What to do with this wall in my kitchen?

Deborah
by Deborah
My ugly dinning wall needs your help! My current vision for this wall is to paint the entire wall with black chalk or hang a framed chalk board. Either way I need your suggestions. Would you texturize it first? Would you add a chunky-high to ceiling shelf? As desperate as I am for further storage, would you add an flat wall mounted- pot rack? Would that look funny being opposite of cabinets? What color would you paint this wall? What would you do in the name of Industrial theme? Note: Below are my inspirational photos that I do not own. To see their links please visit my pinterest site under Organized Kitchen: http://www.pinterest.com/DebsHitchcock/ #Kitchenwall #paint #KitchenAccent
My dinning room wall, The white bifold doors to right is laundry area. I am planning on replacing bifold doors with sliding door so whatever goes here must clear the door that slides.
Paint or texture? Add chalk board with a frame ontop of one of these?
Paint entire wall chalk or hang a framed one? No chalk at all only texturized somehow and possible chalk board frame?
Is it impossible? Love the multi functioning here but this would mean my pots are no where near stove and behind kitchen table..
  14 answers
  • Susanne Happ Susanne Happ on Jan 20, 2015
    What do you think about a wallpaper white brick pattern design...would harmonize well with your chairs and sliding doors would also be possible :)
    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 20, 2015
      @Susanne Happ THanks Susanne, I will probably change the table and chairs.
  • Donna Byram Donna Byram on Jan 20, 2015
    Personally I am not big fan of Chalk boards in a kitchen because of allergies to the dust, especially asthma. I lean more to the brick look too. I base this on the decor you already have in your dining room picture, I would buy a brick stencil and randomly paint parts of the wall to look as though some of the plaster has pealed off and the brick is behind it. Doing as much or as little as your heart desires, even in the rest of your room. The archway would look pretty with the brick pattern. Hope this helps.
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    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 25, 2015
      @Bonnie FYI: I started my binder! Thank you!
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Jan 20, 2015
    I wouldn't put your regular use pots and pans out in the dining room, it would be too much of an aggravation to retrieve them. I had to switch from a pot rack over the kitchen counter to storing them in a cabinet when we moved, and that's an adjustment even tho the cabinet is next to the stove! ha. If you're looking for an industrial look, a crisp grey or shimmery pewter would be a nice color; or check out some wallpapers that have brick patterns. It would be easier than painting them on. (Unless you're just looking for a tedious crafting project) Try to stay away from painting the entire wall a chalkboard black, it will be too overwhelming, show every bump in the wall surface, and be almost impossible to paint over should you choose to re-do the wall in the future. A large hanging framed chalkboard would look nice on that wall, or you could add a stainless shelving unit there.
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    • Bonnie Bonnie on Jan 25, 2015
      D'uoh! ;) lol.
  • KathrynElizabeth Etier KathrynElizabeth Etier on Jan 20, 2015
    It looks like you want an informal dining room. A full blackboard wall can be overwhelming, so I'd go with the large framed blackboard and find well used utensils, etc., at thrift stores and yard sales. Combine them with your little used cooking tools for decor. You'd probably regret hanging things you need more often, preferring to have them "at hand."
  • Ilona Elliott Ilona Elliott on Jan 20, 2015
    If you're going industrial, you could paint it a soft gray blue and mount a brushed stainless board using screws with big washers, or use galvanized metal for a farmhouse/industrial look. I wouldn't texture a wall if it's smooth, and especially not for chalk board paint. If you go with metal you could get magnets to hang your childrens art or use magnetic paint. I love the black photo with chalkboard wall and black paint, but only if you have abundant light in the house. Are you doing a sliding door on barn hardware that will slide across this wall?
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    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 25, 2015
      @Ilona Elliott It's not just you...I have seen others say the same. Im wondering because well the obvious....IM doing my kitchen in Industrial. I just want to know so that IM not driving towards farm atleast all the way. I do see things that I like farm industrial, or what I deem as farm industrial look..ha Curious minds wanna know, Ive posted that very question here on hometalk, so far not alot of response.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Jan 21, 2015
    Am confused. Is this the eating area of your kitchen or a dining room? Would not go with chalkboard paint - too dark and heavy. Your pics on wall get just the right amount of black. Chairs look more traditional.so industrial would be dicey to blend in. Would repaint the walls using a softer, more refined Tuscan look. Do you have room for shelves? More pics would be good..
