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Young House Love » Reader Redesigns » How To Make A Paneled Chalkboard Door

| By Sherry Petersik | February 9, 2010 | 41 Comments

How To Make A Paneled Chalkboard Door

When one of our favorite super busy DIY moms (she gives me hope!) sent over some photos of her kitchen’s recent door makeover we couldn’t wait to share the goods. Here’s her letter:

Hi, guys! Sam and I just finished up our kitchen door project and I was wondering if you thought it might make a fun Reader Redesign. We only spent $35 on it, so I thought it was right up the YHL alley. Everyone can check out the step by step process here and here on my blog. Basically we just applied black chalkboard paint to our flat metal kitchen door and trimmed it out with some lightweight boards (which we had to screw into the door to hold them securely and keep them from buckling). We love that it mimics the look of an expensive solid wood paneled door. Hope you and the bean are feeling well, Sherry! -Jacci

Here’s what the basic metal door looked like before Jacci worked her magic:

Chalkboard Door Before

Here it is in progress:

Chalboard Door In Progress

And here’s the very same door after spending just $35 to give it a whole new life:

Chalkboard Door After1

Chalboard Door After2

Isn’t that amazingly industrious of Jacci and her husband Sam? Don’t forget to head over to her blog for more details (you can find those links in her letter above). We just love that she was inspired by the look of a solid wood paneled door and was able to work with what she had to totally transform it (and add lots of charm and function to her entire kitchen while she was at it). Thanks so much for sending the eye candy our way guys! Is anyone else out there thinking of tackling this little project now that they’ve seen Sam and Jacci’s brilliant door makeover?

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Comments

  1. Rebekah says

    February 9, 2010 at 2:07 pm

    I like the painted cabinets and new wall color, too!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 9, 2010 at 2:08 pm

      Yeah Jacci’s making over her whole kitchen with lots of wee ones running around underfoot. Isn’t she an inspiration?!

      xo,
      s

  2. Jane says

    February 9, 2010 at 2:12 pm

    Wow It’s so cheap to spend $35 to get fun Reader Redesign. Yes, Jacci worked it like a magician. Wonderful idea

    Reply
  3. Jessica @ How Sweet says

    February 9, 2010 at 2:44 pm

    That is a GREAT idea for a door! Love it!

    Reply
  4. Keeley says

    February 9, 2010 at 2:52 pm

    I love it! I also love her painted cabinets and new wall color. Great makeover and I love that it was inexpensive!

    Reply
  5. Valerie says

    February 9, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    What a great idea for little kids!

    I just painted my kitchen cabinets white. Your guide is awesome. I also just scored a really good deal on backsplash tiles that I adore – mini pale pale blue glass subway tiles. I planned to use BM’s Quiet Moments, but I am finding the that the tile and the paint swatch are too close in shade. Plus blue on blue… I dunno. What color would you recommend for the walls? I think I’m way overthinking this…

    V

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 9, 2010 at 2:58 pm

      How about sliding up a swatch to the light and lovely Healing Aloe? It’s still a gorgeous greeny-blue tone, but it has a smidge more green in it and it’s lighter so it should really set off the tiles. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  6. Valerie says

    February 9, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    Sherry,

    That’s what I was thinking too. I just needed you to hold my hand through it. Thank you! :-)

    Reply
  7. Jacci says

    February 9, 2010 at 3:00 pm

    You guys are so great :) I just popped in to see what was going on and lookey here! It’s my kitchen! :) Thanks so much for sharing our door – it’s been my #1 favorite change in the kitchen by far. The kids all LOVE it and it’s been super practical. We use it for everything from Spanish lessons to keeping Little Dude in sight while I whip up dinner. We love it!

    Hugs and kisses all over the place,
    Jacci

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 9, 2010 at 3:02 pm

      No thank YOU for sending over such a great (and affordable) makeover! We knew everyone would love it just as much as we do!

      xo,
      s (& j)

  8. Bromeliad Living says

    February 9, 2010 at 3:20 pm

    Nice use of chalk paint without a major commitment.

    Reply
  9. Betsy says

    February 9, 2010 at 3:31 pm

    I love it! Just found my weekend project. ;)

    Reply
  10. VéroniQC says

    February 9, 2010 at 3:45 pm

    Fabulous! You rock Jacci! ;)

    Reply
  11. misty says

    February 9, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    LOVE IT! and since it is on a metal door, it is also a magnet board too! break out the alphabet letters! :)

    Reply
  12. Jennifer says

    February 9, 2010 at 3:58 pm

    Valerie.. Where did you find your deal on glass blue tile?? I’m looking for that for my bathroom.. it all seems a little pricey. help! What do you think of ordering tile online??

    LOVE the chalkboard door.. I especially like the added depth :)

    Reply
  13. ErinatYAYDIY says

    February 9, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    It’s Erin from YAYDIY.com. This is such a smart idea! What a great way to write reminder notes, or to do lists.. or clearly, something much more educational like she has here! I’m going to try this on one of the doors in my our new apartment… Maybe on pantry? I just love it!

    Erin
    YAYDIY.com

    Reply
  14. ErinatYAYDIY says

    February 9, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    Oh, yes, please do share where you got the blue bathroom tile… I’ve been searching for some (on the cheap, why I’m having problems….) for a mosiac backsplash that I want to make… I can’t decide if a red/orange yellow them or a blue theme will look best in our new kitchen….
    Thanks for the help!!!!
    Erin
    yaydiy.com

    Reply
  15. Irene R says

    February 9, 2010 at 4:27 pm

    I’m not sure where, but we’ve got to find a way to incorporate the use of chalkboard paint into our new home. I love love love it!

