chalking it up.

My kitchen is b-o-r-i-n-g. Nothing special about it at all. Builder's special type. 

Gotta love when a guy aka the builder chooses the finishes for a new house. You get something like light maple cabinets (okay so not too bad but I've been itching to paint them); grey laminate counters...yawn; grey linoleum floors (which always look dirty!) double yawn.

So we moved in almost five years ago. I had wedding money burning a hole in my pocket and I was excited to decorate my very own house. I painted my little heart out and I bought some furniture. Five years later I'm now coming into my own style and understanding what I actually like rather than doing the "oh that will fit there I'll buy it" route.

Okay, okay I'm getting to the point...my kitchen. I would just stand in there everyday glaring at it with disgust I needed to do something I couldn't take it anymore.

It was not me one tiny bit.

But what is a girl to do with no budget but a need to redecorate. 

Sell stuff to get new stuff of course.

Black shelf, sold it...$40. Not my taste.

Curtains black & white toile sold those too again $40 and again not my taste.

So that gave me an $80 budget to spruce up my kitchen.

Look at Riley sleeping amongst the chaos of a 2 year old tornado.

So this wall with the large opening into the family room was my target. My accent wall if you will.

(that's the Potterybarn Bellora Chandelier over the table by the way...I love it!)

First up I dusted off a quart of Benjamin Moore chalkboard paint I had from the office where I also painted a little wall.

Look how little Avery was, tear. She still LOVES coloring on the wall when I'm in here working.

So I painted two coats on the wall. Didn't take long at all. An hour and a half nap and another hour or so that night. (it dries super fast)

Avery helped me with a little bit. She only touched the wet paint twice.

I planned on toning it down by rubbing the entire wall with some crushed up white chalk but decided against it because I love it how it is.

I feel like it brought a sense of elegance to the room. Weird since it is chalkboard paint but it really did. It also grounded the space and gives it more warmth.

Cost of repainting the wall $0.

Stay tuned for more. Just waiting on some paint to dry and a husband with tools to help me hang a few things.