Chalk It Up

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chalkboard paint is a creative option for children's playrooms, but the spaces below demonstrate that it works just as well for the grown-ups at home. Take a look . . . </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN_A5gz3EEmIIbkbtjAjpC94ZMLeCC9rEVqrMqklnaNqetyH-pxSHUFTfrPY39We9F73RLD0DGAG-R6s4I_AYHA0jooHFj2cwBu_ipJSoTVftw21lKX8u_lCIt6fEwha8-bxz_r39XP1q/s1600/20121011-LOCATION-slide-JCBW-jumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZN_A5gz3EEmIIbkbtjAjpC94ZMLeCC9rEVqrMqklnaNqetyH-pxSHUFTfrPY39We9F73RLD0DGAG-R6s4I_AYHA0jooHFj2cwBu_ipJSoTVftw21lKX8u_lCIt6fEwha8-bxz_r39XP1q/s640/20121011-LOCATION-slide-JCBW-jumbo.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"When your walls are painted with chalkboard paint, </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you can create your own changing art work."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Fort Greene, Brooklyn brownstone of Hilary Robertson - a stylist for </span><a href="http://www.garnethill.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Garnet Hill</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, Whole Living, and Ochre - and Alastair McCowan, chief executive of <a href="http://chesneys.com/" target="_blank">Chesney's</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/10/11/greathomesanddestinations/20121011-LOCATION.html?ref=greathomesanddestinations#19" target="_blank">Photography by Trevor Tondro for the <i>New York Times</i></a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/greathomesanddestinations/staple-gun-decorating-in-fort-greene-brooklyn.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1350269534-s4aYTYx4Ac6lRhkNhGZOCw" target="_blank">Staple-Gun Decorating</a>" by Penelope Green.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.newyorktimes.com/" target="_blank">New York Times</a></i>, October 11, 2012</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5hoFz_xWfK-YgxRWM4N1dKWd7g5NUFyDc4FaXE7a62KyKc-_a3iTDBHY7682CbCainjAJaNenOyNJhJ5q1EQjmbf7jadPd1eR4GfhaDmUhWF5FeZbgxpBt_IWINPHhV12Vg7Z7bUut7h/s1600/20121011-LOCATION-slide-SY98-jumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5hoFz_xWfK-YgxRWM4N1dKWd7g5NUFyDc4FaXE7a62KyKc-_a3iTDBHY7682CbCainjAJaNenOyNJhJ5q1EQjmbf7jadPd1eR4GfhaDmUhWF5FeZbgxpBt_IWINPHhV12Vg7Z7bUut7h/s640/20121011-LOCATION-slide-SY98-jumbo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The parlor floor has all the wedding cake details people prize in a 19th-century townhouse. And the basement floor has all the drawbacks, including two windowless interior rooms, the larger of which Mr. McCowan handled by covering the walls in chalkboard paint. 'It was already dark, so why not paint it black?' his wife said."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Fort Greene, Brooklyn brownstone of Hilary Robertson - a stylist for <a href="http://www.garnethill.com/" target="_blank">Garnet Hill</a>, Whole Living, and Ochre - and Alastair McCowan, chief executive of <a href="http://chesneys.com/" target="_blank">Chesney's</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/10/11/greathomesanddestinations/20121011-LOCATION.html?ref=greathomesanddestinations#17" target="_blank">Photography by Trevor Tondro for the <i>New York Times</i></a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/greathomesanddestinations/staple-gun-decorating-in-fort-greene-brooklyn.html?_r=0&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1350269534-s4aYTYx4Ac6lRhkNhGZOCw" target="_blank">Staple-Gun Decorating</a>" by Penelope Green.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><a href="http://www.newyorktimes.com/" target="_blank">New York Times</a></i>, October 11, 2012</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPZBImKnTTm7Gx-XlwNRaCbiYuQTP2ch1lnLAdpcx4DEponC1n5d8ywQ-LrBry8CBE_Ie_RM_YUN76hG5fmoxo2jb7qWftL6jRYUgq50bDc64Fo42yYD__muQ8ZmZJ4BhjZh4_4735YtB/s1600/white-vintage-stove-blackboard-breakfast-bar-kitchen-0712dempster04-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPZBImKnTTm7Gx-XlwNRaCbiYuQTP2ch1lnLAdpcx4DEponC1n5d8ywQ-LrBry8CBE_Ie_RM_YUN76hG5fmoxo2jb7qWftL6jRYUgq50bDc64Fo42yYD__muQ8ZmZJ4BhjZh4_4735YtB/s640/white-vintage-stove-blackboard-breakfast-bar-kitchen-0712dempster04-lgn.