know that mats would look appropriate. But I could see sticking photographs in between the frames and the slate, creating a border. It'd be really cool with old black and white pictures, but colored ones, even Polaroids, would also look nice. Or postcards. Maybe leave one of the smaller boards empty so that guests can sign it or kids can draw on it.

I like the frames and would do something to highlight them rather than cover them up, but I can't think of anything right now.

I'm sorry daisytrain will you forgive me? Your right justgottobeme it wasn't like me and I feel really sorry.

Please except my apology.

....Jane

Daisy, meant to say that I love your fireplace-just beautiful. I also agree with justgotabme-her mock-up looks great and would be fun.

Rule #1-go with what YOU like! You have created a lovely room; enjoy it.

I like Becky's mock-up too and I LOVE those floral chairs~

I'm a fan of funky/unexpected/eclectic/non-catalogue stuff, but I agree, what you have there isn't working.

The whole idea doesn't seem to go with your furnishings...I mean, even the fireplace surround looks pretty sedate. Are you planning on more funk elsewhere? I think you need it. If a whole room has one sort of style or feel, and then there's just the one element that's out of whack, it just looks odd. Can you swap out that rug and get different toss pillows? Totally agree with moving that matted piece on the mantle.

If you're keeping them, I'd add big honkin' ornate (non-matching) frames (something that looks like it would go with those chairs)and I would turn that largest one horizontally, and stack them all on one side. Look at garage sales, thrifts, flea markets, etc. And for goodness sake, draw/write something on them!!! I think the whole idea could work and be really interesting with a little tweaking.

I would love to have a collection of antique slate/chalkboards. I also think they look nice with your FP. Please don't "do dad" them up. Move them if you decide you decide to use other art in the rm.

Oh dear, I LIKE the leaning art on the mantel...it adds a layer for depth and dimension-- it totally works with the clean lines of the chunky mantle. Funny how that is one of MY favorite parts of the room. :))

For the chalkboards...if you want to mat them, I'd draw the mats on with chalk.

If you add words to the boards, I'd add something quirky that relates....

{{!gwi}}
This room looks like a nice place to sit...and this would be a conversation starter as well. And posing a philosophical question to be discussed might be fun, such as "And why not?"

Lower voltage up-lights on the floor to each side of the fireplace would be hidden by your furniture and add dimension and interest to the walls and brighten this end of the room.

** I'd really like to see your chalk boards resting together layered on one art ledge/floating shelf. **

Floating shelves flanking the fireplace would let you add objects instead of art. You look to be exceptional at editing, so a few pieces that speak to you. When I painted my living area a darker gray, I liked how lighter color objects suddenly drew my attention- and white objects with unusual shapes became sculptural against the walls. That bowl on your coffee table, if it were painted cream or a vibrant color from your chairs, and displayed upright on a floating shelf it would be interesting against the dark wall. A vertical object upright on your coffee table would silhouette (had to look that one up, not EVEN close) nicely with the dark fireplace background.

As you're adding to this room- think about texture- there are primarily slick surfaces in it now.

For art....do you visit your local thrift stores? There are interesting pieces to be found...you might find something you really like that is your art "for now" or you may find your favorite piece ever! Empty frames can be found at thrift stores, and layered together or hung in mass might be an idea to add with your chalk boards.

Overall, I like the concept...just wish you'd drive the point further. ; )

I like the idea of ornate funkified frames, but please, don't write cliches on them just to fill the space. "Live, Love, Laugh" and so on. If you don't like mass-produced art, why settled for mass-produced sentiment?

Ideefixe, I only wrote what I did because it's the first thing that popped into my head. Have no clue why, well maybe, I'm always thinking of, or eating, chocolate.

After I read your post and before I scrolled down to look at the pictures, what I thought I'd see were two big rectangular chalkboards on either side of the fireplace. Something the size of builtins downlit with a row of small track lighting. Inspirational quotes or quirky sayings written in chalk. If anyone wants to ps that, go ahead. I think it could be fun!

Grab the colored chalk and start drawing pictures! I would love to see flowers that would somewhat coordinate to the chairs. Use the colors from your room (pink and green chalk) to make it flow better and eradicate the flat blackness of the chalkboard.
The black and white print on the fireplace bugs me the most actually, because the element isn't repeated elsewhere so i would address it somehow.

Speaking as a teacher who has used a lot of black chalkboards: If you mat them - that matting is going to get dirty immediately if you write on them. And I agree that you should write on them.

You might like this inspiration. I just stumbled on it.

[traditional family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2107) by toronto interior designer Chris Kauffman

With black and white photos...

