Chalkboards and their dust were overthrown from the classroom long ago by dry-erase boards. While those whiteboards might be cleaner to use, they do not hold a candle to their counterparts’ old-school aesthetic. Chalkboards have become a huge trend in house design due to their fun and striking appearance, but trends aside, the chalkboard — especially in the kitchen — is a classic tool that offers practical solutions to an array of topics.
Affecting Spaces
Let’s start by acknowledging the chalkboard will indeed get cluttered after repeated usage. Alleviating this is comparatively simple. First, wipe the erased chalkboard down with a clean cloth, removing up to as possible. Soak a cloth in a mixture of vinegar and water. Wring out the cloth and wash out the chalkboard.
The proprietor of the Toronto kitchen, made by Affecting Spaces, isn’t concerned about dust, but rather adopts the ever-changing inspiration within the eat-at counter that doubles as office space.
Take the mystery out of who sits where by creating seat assignments, like in this kitchen, made by SB Architects.
For a bonus, chalkboard paint is simple to make yourself. How to Create Your own chalkboard paint
MN Builders
Life could be crazy, especially for a huge family. Keep it manageable using a chalkboard calendar that is viewable with and easy to update.
Hint: Paints Can Be Found in an Assortment of colours; brands include Benjamin Moore, Rust-Oleum, Valspar and Martha Stewart Crafts. To add additional utility and fun to a kitchen calendar, like Mueller Nicholls Cabinets and Structure did with this cabinet feature, create a magnetic chalkboard from sheet metal.
Emily Campbell
Homeowners who enjoy frequent visitors (or homes that are used as vacation rentals) could gain from chalkboard cabinets. Apart from offering a distinctive look, the chalkboard feature could offer a manual to assist the uninitiated find what they’re looking for.
Hint: Painting old cupboards can be an economical and effective method of changing an aging up kitchen.
Cabinet-painting tips from the pros
A floor-to-ceiling chalkboard, like this slick plank in Iron Chef Marc Vetri’s kitchen, offers space for the whole family to use. The adults can leave love notes for each other or love the art gallery courtesy of the kids. Meanwhile, the children can amuse themselves on the lower half without bothering important phone numbers or messages left for babysitters.
Buckenmeyer Architecture
Positioned next to the cooktop, a chalkboard offers a convenient spot for posting a recipe, a grocery list or the day’s menu. This kitchen design has a chalkboard to tie in with the granite countertops.
Nicole Lanteri Design
Chalkboards are for walls. Contact even a swipe of paint can give character to jar tags.
Hint: You can locate chalkboard touch paper or small amounts of paint acceptable for this sort of job at craft shops. You could even locate readymade chalkboard labels from the Products section.