Today's Special

We accomplished some big things in the back yard, with only a couple outdoors projects left. J primed the fence over the weekend, so it's ready to be stained. Turning my attention inside I finally got new dining chairs (good-bye rickety IKEA jobbies) and finished the reclaimed window that I cleaned up, poly'd and turned into a chalkboard menu planner. Remember the sad little dining area? My friend over at Recycled Love Letters featured it on her DIY tab. I love both her blog and Young House Love for getting great staging and renovation ideas. I've been obsessively culling all the catalogues that come in my mailbox which I'd previously have just recycled (especially Ballard Designs, Chia'sso and West Elm) for inspiration and have some great ideas to round out the dining room, sitting room and my bedroom.

We separated the boys out, so we no longer have a play room, but I'm going to do a cool chalkboard area in each of their rooms. Hopefully bedtime will go more smoothly now!

Here's the lowdown on the chalkboard project:

Cost:
Window-$15 (random lady's barn :))
Rustoleum Chalkboard Paint (quart, and I'll use the rest for the chalkboard in the boys's rooms)-$12.97 (Wal-Mart)
Hardware for hanging and reinforcing corners: less than $4 each (Wal-Mart)
Rollers for applying paint-less than $5 total (Wal-Mart)
Liquid Chalk Markers (set of 5)-$15 amazon.com
Painter's tape: (already had it)

Remember the before?

I cleaned the window well with glass cleaner and lightly brushed the dust and cobwebs off of the frame. Can you believe I found it painted that awesome lime color?!

Tape off the panes so that I didn't cover that pretty green with chalkboard paint, and then applied three coats of chalkboard paint. Take the tape off as soon as you're done applying the last coat. 

I added l-bracket reinforcement on the corners and then d-ring hanging hardware

I moved the hardware to the front (because the green was the 'back' of the window)

Together with my new chairs from World Market (Very sturdy and I love them!), the dining area's coming together!

And there you have it; A fun one-of-a-kind menu board for under $30. I wonder how much Pottery Barn or Sundance would charge for the same thing?