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The blackboard on the breakfast bar is an opportunity for an intriguing quote."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vintage Chambers range from <a href="http://antiqueappliances.com/">antiqueappliances.com</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paint is <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore</a>'s Snow on the Mountain. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weekend house in Marin County, California belonging to Kim and Mark Dempster.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Kim Dempster and <a href="http://erinmartindesign.com/" target="_blank">Erin Martin</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Alec Hemer.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/beach-house-decor-ideas-0712#slide-6" target="_blank">A Chic Little Beach House</a>" interview by Christine Pittel.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (July - August 2012).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCumxem_DngBNngpbKKrkqDl1eywA7XxVKufFTsIPQaq6DRO6UBY0pbPSw_gzwCp3DvucXVYMtf32dZTEwDKCL4GGilphPMDGyJ5OfjwxzPCJLF0e-WRpPH7u2uaGSt2078JIopNSdzBek/s1600/vintage-white-icebox-refrigerator-marble-counters-0712-dempster05-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCumxem_DngBNngpbKKrkqDl1eywA7XxVKufFTsIPQaq6DRO6UBY0pbPSw_gzwCp3DvucXVYMtf32dZTEwDKCL4GGilphPMDGyJ5OfjwxzPCJLF0e-WRpPH7u2uaGSt2078JIopNSdzBek/s640/vintage-white-icebox-refrigerator-marble-counters-0712-dempster05-lgn.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Dempster had the refrigerator made by <a href="http://antiquevintageappliances.com/" target="_blank">Antique Vintage Appliances</a>, in Tucson, </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to look like an old icebox."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weekend house in Marin County, California belonging to Kim and Mark Dempster.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Kim Dempster and <a href="http://erinmartindesign.com/" target="_blank">Erin Martin</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Alec Hemer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/beach-house-decor-ideas-0712#slide-6" target="_blank">A Chic Little Beach House</a>" interview by Christine Pittel.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (July - August 2012).</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz0pTt1qKm__BGXEymjYhs9W30EB3w3Y9cRgoc1U-d9T2TInpGP77ILPaWXKXzc8Noxu2JhJI8W6FdhcRO1tLYOckvV8vO3y4CMthuDcdcycZkYZ8gUXdaF1Q6NSAk5XMNM96EgwV52BR/s1600/2-hbx-kitchen-with-island-0412-kitchen02-lgn+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFz0pTt1qKm__BGXEymjYhs9W30EB3w3Y9cRgoc1U-d9T2TInpGP77ILPaWXKXzc8Noxu2JhJI8W6FdhcRO1tLYOckvV8vO3y4CMthuDcdcycZkYZ8gUXdaF1Q6NSAk5XMNM96EgwV52BR/s640/2-hbx-kitchen-with-island-0412-kitchen02-lgn+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The island is topped with Calacutta Gold marble and trimmed with brass corner guards for steamer trunks, from Brettuns Village Trunk Shop. Its metal tubular legs are fitted with parts from Brass Finders. Footed cabinets by <a href="http://www.wood-mode.com/" target="_blank">Wood-Mode</a> reflect the period of the 1905 house. The black countertops are made of two slabs of soapstone equaling two inches and forming a double ogee edge."  </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chalkboard panels: </span><a href="http://nyblackboard.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">New York Blackboard Online</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridgewood, New Jersey kitchen of Nicole Hough and family in a 1905 American foursquare.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Design by Nicole Hough.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Laura Moss.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interview by Frances Schultz.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/dream/family-kitchen-design-ideas-0412#slide-2" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kitchen of the Month</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" produced by David M. Murphy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (April 2012).