Updating an Armoire with...Chalkboard Paint
The February 2004 issue of Livingetc Magazine (published in England - I think it's one of the *very best* home decorating magazines - it's available at Barnes & Noble) featured this pic of an old armoire that they had completely changed around with chalkboard paint, chalk marks, and fixative. I think it's sooooo great!:
Av and I inherited these two Thomasville armoires - they're from the sixties, I think, because they have this weird greenish stain with little black specs all over. We've been 'hiding' them in one of our guest bedrooms because they just aren't terribly attractive; I mean, it's really nice furniture with interesting details, but it definitely needs updating. I decided to take the idea from the magazine and paint the armoires with chalkboard paint. I figured even if I decided not to write or decorate them with chalk, they would look nice as just black pieces of furniture. Here's a before pic:
...and a during pic...
...and an after pic! The chalkboard paint (I got mine at Home Depot) was pretty inexpensive, went on really easily (although I found that I needed to touch up the paint three different occasions because I missed spots), and dried quickly. I decided to not make new little 'curtains' to go behind the doors, because I like looking through to the shelves:
Oh! I went to Restoration Hardware to get new hardware for the armoires, expecting to pay what they usually charge ($6-9 mostly), but they're having a huge sale right now, and I got exactly what I wanted (brushed nickel finish) for $3 each!
I love it now! I've got my perfumes and little canister candles from Anthropologie and Illuminations inside, and some other little pretties.
I haven't decided yet whether, or what, to write or draw on the armoires with chalk (like in the magazine). Just for now, I'm loving that they look so great in simple black!
posted by ginger Wednesday, October 11, 2006
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