    Reply
  16. Katie says

    February 9, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    Of all the chalkboard paint reader redesigns, this is by far my favorite! The wood trim looks beautiful- great job, Jacci!

    Reply
  17. Sherrie says

    February 9, 2010 at 4:55 pm

    It looks like they painted over oak cabinets…do tell how they did it. We have oak cabinets that I hate and would love to paint, but I am worried about the wood grain. There’s a DIY post for you…painting oak cabinets.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 9, 2010 at 4:56 pm

      Done! Here’s the link: https://www.younghouselove.com/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets/

      We also have a ton of other tutorials on our How-To page for you to peruse. Hope it helps!

      xo,
      s

  18. Laura says

    February 9, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    When we remodeled our kitchen I painted chalkboard pant on our pantry door, it’s so functional for everything….writing a grocery list, to weekly meal planning, to even saying happy anniversary :-D

    Reply
  19. Barbara says

    February 9, 2010 at 5:09 pm

    I just did that to MY kitchen door!! Must be a trend!!

    Reply
  20. Rachael Ensom says

    February 9, 2010 at 5:48 pm

    I have been chomping at the bit to try chalkboard paint! You have just inspired me even more to try it!

    Reply
  21. r8chel says

    February 9, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    My kitchen used to have a white door leading down to the basement, but a couple years ago I painted it with chalkboard paint. I don’t even have kids, but I love it! It’s so fun and different. I also replaced the cheap, brass-looking hardware with a stainless steel doorknob and hinges, and it all looks so crisp, especially since the door frame is painted white.

    There’s a picture of it here. http://r8chel.wordpress.com/2007/08/19/what-a-weekend/

    Reply
  22. Vic @ Swoonette says

    February 9, 2010 at 6:00 pm

    The door looks wonderful! It’s amazing how much chalkboard paint changes something (and it’s totally fun… for kids and adults!). I painted our main apartment door with chalkboard paint too, and anyone who has seen it gets all giddy with excitement!

    Reply
  23. Prost to the Host says

    February 9, 2010 at 6:08 pm

    LOVE the painted chalkboard doors. So youthful and useful!

    Reply
  24. Christine says

    February 9, 2010 at 6:26 pm

    I did the same thing in my kitchen – I use it for my weekly menu and for a list of items I run out of while cooking! Love it – I painted mine over ugly frosted glass – it is so much better! Plus the glass is smooth and much easier to write on than wall or wood.

    Reply
  25. Ashley says

    February 9, 2010 at 7:07 pm

    I’m so glad you posted this redesign!I thought about doing this when I saw a similar post on your site. I was worried because we have a textured door. This post made me hopeful that it could work! I can’t wait to give it a try.

    Reply
  26. Lauren says

    February 9, 2010 at 7:11 pm

    I love it! I’m going to try this for my office since the door to our garage is in this room. It could definitely benefit from a facelift.

    Reply
  27. Meg says

    February 9, 2010 at 7:16 pm

    Loving this! I don’t know if I would do this the full length of a door, but I would certainly consider doing it on the top half of a kitchen door! This would be great on kid’s doors, for play, homework reminders, that kind of thing. So versatile!

    Reply
  28. Janet Hale says

    February 9, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    I Heart this idea…Kudos to their ingenuity and prowess!!

    Reply
  29. Miki says

    February 9, 2010 at 8:24 pm

    Awesome job. It looks fantastic!

    Reply
  30. Karen J says

    February 9, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    Great project.

    P.S. Sherry….did you read Jacci’s recent posts….she’s taking a blog break! Please, please don’t follow in her footsteps! I really enjoy your blog and hope it stays super active after the baby arrives (although family should always come first!). Blogs with one or two posts a month aren’t very interesting to follow. Anyway, I love to use your blog as a break from MY kids!

    Reply
    • YoungHouseLove says

      February 9, 2010 at 9:13 pm

      Karen J,

      Not to worry! No blog breaks here- in fact we’re stockpiling posts so there’s no “baby interruption” to speak of. And we bet Jacci will be back in no time. That girl has more energy than anyone we know!

      xo,
      s

  31. Jessica says

    February 9, 2010 at 9:27 pm

    Wonderful! We used green chalkboard paint for our backsplash! Above our sink there is a large area where we write our “Market” list and next to that we have a cork board made from wine corks. Everyone who visits says it is the coolest thing they have seen!

    Reply
  32. Ashley M. [at] (never home)maker says

    February 9, 2010 at 9:43 pm

    What a cool project! I’m super impressed. Thanks for sharing. Gotta love chalkboard paint!

    <3

    Reply
  33. nue says

    February 10, 2010 at 11:19 am

    love it! for more ideas check out this blog entry i came across earlier this month. looks like this chalk craze trend is really picking up!

    http://madebygirl.blogspot.com/2010/01/chalkboard-craze.html

    Reply
  34. May says

    February 10, 2010 at 9:53 pm

    Love the verse in the bottom picture – it’s much nicer than granny-style flowery/gothic etchings. What a beautiful idea.

    Reply
  35. Amanda says

    February 11, 2010 at 9:15 am

    Love it! Especially the Spanish lesson on the door. :)

    Reply
  36. Sarah Sarniak says

    February 13, 2010 at 1:34 pm

    What a GREAT idea! Especially for the kitchen. This is genius! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

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John and Sherry Sitting On Woven ChairHey, we’re John & Sherry. We’ve fixed up 7 homes, written books, designed products, started a podcast, and then downsized & moved to the beach! Here you’ll find over 3,000 DIY projects & home updates. More about us…
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