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9v0fvyhskscRzYnndTBn1SgLgXBhg_-Daq9h5mCjghratGVyZQCxJBovivWVNsOUvnrYma7KNfxq1aElkbO2ZypHuTYwU0xKDgo7yMm4wdBb-NRFZ6S0DlN1aV8bWZMclpHcD4jRkllp/s1600/4-hbx-chalkboard-fridge-kitchen-0412-kitchen03-lgn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9v0fvyhskscRzYnndTBn1SgLgXBhg_-Daq9h5mCjghratGVyZQCxJBovivWVNsOUvnrYma7KNfxq1aElkbO2ZypHuTYwU0xKDgo7yMm4wdBb-NRFZ6S0DlN1aV8bWZMclpHcD4jRkllp/s640/4-hbx-chalkboard-fridge-kitchen-0412-kitchen03-lgn.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"[Nicole] Hough makes her lists on the custom steel chalkboard panels on the fridge doors."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chalkboard panels: <a href="http://nyblackboard.com/" target="_blank">New York Blackboard Online</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ridgewood, New Jersey kitchen of Nicole Hough and family in a 1905 American foursquare.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Design by Nicole Hough.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Laura Moss.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interview by Frances Schultz.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/dream/family-kitchen-design-ideas-0412#slide-4" target="_blank">Kitchen of the Month</a>" produced by David M. Murphy.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (April 2012).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7H-NIMcoMSBGsJFvqahyphenhyphenr6aMgS7Kv722DElZpyF73aCS90OwcstYg4HcUhWY39J2nFUAUI5o2rb3Q8qdN0y_at7dWDj_lcoyCVQpE-VkE8nx7pS9AGv-YjHaudGq7saLg20z2xQUJT0R/s1600/white-kitchen-4-0307-xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw7H-NIMcoMSBGsJFvqahyphenhyphenr6aMgS7Kv722DElZpyF73aCS90OwcstYg4HcUhWY39J2nFUAUI5o2rb3Q8qdN0y_at7dWDj_lcoyCVQpE-VkE8nx7pS9AGv-YjHaudGq7saLg20z2xQUJT0R/s640/white-kitchen-4-0307-xlg.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"This Christopher Peacock kitchen in Chappaqua, New York, has the soft, mellow feel of a beloved antique, and the chalkboard on the pantry cupboard - a Peacock signature - is a detail that adds approachability."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kitchen design by <a href="http://www.peacockhome.com/">Christopher Peacock</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Laura Moss.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/kitchens/kitchen-of-the-month-0307?click=main_sr#slide-4">Mellow Looks in Chappaqua, New York</a>" by Christine Pittel.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/">House Beautiful</a> (March 2007).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoecOOVtFqgejEEdHm06eaXQ8T38Of-bFGh0YOCa641cxyCFaCxRWzPAv_QO40Jx5PqFwyjMDMfEwSRaCpMHOBEqYGhT0-HlRNdu1UL3ZD2MSKgFloqt8gzdW86hSCI_XWhHoKt0pSPxf/s1600/white-library-0706_xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMoecOOVtFqgejEEdHm06eaXQ8T38Of-bFGh0YOCa641cxyCFaCxRWzPAv_QO40Jx5PqFwyjMDMfEwSRaCpMHOBEqYGhT0-HlRNdu1UL3ZD2MSKgFloqt8gzdW86hSCI_XWhHoKt0pSPxf/s640/white-library-0706_xlg.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/">Benjamin Moore</a>'s blackboard paint covers the playroom walls, ready for when inspiration strikes. The black Farmhouse chairs are from <a href="http://www.potterybarnkids.com/" target="_blank">Pottery Barn Kids</a> and the worktable is from <a href="http://www.ikea.com/" target="_blank">IKEA</a>, its legs cut down to child-size. The rug is from <a href="http://www.pier1.com/" target="_blank">Pier 1 Imports</a>."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.rubybeets.com/" target="_blank">Ruby Beets</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Don Freeman.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interview by Penelope Green.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/ruby-beets-0706#slide-2" target="_blank">May We Introduce Ruby Beets</a>?" produced by Senga Mortimer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (July 2006).</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf55aypgJf8nqQ2lrYm91wVgKI0TI9Kvl-DVazf16I3DICZi7yOIqFW-ATGDR7-ZDb5PjYwJWzO5snE-mNCd-ofdC4kH-CBkH5P1JvmCdMEuSde2OALxzHWndZuQoLFAZocRMoOxe-5NX/s1600/larkins-11-de.