Hi AT, In my very small kitchen, I currently have cork covering the one wall. I like how I can change the display on a whim, and also take down/put up miscellaneous pictures, recipes, lists, etc. However, I've had it awhile and am ready for a change. I've decided on chalkboard paint, but can't decide between black or green. What do ATers think?? P.S. The kitchen is open to the rest of the apartment, so it all has to work together. What should Tootie do? More pics and a survey after the jump...
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I wonder if you could do 3 or 4 undercoats of magnetic paint and then paint the chalkboard paint over it so that you can write on it and post pictures (using magnet tacks) in the same place. Might be worth experimenting.
Oh, and I vote black. It won't seem so stark once you start writing on the wall.
whatever you choose, make it metallic so you can use magnets!
I voted for black black because I think green might look too school-ish.
I disagree - I think the green would look SO awesome with the other semi-retro colors you've got going on. If you pulled out a few milky green accessories in the kitchen I think it would look just amazing - especially if you limited your chalk to orange, yellow, and pink!
Black with all those other colors; plus it's already an accent color throughout the apartment..
Killer chairs btw:)
I would say that black would make that wall seem less closed and all up in your face, thus making the teeniness not as...well, all up in your face.
...I don't like things in my face.
hmmm... i'm not sure about either color. what if you did something more unexpected - or on the other hand - seamless? in my boyfriend's condo, we painted one whole column a dark creamy tan just like the rest of the halls but it was actually a custom mixture of chalkboard paint. So everything matched and looked sophisticated until you rounded the column and there were lists, writing, greetings, etc - it was amazing!
i originally got the "recipe" from an old issue of martha stewart. could be worth considering!! good luck!
I just painted an accent wall in my kitchen/dining with home-made chalkboard paint - 1cup of flat latex, any colour to 2 tbsp of un(non?)sanded grout...the entire procedure is explained elsewhere on AT. Worked great, and if there is no chalk on the wall, it just looks like an accent wall.
According to Martha Stewart - you can have chalkboard paint in any color you wish. I haven't tested this theory, but my local Lowes did stock the tintable chalkboard paint last time I checked.
http://www.marthastewart.com/article/make-custom-color-chalkboard-paint
Use the paint that is BOTH chalkboard and magnetic. That way you can still stick photos and such up, but you can also write with chalk!
I'd use the color that will most support your photos or things you might stick on with magents, and the color of chalk you like to use.
Don't like the green though. Traditional green chalkboard? yuk
Black all the way... but u can make your own custom color as has been pointed out. Green would clash with the baskets above, I think. Black would look awsome. I ditto the magnetic idea as well.
white, or another light color. Make it magnetic.
Great lamp next to the dinnertable, btw!!
Chalkboard paint is so 2006.
Just choose a nice color and mount some hooks on the wall to hold your apron/oven mitts/dishtowels/saute pan, etc.
Go with the black. And paint the baskets above the cabinets to match the cabinets. Much more seamless that way.
Green! Would look gorgeous and classic and fit in seamlessly with the rest of your home.
As for me I would go with a rich chocolate brown and hang that (very pretty) retro print offside. I also agree very much with the suggestion kdear offered , maybe a combination of magnetic paint top to bottom left in solid color and top to bottom right in same color chalk board paint. Please show us what you decide the possibilities are endless and the best of fun to do!
elise
I LOVE the way you've decorated your apartment. If I may be brutally honest, your kitchen does not reflect the rest of it, and you're spot on in worrying, since it opens to the rest of the apt. We had the same idea, and painted the backwall of our kitchen in espresso brown. I think it would go great with your kitchen and it would really pull the rest of the apartment together. Unsolicited advise: I would also paint the baskets atop of your cabinets in alternating colors to match the poster in your dining area (one orange, one mustard...).
Thank you very much for your posting. This is what Apartment Therapy is truly about in my opinion :-D
i chose black, but then someone made a comment about green going w/ the rest of your retro look...and now i think i agree with that. because, if you keep that orange wall, orange and black is too haloween/mc donalds. the orange and green may go better together.