Ohmystinkinheck

This afternoon was spent cutting-in and rolling-on the additional two coats of black Rustoleum Chalkboard Paint to the already painted magnetized black paint coats from yesterday. That’s a grand total of FOUR COATS of the thickiest, goopiest paint I have ever used.

I didn’t get a chance to talk about the magnetized paint I dealt with yesterday. The can says that if you don’t get it shaken up upon purchase, you need to stir it for at least 10 minutes, and continue stirring it while you paint. THEY ARE NOT JOKING. In fact, even if, say, you aren’t in the mood to stir it…it doesn’t matter. YOU HAVE to stir the paint if you want to use it, period; it’s a thick muck of goopy blob stuff with all this gray, bubbly stuff floating in it. If you don’t stir, it’ll settle.

I had the distinct feeling that if I got too much of it on me, I’d walk into the kitchen and be attacked by kitchen appliances, knives, and random silverware or utensils.

I washed well.

Today’s paint, the chalkboard paint, was a bit better, but still required a good deal of stirring (about half the time as the magnet paint). IT STAYED VERY THICK while I painted, and though not difficult to spread, necessarily, it would gel-up in the pan a bit; oh, and I dug out a few globs of what I can best describe as black snot (yeah, I said it - now you’re stuck with the visual) from the pan and off the wall while I was painting.

Anyway, I’m loving the end product. I really like it behind the green apple dry goods pantry. Nice contrast.

So, our current plans are to use the top, unreachable portion of the wall, for displaying the kids’ artwork. I’ve ordered some strong Neodymium Magnets to display artwork.

Before I ever started, I read a lot of paint reviews across several DIY sites; I knew that in general, the magnet paint is not that strong - and it is true, it isn’t terribly strong. Refrigerator magnets (lighter ones, not heavy) do fine on it, but can only hold up minimal weight.

A few people suggested these magnets, so I just found the size I wanted to use and ordered. Apparently these could affix me to the wall if I needed to…okay, maybe I’m slightly given to hyperbole.

At any rate, we plan to do a few more things in here. Switch out the light fixture to something a bit less “country”, eventually build in a "L-Shaped" bench seating under the window and along the wall to replace the current table and chairs. And of course, always happily display chalked artwork, lists, calendars, and whatever else we write to our heart’s content.

I sorta giggle when I look at the wall. I can’t stop thinking I’ve satisfied some deep, unrecognized, yet tucked-away, teenage rebellious desire with this wall. And the best thing? I’m cutting off my children’s teenage desire for a black wall at the pass. Oh yeah, this wall is pulling double duty.

So, let me recap.

• Sanding? — Check.
• 2 Layers of Magnetized Paint? — Check.
• 2 Layers of Chalkboard Paint? — Check.

Now? We have to let it rest, untouched for 3 days. Then, we are supposed to chalk the entire surface; using the chalk on its side (we’ll probably use the outside chalk that is huge). After that, we are supposed to erase all the chalk and that primes the board for use.

I like it dark, so I’ll want to wipe off a bit of the chalk residue with a damp rag, but we can’t do that for 7 days after painting.

And yes, I’m just anal retentive enough to stick to the rules.

30 Responses to “Black Wall - Satisfying teenage angst I never knew I had.”

1. Elizabeth

   It looks so cool. And, you’re right. The green is amazing against it.

2. Rhi

   It’s not going to make that sound if someone’s fingernails should accidentally run across it, is it?

3. naomi

   what a totally awesome idea!! i love it!

4. Karen Sugarpants

   That is AMAZING! I love it and can’t wait to see what you create on it!

5. Mandy

   Love this! I am thinking of doing a chalkboard wall in the playroom. That is the next room of renovation in our house. But man, that looks like alot of work. And I don’t have a Mr. OMSH. How does road trip to Kentucky sound?

6. nottryingforaboy

   Very cool looking! And such a neat idea.

   But my goodness is that paint high maintenance!

7. Starwoodgal

   So very cool! I can’t wait to see what the kids draw on it. Please do post pictures of their “wall art”.

