The Traveling Bench...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xzXLR6CJS2FQ7ErmZEVkOApG7-MAvRTIKoJAnRkJjmuQBPNbmEztmGktcvYcrKxCCP9n-eLRK0TNM07-FRNNm3lB1mB-WxWDs5dH9mp6Qv1zQzep1lV1DgcG0LoGratJRjj0Toanfx8O/s1600/cDSC_9674.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xzXLR6CJS2FQ7ErmZEVkOApG7-MAvRTIKoJAnRkJjmuQBPNbmEztmGktcvYcrKxCCP9n-eLRK0TNM07-FRNNm3lB1mB-WxWDs5dH9mp6Qv1zQzep1lV1DgcG0LoGratJRjj0Toanfx8O/s1600/cDSC_9674.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br />This poor bench has moved quite a bit since we made it. We <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/dining-room-bench-tutorial.html">built it</a> to go with our farmhouse table in our last house. Once we moved here it has been back and forth between a few rooms. Over Christmas it was in the dining room.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfPjZleQVnucunQdCo046DlXueGHXhAg8l4xmAwdxgbM_aEmOs5bfHSRQlwxl5ZAt8PKz7sBdYZXfHizlj39I242jWlHeRnsEEWXN90lADFLp060Lp3bmLRgurxZZMPxFFwuN40gpj7Az/s1600/qJuly_5340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfPjZleQVnucunQdCo046DlXueGHXhAg8l4xmAwdxgbM_aEmOs5bfHSRQlwxl5ZAt8PKz7sBdYZXfHizlj39I242jWlHeRnsEEWXN90lADFLp060Lp3bmLRgurxZZMPxFFwuN40gpj7Az/s1600/qJuly_5340.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">But ulitmately it spent most of it's time under the large chalkboard in our kitchen.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlPf_10BP4mpsoXYTF_xMgxezpKdmdpGMrz8v6BVZCva7bUX2-HdFK74OajD_lJQEsFumOUcO1aHXdGQpalydKKDkDovfY7Te0_Buz0wbCXpG0iEmnFNpPHIGaiL1YmokHxjvbxdoEqdH/s1600/jDSC_8141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlPf_10BP4mpsoXYTF_xMgxezpKdmdpGMrz8v6BVZCva7bUX2-HdFK74OajD_lJQEsFumOUcO1aHXdGQpalydKKDkDovfY7Te0_Buz0wbCXpG0iEmnFNpPHIGaiL1YmokHxjvbxdoEqdH/s1600/jDSC_8141.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHV-B0CtNU0ntRwCKynJdzANzNc5MIdlQXCpWREvwX8g1wnbgMz8H5xvwTF28_My_5_DaWHaUNVLF9jREkkdyTCZymZoiSVlBiz2IMLsBMdarSmrpg34CSgTbdB08XrrpXJvGhqkFdhN1/s1600/jDSC_7979.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHV-B0CtNU0ntRwCKynJdzANzNc5MIdlQXCpWREvwX8g1wnbgMz8H5xvwTF28_My_5_DaWHaUNVLF9jREkkdyTCZymZoiSVlBiz2IMLsBMdarSmrpg34CSgTbdB08XrrpXJvGhqkFdhN1/s1600/jDSC_7979.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Well, once I finally made the <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-sideboard-for-our-kitchen.html">sideboard</a> for our kitchen (which you can see more of <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-sideboard-for-our-kitchen.html">here</a> and <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/a-sideboard-for-our-kitchen.html">here</a>), it was time to find a permanent home for bench. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCTR7YmnlW7e4xqGQI2vU67md9jjBbqnPVlPK4z31xsKOv-b257igBsH8rc-Fp7h2rkOZVMQKpybTB08M9SEE6FY0qxcHkc9Um1W1tG7SZEBT5ajz1HWs6gE65U_J3hEN4iig30wpvCj0/s1600/rDSC_9875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCTR7YmnlW7e4xqGQI2vU67md9jjBbqnPVlPK4z31xsKOv-b257igBsH8rc-Fp7h2rkOZVMQKpybTB08M9SEE6FY0qxcHkc9Um1W1tG7SZEBT5ajz1HWs6gE65U_J3hEN4iig30wpvCj0/s1600/rDSC_9875.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LydgqMMeJ8V2cweEYpdONGYl1Mobx5v8N_J6ZFcWqaHT5UDR8a0m-lDWp1t1-LQQiCmmaMCTBNfTLZeU20rRWKcKUMPp4MbsIPrCZUKYOGpyNpoML_QelmqKK_N89SilFoIaacKSnmgG/s1600/rDSC_9882.