How to create a chalkboard from an OLD SALVAGED door

{ chalboard covered for privacy as my camera was out of juice}

Many of us have embraced chalkboards in our homes ,it's a great spot to keep organized or share a sentiment , mine does that but serves a second purpose as well as camouflage for the side of my fridge .

I can use it for house "rules" or birthday wishes , or the budding artist in my home can have an ever changing canvas.

Now where did I find such a perfectly fit chalboard ? well I made it myself , from a century old door a door salvaged from a crumbling house.

Keeping it real and leaving the layers of paint for a charming look .

A few coats of chalkboard paint.

Here is a progress shot where I added trim to create a panel that was not there .

I am a big fan of this beaded wood trim .

This is what I started with , a left over project from our first home , I used this door turned on its side for a headboard, but when we found our "real" bed this was left collecting dust.

I simply re-thought it and quickly turned it into a chalkboard , do you have an old door collecting dust , if you don't check your junk shops , re-use depots, or flea markets it is a cheap and easy project to tackle .

Bathroom character building excersize

These are the legs and this is the condition in which I found them , but I could see through the sad condition to see the potential , look beyond the the colors and beyond the current use , truthfully I didn't have any idea of what I would do with these table legs but I knew they had potential .

Legs meet bland vanity , these floating drawers were crying out for personality , so I paired them and created one of my favorite projects.

New old style glass knobs.

I didn't sand away the character for I think that adds charm , I simply primed and painted the legs. Click on the photos to see greater detail.

I removed the giant mirror that was here when we moved in and replaced that with these two mirrors.

I do not have even one towel bar in the house , I am a bigger fan of hooks , I built this towel rack out of a scrap piece of MDF , painted it with two shade of green and sanded it to reveal the colors and added three old fashioned hooks .

This little ducky/boy was the bath time toy my siblings and I shared as children , it holds a special meaning to me and is very unique , the little milk glass make-up jar was found while at an antique market , I love to mix old and new elements to make my spaces personal.

I found this china container at a flea market when I was 19 yrs old for 25 cents, it is the perfect cotton swab holder.

I added bead board to the apron front of our bathtub to add character as well as I added a marble threshold for edging just to add some more style. click photo to enlarge

There is still much to be done , in fact I started adding bead board last night . I need to address the wall behind the mirror I think it needs some texture , and a new faucet and sink are still on the list , but things are well on their way and I will show you as things move along.

Salvaged Kitchen Computer Nook

I have decided that since everything seems to be in re-runs during the summer why can't I ? I thought I would do a little run down of my favorite projects around the house , projects that you may also be able to make your own , may inspire you to see things in a different way or just to simply enjoy . If you are familiar with these up-coming elements maybe you too will enjoy a re-cap and a fresh look.

Let me share with you "grand central" , the kitchen desk nook .
This is where I blog and work and play , many hours have been spent here researching for design plans , shopping and being inspired .
The design for this area came from a photo in a magazine many years ago , I love the hutch for storage and display.
Although I am happy to build things myself for this one I will have to give credit to my husband.
He took an old 70's brown hutch and buffet which had some PLASTIC components , cringe !, he tore it all apart and re-built me this desk and hutch, the ultimate recycle project. A fresh coat or two of white paint unified it all.
The desk legs were comprised of a junked table we found at an antique market for $90, only the legs were worthy of saving and at $22 each it was still a great steal, so I removed them and used only two here for this desk, as I knew I could find a use for the other two and could enjoy them twice , tomorrow I will show you were the other two ended up.

False drawers with glass knobs .

The center of the desk pulls out to reveal the keyboard.

The punched metal used in the doors was found in the garbage and re-used here brilliantly , this was my husbands design .

A simple memo board keeps notes handy as well as other mementos.

Look at those legs.

Bead board painted aqua . Baskets store cables and clutter.
A handy spot where I can be a part of all the action and still get things done all that and it is pretty too what more could I ask for.