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf55aypgJf8nqQ2lrYm91wVgKI0TI9Kvl-DVazf16I3DICZi7yOIqFW-ATGDR7-ZDb5PjYwJWzO5snE-mNCd-ofdC4kH-CBkH5P1JvmCdMEuSde2OALxzHWndZuQoLFAZocRMoOxe-5NX/s640/larkins-11-de.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"A kitchen chalkboard by <a href="http://www.ballarddesigns.com/" target="_blank">Ballard Designs</a> caters to [Ty] Larkins's seven-year-old twin daughters."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baton Rouge, Louisiana home of Ty Larkins and family.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.tylarkins.com/" target="_blank">Ty Larkins</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Thomas Loof.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interview by James Servin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/updated-traditional-design?click=main_sr#slide-8" target="_blank">A New Take on Traditional Design</a>"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/" target="_blank">House Beautiful</a> (December 2009 - January 2010).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqa-H9W4ridsvgI9jC-XpFVKy_83C2I7Jd6bz_mSuEhm9AI4GI0kLAnibah7X_HzNJnoGZekZ_23FYWKoZWJ2XSTWQx6Hf6M_VHtxN4oleQ5gl8U7kfn4QsbEvO8Pld5_14ftELfZDeb9/s1600/BlogChalkItUpJennaLyonsBath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqa-H9W4ridsvgI9jC-XpFVKy_83C2I7Jd6bz_mSuEhm9AI4GI0kLAnibah7X_HzNJnoGZekZ_23FYWKoZWJ2XSTWQx6Hf6M_VHtxN4oleQ5gl8U7kfn4QsbEvO8Pld5_14ftELfZDeb9/s640/BlogChalkItUpJennaLyonsBath.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wall paint: </span><a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Studio Finishes Chalkboard.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.jcrew.com/" target="_blank">J. Crew</a>'s Jenna Lyons "obsessively sprayed the fixtures with ocean water, so the brass would appear as seasoned as the herringbone floor."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1890 Brooklyn, New York brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Melanie Acevedo.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Lauren Sandler.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dominomagazine.com/" target="_blank">Domino</a> (November 2008). </span> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKtsjEvE0KA7XtbrRtReIPI-H0-vBiK3clmfIMVxeBrDfbxZn1WJW_b4t4bFgNPfB5eRBR4f-TIn1jvphxfo1yAyfYNVnLPTWx5iomIpilrB9AdyQLThrDLsiRmHq1atWyCFYiK3QR-Xq/s1600/BlogChalkItUpJennLyonsMasterBedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKtsjEvE0KA7XtbrRtReIPI-H0-vBiK3clmfIMVxeBrDfbxZn1WJW_b4t4bFgNPfB5eRBR4f-TIn1jvphxfo1yAyfYNVnLPTWx5iomIpilrB9AdyQLThrDLsiRmHq1atWyCFYiK3QR-Xq/s640/BlogChalkItUpJennLyonsMasterBedroom.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">" 'I love taking simple materials and finding the beauty in them - letting things be what they are.' Charcoal walls - not the bathtub that's in the bedroom - are what surprise visitors most. 'There's a certain drama in something being unexpected,' says [Jenna] Lyons, 'and an air of formality because it's dark. But there's also an ease you don't usually find.' Why? It's chalkboard paint. [</span><a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Benjamin Moore</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'s Studio Finishes Chalkboard]. Likewise, feed sacks tacked to the headboard and rumpled always white linens bring a casual rusticity to the majesty of the marble fireplace and crown molding."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1890 Brooklyn, New York brownstone formerly owned by Jenna Lyons of <a href="http://www.jcrew.com/">J.Crew</a>.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photography by Melanie Acevedo.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Text by Lauren Sandler.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Totally Modern Timelessness" produced by Kim Ficaro.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.dominomagazine.com/" target="_blank">Domino</a> (November 2008). </span> </div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

Chalk It Up

Chalkboard paint is a creative option for children's playrooms, but the spaces below demonstrate that it works just as well for the grow...

