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Design Dilemma home office Paint

Chalkboard paint or cork?

Vivienne Travis Fine Woodworks

6 years ago

We like the farmhouse style. This desk niche is right beside our kitchen and dining room. I know there will be three old barnwood shelves held up by wrought iron brackets above the desk. Should I paint the back wall with black chalkboard paint? Or, put up cork or some other material. I'm on the lookout for an old metal and wood chair too.

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Comments (2)

miss lindsey (She/Her)
6 years ago
Cute little area! I have a couple of thoughts:

-I would only use two shelves. Three will be quite close together and the things you are planning to display won't have room to breathe.

-To me, blackboard paint or cork only make sense if they can be used, which in this case they cannot.

-To bring a little softer vibe to contrast the hard iron and rough wood, why not try a scroll-y wall stencil on the back wall? It will fit the antique farmhouse style perfectly and they are so much less difficult than they seem. You could probably do this little space in an hour or two (HINT: start at the top middle and work down and out). And you could add the same stencilling to other areas around your kitchen, like the inside of any glass-fronted cupboards or the pantry walls or door. The best part is, if you hate it you can just paint or cork over it with nothing lost! Well, except the cost of the stencil and your time, I guess...
miss lindsey (She/Her)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
A pattern like this is really forgiving because it's not strongly lineal or geometric, so any mistakes or mismatches just disappear into the design. I think it would look great in one shade lighter than your wall colour. Or you could match the colour of the desk.

https://www.royaldesignstudio.com/collections/wall-stencils/products/wisteria-wall-stencil
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Okay, more options than I was thinking really. Should have known GW would come through with ideas! So, here are the top contenders as of now (keeping in mind that this fridge can't be a 'clown' since I have two already, not counting DH, haha) In no particular order: 1.copper of some sort: sheets a la Angie DIY, or ceiling panel material 2. cork 3. chalkboard paint (considering cork on the freezer side and chalkboard paint on the fridge side tinted to match the cork side. I do like to hang some stuff and the g-kids would have fun drawing on the chalk side) 4. veneering the existing panels in white oak to match the cabinets. Good idea, local! These panel are actually raised in the center, so I think I'd have them planed down to more flat-ish, but yeah, that would work to use them as the surface for whatever we do, since we have them and they fit. What am I going to do when this kitchen gets done?!
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