i love how it looks but it seems a little dangerous--at least given how the kids ( . . . and adults) in my family tend to burst into rooms. I think if we did this, we would see a lot of smashed foreheads!

I had this in my previous apartment and would just like to say that the excess chalk dust on the floor makes this set up a bit upsetting. It's a wonderful creative tool when used like this. Maybe the chalkboard paint should have been put on the side that swings away from the baby...

I had to do this with a kitchen pocket door. The old owners actually put up shelves on the wall and screwed the door into the wall like idiots. When I took the hideous shelf down and pulled the pocket door out, there were holes on one side. I didn't want to replace the door, so this hid everything quite well and is great for the weeks menu and notes.

Why do you keep saying it's been "done to death" on chalkboard walls/doors? It may have been blogged about on a lot of other blogs and possibly on Ohdeedoh but it is fun, easy & cool.
We have a real chalkboard from the elementary school my parents attended (it was torn down) It is hung & framed with moulding & bullseyes, in our dining room. I get nothing but compliments on it. I don't feel passe or un-original having it there! I love it! It is very functional & looks cool. The chalkdust...nothing a damp mop won't take care of in one swipe. It far less messy than the kids at breakfast...still trying to pry dried Cheerios off of the floor.

At our old place we had a door that led from the kitchen to the laundry room/pantry and we painted that door with chalkboard paint. My husband and I used the top portion for reminders and lists and my kids used the lower portion for doodling. We loved it!

I also painted the inner part of one kitchen cabinet door and wrote love notes to my husband on that one. :)