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    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 24, 2015
      @Donna Byram Thx Donna but the only place I could hang this would be dinning area, over table. This maybe to much for above sink?
  • Ilona Elliott Ilona Elliott on Jan 23, 2015
    You know I wouldn't hang pots and pans on a dining room wall personally. What about a big clock in galvanized or black and white, very graphic. It's a small wall and too much on it will be cluttered looking, which isn't really modern or industrial. Looks like you also have a light switch there which could be awkward when the door is open. You might want to make sure the barn door hardware is long enough that you could slide the door past the light switch when it's open. We had them on our laundry room and they made a great accent right as you walked in the back door. Everyone commented on them. But the wall it covered I left blank--no art--because there isn't a ton of clearance behind the doors when you slide them. Painting it would be the way to go. That's a pretty big opening so make sure there is enough wall there to accommodate the door when it's open.
  • Ilona Elliott Ilona Elliott on Jan 23, 2015
    P.S. If you're on a budget, try feed stores or hardware stores for the barn track and hardware for your door, other wise it can be really spendy. Our's was about $85 from a feed store.
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    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 25, 2015
      @Ilona Elliott IIona, it's easy to post pics. Once you click reply? You will see underneath where you are typing "Add Photos" click those words, find and select your photo (you just have to navigate your files and remember where you keep them.)
  • Bonnie Bonnie on Jan 24, 2015
    Hard to tell by these small clips, and they didn't show when I clicked on them to enlarge. From what I can tell they look pretty neat, tho!
  • Deborah Deborah on Jan 24, 2015
    Enjoying the discussion, you guys are great!
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jan 25, 2015
    Ok, If you are going for a more industrial look in your kitchen. Here is my 2 cents...I would change ALL the yellow walls to 2 different grey colors Antique Pewter by Benjamin Moore on 3 walls & make the wall behind the dining room table Peppercorn by Benjamin Moore. Neither grey color is too dark & shouldn't make it cave-like at night. For the cabinets I would make the bottom ones a glossy black. I would make the top ones a matte white & maybe distressing them a little. I would change the doorknobs to nickel plated ones w/ industrial look. For a backsplash I would put in white subway tiles w/ light grey grout. I would remove the wood valance thing over the sink it doesn't fit the industrial look. If you can't for whatever reason see if you can remove the curved pointy parts & make a straight line across. Last resort, I would take several different types of metal - copper, sheet metal, odds & ends metal pieces & epoxy them to the wood valance to cover the pointed parts. In the space where the black baker's rack is now you could switch it out for a floor to ceiling industrial pipe & wooden bookshelves that can store all of your pots & pans, along w/ any other things you need storage for. I would NOT get rid of the bi-fold doors what I do is measure the length & width then go to Lowe's or Home Depot & get copper sheets made to those measurements. I would take a blowtorch to the metal first then apply the sheets w/ epoxy & attach them to the doors then I would get wrought iron flat railing to go across it either 2 or 3 times. I would paint the table and chairs white & the chair seats I would get black cloth cushions then you can do a transfer of your favorite bands or something along those lines. OR you can take old band t-shirts and add them to the seat cushions.I like the 2 posters above the dining room table. You need to add others like it. I would do a gallery across that wall of artwork & little shelves for knick knacks. Hope this helps.
    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 25, 2015
      @Kayo Frazier Yes, must change color on walls!!! One question, what would you do with my countertops? This always seems to be a problem in my own head of what colors for cabinets, walls then countertops. It would be easier to just paint the walls. My kitchen table has to be replaced, meaning its way to large for the space. it's not industrial at all and the chairs have that lattice work stuff to them. If you look closely under the table top it has the same scalloped edges. The table is an easier switch I can do. Backsplash, I want to hang using vertical space instead of cluttering countertops several items, spices, cooking utensils etc. Im thinking peg board or galvanized sheet metal? I don't know! Plus I already have peg board I can use but would paint it...again choosing a color. Wood valance thing above sink I believe I got worked out, the entire thing can go, it was an electrical problem-meaning I have to move/house lights from ceiling, next question is how to do this while hanging pots in same area, I wanted pendant lights there. The bifold doors must go because if Im going to house shelving where ugly black bakers rack is now, it will interfer with shelving like it does now with this shelf. I would rather have more storage than to disquise bifolds. I will keep them for another project. This way if sliding door doesnt work out, I can always re hang them or possibly use them for sliding door? Hmmm...anywho-compromise bifolds for more storage. Love the idea for chair cushions but not sure if bands would be appropriate, My taste in music is a large variety-not sure I want all to see. ha. Thank you for your ideas they are appreciated! Love the wall colors.