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Piano Forte

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I began taking piano lessons when I was six years old. I am so grateful to my teacher, Mrs. Stone, for sharing her love of classical music with me. I recently began looking for photographs of pianos. The following selections celebrate the instruments as if they are sculpture. Darryl Carter’s 19^th century grand piano is especially beautiful – its graceful curves and burled wood highlighted by the living room’s serene aesthetic. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwQGmj8CHfo51JdORspPbQ1My3V-N4GnvAXIJXJ2C66td4RETxssC2Fo-LW6WsIJ-k_ZHnYzflX7ks1esTIK-IEz6-45WQd1GSBt2DnJQB6mA3l03xf-yAPvlf_rHajyifZdHUrzgOM0/s1600/design-styles-ED1109-34-Carter-001%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBwQGmj8CHfo51JdORspPbQ1My3V-N4GnvAXIJXJ2C66td4RETxssC2Fo-LW6WsIJ-k_ZHnYzflX7ks1esTIK-IEz6-45WQd1GSBt2DnJQB6mA3l03xf-yAPvlf_rHajyifZdHUrzgOM0/s640/design-styles-ED1109-34-Carter-001%5B1%5D.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living room of designer <a href="http://www.darrylcarter.com/">Darryl Carter</a>'s Washington, D.C. townhouse.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Elle Decor (November 2009).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Simon Upton.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8qgmTVw9yKZRs06_HvtWZP3txWC7z9fWhek0V9Xz9lAmZa2V7uWvI2bgnXrPzLeFVYGAfCrC_B8GS-uo59AkRGbJHISue6v9_Jxd9oanLSdZyl4-CtqfEezdRZp0fZcfejxVE1fSsvs/s1600/BlogPianosHouseBeautiful2006RubyBeets+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio8qgmTVw9yKZRs06_HvtWZP3txWC7z9fWhek0V9Xz9lAmZa2V7uWvI2bgnXrPzLeFVYGAfCrC_B8GS-uo59AkRGbJHISue6v9_Jxd9oanLSdZyl4-CtqfEezdRZp0fZcfejxVE1fSsvs/s640/BlogPianosHouseBeautiful2006RubyBeets+(2).jpg" width="596" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.rubybeets.com/" target="_blank">Ruby Beets Old & New</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">House Beautiful (July 2006).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Don Freeman.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFRHsnNmckDvpoN8zFnxYnKwt65UcmbVVQ5O7ox9QoXAklxmSEaMAy4CB2xbGPwyhuilewpSF1jZxv71ETIRkIZezDP6ncuHHFLG49FcO1s5yo3e8ySF5hjykiE5qlpkL-392qZbobnA/s1600/BlogPianosSouthernAccents+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSFRHsnNmckDvpoN8zFnxYnKwt65UcmbVVQ5O7ox9QoXAklxmSEaMAy4CB2xbGPwyhuilewpSF1jZxv71ETIRkIZezDP6ncuHHFLG49FcO1s5yo3e8ySF5hjykiE5qlpkL-392qZbobnA/s640/BlogPianosSouthernAccents+(2).jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.solisbetancourt.com/" target="_blank">Solis Betancourt</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Southern Accents.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Peter Margonelli.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTefBERduNlhuKqFL0hiDDzF8aToj1LaPmpljKbZUESlDVINLC8s3w0PWHutYnr1XsEXKyiB8JsmQ1MxImy9jIPcgBtZ03rthSAtEH2LgT3tNTn2lsFli4cl3plNXbWNGIlP5iHufOG4/s1600/BlogPianosTraditionalHomeFebruary2011+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTefBERduNlhuKqFL0hiDDzF8aToj1LaPmpljKbZUESlDVINLC8s3w0PWHutYnr1XsEXKyiB8JsmQ1MxImy9jIPcgBtZ03rthSAtEH2LgT3tNTn2lsFli4cl3plNXbWNGIlP5iHufOG4/s640/BlogPianosTraditionalHomeFebruary2011+(3).jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note how the rounded shape, wood, and color of the bowls echo the shape, wood, and color of the piano.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hawaiian home of interior designer Mary Philpotts McGrath.</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traditional Home (February 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Joe Schmelzer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCOJYPR4MsXS4Q6eethbbEQRE7gD33ZCf-K0kNKPPJ4wUYK1ZTYEoaWh9zfzHTJSSxh_3Gr_mdcIqtJ1UdjPJ52M7SixdMU5DQhHI4uDDZY2gn4R5nNVCDwbiMzBGbGry9HcMjjspAOA/s1600/BlogPianosTraditionalHomeSeptember2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCOJYPR4MsXS4Q6eethbbEQRE7gD33ZCf-K0kNKPPJ4wUYK1ZTYEoaWh9zfzHTJSSxh_3Gr_mdcIqtJ1UdjPJ52M7SixdMU5DQhHI4uDDZY2gn4R5nNVCDwbiMzBGbGry9HcMjjspAOA/s640/BlogPianosTraditionalHomeSeptember2010.