[eclectic dining room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2104)

I should have clarified -- when I said don't do dad them I wanted to say, don't mess with the antique frames. I was not saying don't write on the slate/chalkboard or draw pictures.
Antique slate/chalkboards are collectible.

Here is a site that might give you some ideas of how to use them..

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/twelve-creative-ways-to-decorate-with-message-boards-stsetivw-vs~66045_campaign=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery0

OK, well IMO, it's not brilliant, but it's not stupid either. I think as they are now, it just simply cheapens the very lovely room. I get the creativity and I think you could do something else to make the chalkboards be more classy looking. I like the idea of grouping them together Like what gatroc linked for you I think you could find some old antique frames at the thrift store or yard sales for framing them (but with no mat). Or even look for scrap pieces of molding and make your own frames?

Or on a shoestring, what about framing pieces of coordinating fabric?

I would also look at a thrift store or yard sale for any coffee table type books that have decent looking art/prints in them and maybe you'll find something you like that you could frame (and mat)

I like chalkboards, I just bought one in an antique super wide frame to hang on my wall. But i think there are too many plain chalkboards here.

I'd frame the large one and write some verse or saying on it in elegant writing OR take a smaller one, frame it, lean it on the mantle in place of that white matted print, and write something on it.

To one side you can do black and white family or just artsy photos - you can get "gallery" frame sometimes for a dollar each at michaels.

The room seems a little on the dark side- with the dark paint and dark floors, so I'd try to bring some of the lighter colors of the chairs onto the wall- in a print or whatever.

Check out places like tuesday morning for affordable and often unusal art.

Good luck! Beautiful fireplace!

Wow. Go away for the weekend and loads of messages waiting upon my return.

Thanks for your advice everyone.

I'm really an authentic art person and have just ordered a print from esty and have several others hiding in my closet I can have framed. I just really liked the size of the boards and when I put the new cabinet in the kitchen I had to move them somewhere.

We do actually use them. The kids will often write occasion appropriate messages (happy birthday daddy!) or we used it to count down the days to our last vacation. In the kitchen I did our weekly menu plan on it so everyone knew what was coming (whether they liked it or not).

I'm including a more recent shot at a different angle so that the glare isn't so awful and you can see it with the slipcovered couch (okay, I'm still hoping SOMEONE will like them - just one little voice).

Gorgeous room- those windows are beautiful! If you like the chalkboards, I vote for keeping them. Because after all, this is your house. I think an easy way to give them a little pizzazz is with an ornate frame and position them so they are symmetrical.

Thanks for the compliment on the windows gastroc. I've told this story before on this forum, but we had those windows custom made to match an old pic of the house. When we moved in it was a huge plate of glass with a broken seal - so streaky you couldn't see out of it. I stained it myself to match the old woodwork. We've just decided to do the window above it in the master bedrm. Major investment, but worth it, we think.

I think I'll move the boards to above the computer desk. It's in the same room, but I guess they'll look more appropriate there *sigh*.

I think I will have the new prints framed in similar sizes to the boards though. I do like the proportions. I want huge cream mats to brighten up the room a bit.

You can kind of see the computer desk in the left of this picture.

I really like them...no matter where you put them. Of course, I like them better with "something" written or drawn on them. Sorta like if you have a vase of water sitting there but no flowers in it. HA!

Now I have nothing to do with these things, but have you seen the Chalk Ink pens? I saw them blogged about on a few sites (Warm Pie Happy Home was one) so I ordered one of the variety packs. I haven't tried them yet so I can't give a thumbs up or down, but they seemed like a good idea. Just a thought.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chalk Ink

Pupwhipped, that is such a great site! I love to that they have a semi permanent version as well. I'm thinking if I could convince one of my arty friends to do something on one of them, I wouldn't have to worry about the kids rubbing it off.

The first photo was VERY misleading to what the room looks like, and thus, how the chalkboard idea came across- the light, the slipcovered sofa (successful!), the texture added by the chairs, the beautiful windows and wood trim...it's charming and homey.

It's meaningful to play and create with our rooms- it's how we learn to express ourselves through our environment, to analyze what works and why, and how to make do and make lovely with what we have, instead of buying cheap meaningless fillers....think you're on the same page- way to go!!

how to make do and make lovely with what we have, instead of buying cheap meaningless fillers...

Wonderfully put, and exactly my philosophy, but also the reason I have bare walls in my house although I've lived here 12 years!

I really like the chalkboards, especially as shown in the latter pictures. I might like them grouped together on just one side of the fireplace, but of course that creates a new problem in what to put on the OTHER side of the fireplace.

Hey, I like them!~