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3LydgqMMeJ8V2cweEYpdONGYl1Mobx5v8N_J6ZFcWqaHT5UDR8a0m-lDWp1t1-LQQiCmmaMCTBNfTLZeU20rRWKcKUMPp4MbsIPrCZUKYOGpyNpoML_QelmqKK_N89SilFoIaacKSnmgG/s1600/rDSC_9882.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>So we moved it up to the guest bedroom. I like how the stripes look in here and it is a nice spot for our guests to set their bags and things. Hopefully now this is where it will stay. At least for a few months, anyway...haha! <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUMkM8y97X36C-gCiimTWeolqBxpU6SvisAcN3FLMOofOe_KofBRVQltowtTC5zMoIz2yiLwq3-szMlMv7ZFx8GplxE6MYVceOfHzR6wH_7hWynwnTK0mk2R6RtkYjuV5LeFnuaWPOfHm/s1600/cDSC_9690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUMkM8y97X36C-gCiimTWeolqBxpU6SvisAcN3FLMOofOe_KofBRVQltowtTC5zMoIz2yiLwq3-szMlMv7ZFx8GplxE6MYVceOfHzR6wH_7hWynwnTK0mk2R6RtkYjuV5LeFnuaWPOfHm/s1600/cDSC_9690.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xaLnBS24yq6Bf2pgnqTNNrJ3GHOpZg6UCFUrYws7gxIx4IzqlqjZrMv7WZ8PkEAKGh-3DtzvH8hd3rDJot-htE0ARxls2io6pWy5j35EW82HGY4sQrFEsGrwCvl05Xc7viDGNZoXGLnm/s1600/cDSC_9682.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xaLnBS24yq6Bf2pgnqTNNrJ3GHOpZg6UCFUrYws7gxIx4IzqlqjZrMv7WZ8PkEAKGh-3DtzvH8hd3rDJot-htE0ARxls2io6pWy5j35EW82HGY4sQrFEsGrwCvl05Xc7viDGNZoXGLnm/s1600/cDSC_9682.jpg" width="436" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see more photos of <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/some-finishing-touches-to-our-gray.html">this room</a> (including some before shots) <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/some-finishing-touches-to-our-gray.html">here</a>.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><b>Source List for Guest Room: </b></i></div><br />Wall Color - Graystone by BM in Matte Finish<br />Trim Color - Simply White by BM in Semi-Gloss<br />Door Color - Mopboard Black by BM in Semi-Gloss <br />Bed - Skyline Furniture about five years ago<br />Mirrored Dresser - Haynes Furniture about five years ago<br />Silver Chest - TJMaxx about five years ago<br />Lamp - Aiden Gray on clearance about 7 years ago <br />Sheets - <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/amelie-embroidered-sheet-set-gray/bed-bath/category/bedding/sheets/292455?redirect=y">Amelia Embroidered Sheet Set from Ballard Designs</a><br />Duvet Cover and Euro Shams - <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/jardin-toile-bedding-gray/bed-bath/category/bedding/duvets/294710">Jardin Toile from Ballard Designs</a><br />Quilt and Standard Shams - <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/audree-pom-pom-quilt-bedding-gray/bed-bath/category/bedding/quilts/294714">Audree Pom Pom from Ballard Designs</a><br />Two Square Pillows - Home Goods<br />White Linen Center Bed Pillow - IKEA<br />White Framed Mirror - Savvy in Williamsburg, VA<br />Bench - We made it, tutorial can be found <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/dining-room-bench-tutorial.html">here </a><br />Tall Mirror - Home Goods <br />Urn - Had for Years<br />Metal Sphere - Home Goods<br />Chalkboard Print - Written by myself and sold in our shop here. <br />Frame - World Market<br />Smaller Frame - Home Goods<br />Chair - on clearance at The Loft Outlet in Williamsburg <br />Knit Pillow - Joss and Main <br />Geometric Pillow - Target <br />Drapery Panels - Ritva Panels from IKEA<br />Curtain Rods - Home Depot<br />Lamp Shade - World Market<br />Horse Bookends - Savvy in Williamsburg, VA<br />Chandelier - Restoration Hardware Baby and Child<br />Rug - Rugs USA<br />Shades - Lowe's<br />White Frames with Lillie and Lola photos  - IKEA<br /><br />You can find source lists and paint colors for the other rooms shown here.  <br /><br />I hope you all have a fabulous Thursday!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTeQsApe1ZsNKPQyvpSYr-BKFxO5WM491SPMFAqZie26-8OJIPZx9D7dp8nRQOyOjmntL5B0j_qG7XkAhfQc_6VmRShWlRJc0tsdLxIDuMmlNYron6fmo0qzkuJzlQBbEjEYSjW7TQaSw/s1600/sig.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTeQsApe1ZsNKPQyvpSYr-BKFxO5WM491SPMFAqZie26-8OJIPZx9D7dp8nRQOyOjmntL5B0j_qG7XkAhfQc_6VmRShWlRJc0tsdLxIDuMmlNYron6fmo0qzkuJzlQBbEjEYSjW7TQaSw/s1600/sig.png" /></a></div>

The Traveling Bench...

This poor bench has moved quite a bit since we made it. We built it to go with our farmhouse table in our last house. Once we moved here it...

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An Oversized Chalkboard and Bench In the Kitchen.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJF7hYnuacr9YI70cbaN49HSBgQnHnCcBGg3RW2CrObusNEVmbbcU8Wy3BQH6KfJx2NVW6hLV7e4SL33aHHyoSTNvnvvRdO3MRsLt11Qo9Wpu2dMWC-7u4JVigYc4Qu4jEz54jdRYBjMw/s1600/aJuly_2399.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJF7hYnuacr9YI70cbaN49HSBgQnHnCcBGg3RW2CrObusNEVmbbcU8Wy3BQH6KfJx2NVW6hLV7e4SL33aHHyoSTNvnvvRdO3MRsLt11Qo9Wpu2dMWC-7u4JVigYc4Qu4jEz54jdRYBjMw/s640/aJuly_2399.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sometimes I make decorating decisions that either I don't end up loving or that don't work for our family. I hit the jackpot with this wall seeing how it fit into both of those categories. You can see in <a href="http://www.dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-wall-in-our-kitchen.html" target="_blank">this post</a> how I first decorated it shortly after we moved in. Although I really liked the clock I wasn't as big a fan of the shelves. I thought they would be a nice addition seeing how we didn't do any of the open shelving that I had orginally planned on doing but because they were on a wall that we walked by regularly I had to go with shelves that weren't very deep and that meant I ended up just putting random things on there instead of dishes and other more substantial things that give the overall look I like when it comes to open shelving. Even though I chose shelves that were not very deep so there wouldn't be any problems with anyone bumping into them that didn't work out so well either. Poor Jon bumped into them just about every single day, to the point where they were leaning more and more and I needed to take them down before we had a big crash and some broken toes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, down they came and I decided to go with something more simple and practical. As you know, I love chalkboards so I thought it might be nice to make an oversized one that we could use as a message center of sorts. I may at some point put something "pretty" on it but for now it is working out really nicely as a functional chalkboard. It is a great spot to keep our grocery list (I just snap a shot of it on my phone before we head to the store), Lillie's memory verse for the week from school, and for keeping track of what we have going on for the week. We used it last week (which is what the photos are of), and then I changed it out this week and so far we are really loving it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I decided to move the bench in here to see how it worked. We had moved it upstairs to the end of our bed once our new dining room chairs came and I liked the functionality of it there but I figured I would prefer it to be downstairs so it could still be easily used at either the kitchen or dining room table for extra seating. I didn't think it would work here because I thought it would stick out a bit too far but after a couple of days of it sitting there we realized it actually worked wonderfully. It's a nice place for the girls to sit when I am in the kitchen and we have all used it to put our shoes on and take them off seeing how the closet where we keep the shoes is just around the corner. Once we knew it was going to work there, the girls and I went ahead and recovered it with this striped fabric that my mom got for me from New England Fabrics in NH.  It is the same fabric she used in her kitchen and I LOVE it! Even though it's still neutral I think it adds a nice interesting and fun touch in here too. And don't look too closely because the nailhead trim is pretty crooked. The girls took turns hammering in every other nail =)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until we can go ahead and replace the counters and add a backsplash (and that is probably still months away!) the kitchen is pretty much finished for now. Here is a reminder of what it looked like on moving day:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVbTEvnlS-Zt9sCesFq-KPKoEA8bsez2PumPjxJ54uBKiTxeMJ_Kax8IaNUDY2gUmjE9QnankepadedAfJuse48pv4HabUR7bqrKEhfIlaYwjJy2kUKCVnAPEQZ1VOvuQ1L-e0PTCH3RL/s1600/aDBeforeAfter2b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVbTEvnlS-Zt9sCesFq-KPKoEA8bsez2PumPjxJ54uBKiTxeMJ_Kax8IaNUDY2gUmjE9QnankepadedAfJuse48pv4HabUR7bqrKEhfIlaYwjJy2kUKCVnAPEQZ1VOvuQ1L-e0PTCH3RL/s1600/aDBeforeAfter2b.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0h25FWXjE11zimVuvyPMtzqwWeFX7gbyzHnw2OxN10Ui4gv5ANpFQEnhxl-pz-1bSuY5FDAsqsfh_0W1zhXkeGnDenqpI-_lR0YRks01X29_7FkhmRofcy23N2Ktp5YOcECe7u67OS7T/s1600/aDBeforeAfter2c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0h25FWXjE11zimVuvyPMtzqwWeFX7gbyzHnw2OxN10Ui4gv5ANpFQEnhxl-pz-1bSuY5FDAsqsfh_0W1zhXkeGnDenqpI-_lR0YRks01X29_7FkhmRofcy23N2Ktp5YOcECe7u67OS7T/s1600/aDBeforeAfter2c.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRUoPnTSJjX0ZYmsHylnv3XigynSrT07AqKwD8ufLipoVLaKjHFaDpc6TmXyEVWdhuQFqB7f0qlol7pKP0fGyJbpB4WuyVNtF3YnqcUU9UoaX_uRLqWOqmnya6GQpbx49zlHmgDGO8Zor/s640/aJuly_2387.jpg" width="640" /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagRZhUMIx8ntAhzhWQ1dGPGytqUyCL4pSTotbOxmz-my68UTTU_G6FhhNLDcHPr0oPby6AX6f8VTXkQooIx8pvlT-hD56BVmkp3r1kDbwHYQ3YMEDfU5OhmSqbMrzIRKPeGjW-6KYIxMF/s1600/aJuly_2428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagRZhUMIx8ntAhzhWQ1dGPGytqUyCL4pSTotbOxmz-my68UTTU_G6FhhNLDcHPr0oPby6AX6f8VTXkQooIx8pvlT-hD56BVmkp3r1kDbwHYQ3YMEDfU5OhmSqbMrzIRKPeGjW-6KYIxMF/s640/aJuly_2428.