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Music room of designer Katie Brown.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Traditional Home (September 2010).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Jonny Valiant.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL3dP8Wvn-6MdDKmmS9yz5OTizUS93EkId5__2wA6ajIN5wF1aZk_4lfF0Xbj7pZygR-bZQuzp63Hrp1xxjfqxccaQwTQYdlhxaglYNk2Wz_ta-t-xAQY6qpVKFCycTC6CB8OfI0Zyn4/s1600/ElleDecorMartinLawrenceBullard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHL3dP8Wvn-6MdDKmmS9yz5OTizUS93EkId5__2wA6ajIN5wF1aZk_4lfF0Xbj7pZygR-bZQuzp63Hrp1xxjfqxccaQwTQYdlhxaglYNk2Wz_ta-t-xAQY6qpVKFCycTC6CB8OfI0Zyn4/s640/ElleDecorMartinLawrenceBullard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elle Decor (February 2005).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Tim Street-Porter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8ezk_DBmMtmPv_bG5z0p5PntU2ooMAayTsH2ikBZUhbnQS9NIpP6xXnNGvi0om49IjoUfT8IopFMYi7d5NtcTBvxG0cJNmvOaF-UMbK-5bArF5ZqLS3HXoukbdTBs1ZbMY-PSpqiG_8/s1600/noriega-ortiz-0508-2_md%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8ezk_DBmMtmPv_bG5z0p5PntU2ooMAayTsH2ikBZUhbnQS9NIpP6xXnNGvi0om49IjoUfT8IopFMYi7d5NtcTBvxG0cJNmvOaF-UMbK-5bArF5ZqLS3HXoukbdTBs1ZbMY-PSpqiG_8/s640/noriega-ortiz-0508-2_md%5B1%5D.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The homeowner's grandmother won this piano on <em>The Price is Right</em>.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Interior design by <a href="http://www.bnodesign.com/" target="_blank">Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz</a>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Antoine Bootz.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Veranda (May 2008).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVMI0RGOCzcr5c9VbzMnTw1_6p0MkjPMqlaCqmwWnSYlrNSNMeRp743iXNB67W9_TP0A_bJ4eYTEGl0porJxTnQLmTxtpH_KdF_at1AT3gEolWssS1gEtSHU9bl_34q5mQ0rq_ar614c/s1600/item2.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.gleason-and-mcalpine-napa-home-03-salon%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVMI0RGOCzcr5c9VbzMnTw1_6p0MkjPMqlaCqmwWnSYlrNSNMeRp743iXNB67W9_TP0A_bJ4eYTEGl0porJxTnQLmTxtpH_KdF_at1AT3gEolWssS1gEtSHU9bl_34q5mQ0rq_ar614c/s640/item2.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.gleason-and-mcalpine-napa-home-03-salon%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Casa Kulanu, the Napa Valley home of Rela Gleason, interior designer and creative director of fabric and furnishings company Summer Hill.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Bobby McAlphine, Architect.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Roger Davies.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Architectural Digest (November 2011).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRaAahyk0dYOBmM-bf31nEVTlEhqN5WDzatVrPamqfV6f7zRlYTP56KVq2N8f7foUUGiG85yrsjaXKeJycEO_HojxZQFme4mvSjnCRKwzkiG7on2Zwv9sRt7qSeJ9mNDW2iQh7gNk5Pw/s1600/item0.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.michael-lehrer-01-exterior%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRaAahyk0dYOBmM-bf31nEVTlEhqN5WDzatVrPamqfV6f7zRlYTP56KVq2N8f7foUUGiG85yrsjaXKeJycEO_HojxZQFme4mvSjnCRKwzkiG7on2Zwv9sRt7qSeJ9mNDW2iQh7gNk5Pw/s640/item0.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.michael-lehrer-01-exterior%5B1%5D.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decor by JoAnne Brosnahan of Unique Custom Interiors.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Los Angeles house by Lehrer Architects LA.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Architectural Digest (July 2012).</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Photography by Roger Davies.</span></div><div align="center"></div>

Piano Forte

I began taking piano lessons when I was six years old. I am so grateful to my teacher, Mrs. Stone, for sharing her love of classical music...

Read more »