There’s something unifying about chalkboards with writing on them; they hearken back to elementary school lessons and remind us of sidewalk cafes with daily specials on display. When we see handwriting scrawled on a blackboard, it signifies that the masses are nearby, needing to have something communicated to them.
So it makes sense that, even though convention dictates that dark walls are foreboding and grim, the use of dark chalkboard paint can ironically warm up a kitchen and give it a sense of conviviality and adventure, begging the question, “What’s on the menu today?”
Since less is generally more — particularly when it comes to extremes — accents as bold as these are best used on just one accent wall rather than coating the entire room.
If even an accent wall is a bit too much to take on, a framed portion of a wall — or even an old-school blackboard like the ones found in traditional classrooms — can produce a similar effect, as can coating an old refrigerator, a pantry door, or the side of a set of cabinets.
In sum, whether it’s used for daily dinner menus, a long-standing household philosophy, shopping reminders or just random notes of love and inspiration throughout the week, the addition of a little schoolhouse whimsy is certainly something to consider.
Photo credits: The Selby, House and Home, Apartment 34, Klikk and The Handmade Home.