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jan 25, 2015
    Well, for the counters I would do stainless steel they just need to measured & shaped to the existing counters then epoxied down. You can add a detail to the edge by putting fake rivets along it to get more of a industrial look. The backsplash instead of subway tiles you can paint them the chalkboard black you wanted. Then add a small copper industrial pipe just below the cabinets so you can hang your cooking utensils on the pipe. You can also add metal baskets for any bigger items. If you are planning to already get rid of the kitchen table I would get a rectangle one for 4-6 people. If you want to be really ambitious I would make a bench w/ cushions along the wall the full length of the table. You would have storage for seasonal items & any extra baking/cooking tools you only use occasionally.As far as lights above the sink...I haven't a clue ask an electrician. I suggested bands for the cushions because almost everyone has the concert t-shirts popular in the 80's that they just can't seem to get rid of...Recycle them into cushions...You still have them just not wearing them anymore. it also goes w/ the industrial look extra unexpected detail.
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    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 26, 2015
      @Kayo Frazier Ya know Kayo, I did think on stainless steel sheets to cover my cabinets themselves. Again, Im boggled how does one make a descision on such things? Ive seen some cabinets done like this I will post photo, it's not exactly what I was looking for but somehow make it my own I can do. I just need more ideas before I decide what colors for walls, what I will do to cabinets, countertops etc. Sounds crazy right? Tight budget to say the least. What descion is to be made firstly? The countertops, the color/texturized cabinets? I'm getting all confused because I see things I like and on a budget...for example, If I go with stainless steel backsplash, I wouldn't do countertops the same. Im ready to finalize this thing! I know it's a personal taste yet, I have further challenges budget and to insure I can DIY myself. I have even thought about leaving the cabinets below a wood look, meaning clean them up and possibly redo them somehow and upper cabinets painted? UGH!
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jan 26, 2015
    Sounds like you need to step away from the computer & take a breather...I think you are getting overloaded on ideas. LOL. You can research the stainless steel counter tops & find out what is required to do a DIY w/ it. Personally I would do a stainless steel backsplash as well. If you don't want it then you can do a white subway tile, or whatever appeals to you better. Think about what you want to do & slowly make the changes. I would start w/ painting the walls first, then work on the cabinets. Once you have those 2 big projects done the rest is just afew furniture pieces & decor.
    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 26, 2015
      @Kayo Frazier Ha! Ya think? lmbo! I am famous for details and I do overload myself. input/output. But hey, this chick has got to think overall and fine tune it before I represent to hubby then start begging for the help and or making purchases! :P. It's all I have done this far with exception of purging and trying to organize that never works for my space. This is indeed why I stop, regain thoughts and it's occured to me that I must make an overall plan, and this includes building other storage options. Down size/purge some more basically create permanent homes for things that I can't live without. My home is short on space and storage. Think outside box is a must with multifunctioning purposes. Hmmm....why couldn't I just paint those countertops to look like steel, maybe I could manage that? Bahahaha PS followed you in pinterest!
  • Kayo Frazier Kayo Frazier on Jan 26, 2015
    LOL...Well, if you keep this up...The project will never get done. PURGE! PURGE! PURGE! Be brutal! The more you do that the more space you have & you may even solve some of your storage issues. You never know. I'll repeat your starting point...Start painting the walls...then the cabinets...Get the 2 biggest projects out of the way...Now just pick 2-3 colors. One for walls, 1-2 for cabinets. You've gotten a lot of great ideas...Pick the ones that you like.
    • Deborah Deborah on Jan 26, 2015
      @Kayo Frazier Thx kayo! Ive done purging, gonna do more. Basically it's about funds, so I plan away dreaming and planning smart when im ready with funds to hit the working zone. Creating a notebook for kitchen repairs, builds and ideas. Gathering photos and make a list, checking it twice.