   (where does the chalk dust go?)

8. Liz C.

   Oooh… you need a small cluster of suspended globe lights with black rods or chains to drop them down to “lighting” level. Way cool room. And upholster the L-bench with a cushion that has some of that apple green, and some black to anchor it all.

   You’ll love the chalk board wall when it’s finished (and I’d be the one following hte rules, too, holding my husband and his chalk off at fork-point to keep him from jumping the gun)… we did this to closet doors, and even that small amount was very nifty.

9. Julia

   I have chalkboard paint in my bedroom and it’s AWESOME…works really well and it’s fun to have my friends use their creativity all over it.

10. bluejayecrafts

    That looks amazing. Love the green cabinet.

11. Annika

    I LOVE IT! And wow, do I ever covet that dry goods cupboard! It is amazing. In fact, can I just move in and live in that room?

12. JackieW.

    That IS cool !

13. Natalie

    It looks awesome. And I love the cabinet.. so fresh looking.

14. dee

    This makes me wish I had my own house so I could do the same. I’ve thought about doing a partial wall in my kids’ room, but the whole wall would be much, much better!

15. Michelle

    hmmm….I’m waiting with anticipation to see how it turns out. It looks great!!

16. Amy

    OMG I LOVE IT!!

17. Jenny

    Oh. My gosh. The black with the green. LOVE IT.

    Must stop self from licking monitor.

    Aces!

18. Kelly

    That is too cool. I love your green cupboard. Where did you get it?

19. OMSH

    Thanks for all the encouraging feedback. Since I’ve had about 10 emails about this, I want y’all all to know I got the green dry goods pantry at Moore’s Furniture in Kerrville, TX in 2000 (before Meredith was born - for her nursery).

    I’ve looked and there are no markings for me to even know who made it. I mean I have LOOKED - pulled out drawers and looked them over, looked under, behind, beside it. I even looked in the warranty drawer for receipts.

    Nothing. :(

    I haven’t been able to find anything like it since.

    Sorry. :(

20. mary

    Wow. Just Wow. This looks amazing!

21. SmockLady

    I have always wanted a big wall in my house to be a big black chalkboard. Alas, I am highly allergic to the dust and it sends my asthma to the hospital. but the magnet stuff I will one day have. I promise myself. Maybe by the time I own a house again I’ll be able to put up some metal sheets and paint them for use as a huge magnetic “white board” for dry erase.

    I love the green against the black.

22. Linda

    Ab fab, Mrs. OMSH! It’s a great look, especially with the green pantry and mirror–it just pops everything so nicely. Hooray for DIY people like you to inspire the rest of us!

23. Tami

    That looks great. I’m inspired but I don’t have a wall that big. Too many windows. I’m still thinking though and might come up with something. And by the way, I so want to make one of those fabric covered deer heads.

24. Stefani

    WAHOOOOOO!!!!! It looks fantastic!

    And um… disregard that email, I think this about answered all my questions :-)

25. nancypants

    I love it!!! It looks fantastic. I would never have finished it, just hearing how much work it was! Yikes.

26. KYouell

    I was intrigued when I saw the thumbnails come through in an email from Flickr, but the big photos & story are just amazing. Can I have a little bit of your right brain because you seem to have extra and I seem to be short!

27. Keri

    Beeeeeeeeeeautiful!

28. joslyn

    i love this…and can totally relate. we did two smallish pantry doors in magnetic paint last year, but must have used the cheapo stuff, as it took us 5 coats to get even the strongest magnets to stick. I had originally intended to paint over it with chalkboard paint, but gave up… Your wall has re-inspired me!

29. Oh My Stinkin Heck » Blog Archive » It is cheaper to buy a blackboard, I tell ya.

    [...] I finished the magnetized chalkboard wall here. [...]

30. Scyfox

    Hello.

    I really liked that wall. I was thinking of painting black and red my new bedroom on the second floor. Somehow it looks like more “classy or elegant loft” xD

    Too bad that in my country magnetic paing isn’t available. (i think so) xD

    Really nice finish.

    Silla!