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxPyaeqt4jBr9GeZp9pQywWasBKLh9NqmZLhaivfvjCpjeMoLeQrvYU_CmhBYH2YBGnhNWkhAN0CAaGrMUbnMh8eW96UrbH7OR9sjhvLqInCcfY8jeWFUXo88kuugba6He_GsZiMX8BGQ/s1600/aJuly_2412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxPyaeqt4jBr9GeZp9pQywWasBKLh9NqmZLhaivfvjCpjeMoLeQrvYU_CmhBYH2YBGnhNWkhAN0CAaGrMUbnMh8eW96UrbH7OR9sjhvLqInCcfY8jeWFUXo88kuugba6He_GsZiMX8BGQ/s640/aJuly_2412.jpg" width="436" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv43IfbT-FTs99dsSxTBPGcoXJbsEmpzUpEEj3gsinZqN09YK1qXkRvoP1bC3Q88zC_LuxrHgDWpoUMWDMHuFs6qxrunrSuZdkG6-yjSAXdhccWGOLBFhJMvwpDXoideiH9zqrjhhN09N-/s1600/aJuly_2416.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv43IfbT-FTs99dsSxTBPGcoXJbsEmpzUpEEj3gsinZqN09YK1qXkRvoP1bC3Q88zC_LuxrHgDWpoUMWDMHuFs6qxrunrSuZdkG6-yjSAXdhccWGOLBFhJMvwpDXoideiH9zqrjhhN09N-/s640/aJuly_2416.jpg" width="436" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCukjhOjlLdzRjOE1N12Lv2BFZtjKNvVIEEPyGsvH-Mf5jFnfM4Yl2RntHcjCbY_ccf0lP-KXqimLBoK48gOmhcvgmNZDTHihMbH06xsBEj2JKsEleQkTSCs909HEmzWsGDjxzSYV2Rnv/s1600/aJuly_2407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCukjhOjlLdzRjOE1N12Lv2BFZtjKNvVIEEPyGsvH-Mf5jFnfM4Yl2RntHcjCbY_ccf0lP-KXqimLBoK48gOmhcvgmNZDTHihMbH06xsBEj2JKsEleQkTSCs909HEmzWsGDjxzSYV2Rnv/s640/aJuly_2407.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8B7L2gTxPp2AKhkQUdXCOPdsiTVnQ3AL80t3WnMZyeUGZsVreR8po0_rZbN0amEsPktIbp5r2YFgwGFk6dmBLy2KjgOeFCWwdLafCmx7Go4ipUPnJLFjEuQh35dLtq7tuiHcAvAgzFgH/s1600/aJuly_2401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8B7L2gTxPp2AKhkQUdXCOPdsiTVnQ3AL80t3WnMZyeUGZsVreR8po0_rZbN0amEsPktIbp5r2YFgwGFk6dmBLy2KjgOeFCWwdLafCmx7Go4ipUPnJLFjEuQh35dLtq7tuiHcAvAgzFgH/s640/aJuly_2401.jpg" width="436" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made the chalkboard the same way I did for our <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-make-your-own-chalkboard-with.html" target="_blank">other ones</a> (you can find that tutorial <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/how-to-make-your-own-chalkboard-with.html" target="_blank">here</a>) except I made it a good bit larger. And then for the chalkboard part instead of painting chalkboard paint onto a piece of wook, I painted the backside of a whiteboard that they sell at Lowe's. It was $13 for a HUGE piece (I think it was 4' by 8') so I had them trim it down a bit for me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can find our tutorial on how to <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/dining-room-bench-tutorial.html" target="_blank">build the bench here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And if you are looking for <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/p/our-home.html" target="_blank">sources</a> you can find those by <a href="http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/p/our-home.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have a blessed week!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubz9w_S5iiJNNaClQxEaXNKpGyMixiSYUlY67rZN7Qg0hLy_ouhEUsaMF2PKFobe4NW98K91Z8yuifi2DHXq4IuERaf7e7FChFyFiO0wfmuWiNwFxWq3tlsCbDLBYupcBpTG7DuTYFDb2/s1600/NewSignature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubz9w_S5iiJNNaClQxEaXNKpGyMixiSYUlY67rZN7Qg0hLy_ouhEUsaMF2PKFobe4NW98K91Z8yuifi2DHXq4IuERaf7e7FChFyFiO0wfmuWiNwFxWq3tlsCbDLBYupcBpTG7DuTYFDb2/s1600/NewSignature.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>

An Oversized Chalkboard and Bench In the Kitchen.

Sometimes I make decorating decisions that either I don't end up loving or that don't work for our family. I hit the jackpot with th...

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