A high half-wall / unusable bar separates our eating area from the kitchen. Since we have one of those really open floor plans, builders do things like that to delineate one space from another I suppose.
{Here’s an old picture to show you the “Before.”}
I like the half-wall. And I would like the really high bar if I had a ladder to sit on while I drink my coffee. Bar stools tall enough for my bar simply do not exist in real life. The Man and I have discussed modifying the Empire State bar but that would require expertise and supplies. We’re a little short on those at the moment.
So, we have just made do without it.
Unfortunately, the half-wall is prone to being bludgeoned by kitchen chairs and sneaker-shod kid feet. It was streaked and smudged and scratched only days after a fresh coat of paint.
{BEFORE}
{Yes, that is a llama. She joins us for school and meals on a regular basis.}
Recently I traded something I no longer wanted for a half-full can of chalkboard paint my neighbor no longer wanted. It was exactly enough to paint the dented and smudged half-wall. Yay!
{AFTER}
{I write our Classical Conversations weekly memory work up here…until Cupcake sees fit to do a little work of his own.}
I don’t know why I didn’t chalk it up sooner. It took 45 minutes for 2 coats of paint. It’s perfect for the space since the kitchen table is also our homeschool area. Best of all, it was free and can be painted over when when I tire of it.
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So that concludes my mini-series on “Making Do.” It wasn’t until I finished these little projects that I realized the blessing and provision inherent in all of them. The wall and the rug rehab didn’t cost me a dime. The hutch needed only paint and a few supplies.
All of them made me crazy happy and met very real needs.
Sometimes I’m completely without the means to make the changes I want…or so I think. It’s one thing to have $50 to spend on a rug instead of $500. Fifty dollars is still fifty dollars. But sometimes I have zero.
I’m learning that times of want almost always provide magical options I would have never considered during times of relative plenty. Funny how that works.
I’ll bet you have a neighbor who will gladly give you some paint in exchange for a lamp. You may even have a rug with Kool-Aid stains that’s just begging to be flipped…
And if you do, I want to hear all about it.
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I have to say, I’m totally with you on this – I have learned so much more and been so much more creative during the less plentiful times than I ever was when we hardly had to think about money. And I think the chalkboard is a particularly brilliant piece of innovation. 🙂 We had one of those when I was a kid and it was one of my favorite places in the house. 🙂
I so enjoyed the Making Do series. With a little imagination and using what you have, you can do just about anything!! Thanks for sharing!!!
I do believe that limitations inspire creativity. Sometimes when working on a project {scrapbooking}, I give myself “rules” to follow {colors, supplies, technique}, just to see what I can come up with within those confines. And some of our best dinners come from a sparse pantry. God does want us to be content with what He provides. You have done an excellent job showing us how great “making do” can be! I bet that chalkboard will be one of your children’s memories of home. Blessings!!
We are going to do a similar thing with our “bar” area. We have the kids play kitchen underneath and then I want to buy some steel and paint it with chalkboard paint, but I want the magnetic aspect for their ABC magnents. It looks great, way to go!!
I LOVE the chalkboard area. Since we are currently living in an apartment, I don’t have the luxury to do things like this, but I do have a chalkboard hanging in our kitchen! Thanks for the series!
Awesome! thanks for sharing the continuation of your making do process. What a great solution.
I wish I had had something like this when we were doing CC Foundations 😉
Peace.
I had noticed your chalkboard in a picture you had posted on another post, and I thought it was a great idea! My kids would love that! It’s not going to happen on our wooden (stool-less) bar, but I’m keeping the idea tucked away for other possible locations!
What a sensible solution! Well done, now you just get to sit back and enjoy and admire all the fruits of your frugal labor! 😉
I love the llama at the table..and the chalkboard, but mostly the llama. It made me laugh.
That is way cool! A great use of that space.
Lily the llama made my day (well the early part of my day…it’s 6:30am and I’m facing a day of shopping and dining with friends in San Diego!) But seriously, I can’t believe you’re winding up your series without one of your “making do on less” recipes . . . say, the one that uses creamed corn, cheddar cheese and diced frankfurters?!? Yummy!
Great post, my dear. I simply love to read what you write.
Love you forever,
MOM
Look at you, that is amazing! I didn’t know you homeschooled. It is making me laugh at how many people God is bringing into my path who are homeschooling. We started this year with my son and I threw a little fit with God about obeying him on the matter (shame on me!) but we are LOVING it. My vision is to bring the smokey eye to the homeschooler masses 🙂 haha!
I love that idea…:) I am sure the kids do too! 🙂 Hi, My name is Meme from Screaming Meme…I’d love to invite you to my blog…It is about decorating and my life…:) Hope to see you there!
http://www.thescreamingmeme.blogspot.com
I also have a new blog called This Family’s Gone Crackers…It is about a “normal” family going insanely GLUTEN FREE! Hilarious! It gives ideas and suggestions on all things GF…
http://www.thisfamilysgonecrackers.blogspot.com
I hope to see you there…Meme
oh how fun! i love it….and how sweet that your babes get to doodle!