In June, I wrote this post about updating my kitchen. Unfortunately, the update has not been moving very quickly; I’m having a little trouble finding motivation. The one project that I have completed is the chalkboard refrigerator. In fact I completed it several months ago but never posted the photos.
Here’s the before shot. As you can see it was a plain-Jane white fridge. You can’t tell from the photo, but the finish wasn’t a smooth one, it had a crackly finish which worried me a bit. I wasn’t sure how well it would work as a chalkboard.
I began with a couple of coats of magnetic primer. I’m not sure this was necessary since the fridge was already magnetic, but I didn’t want to risk losing its magnetism. It was the stinkiest paint I’ve ever used, but I think it was worth it. Even if it wasn’t necessary, it worked as a great primer for the chalkboard paint.
Next step was the chalkboard paint. I opted to go for the green. Home Depot can tint the paint a variety of different colors. I also removed and painted the grill and other pieces with gold paint. I painted the handles but I’m still not sure I’m going to put them back on. It is easier to open the doors with them, but I prefer the look without them.
After letting the paint cure for a few days, I chalked it up by running a piece of chalk, on its side, up and down and back and forth. Then I wiped it off and started over again. I used paper towels for awhile but quickly tired of that and bought this eraser from Amazon. I’ve lived with the new look for a few months and love it! I do not regret painting it at all. The crackly finish is barely visible and doesn’t cause any problems with writing or drawing on it. I’ve always planned on getting a stainless fridge when this one dies but now I think I would opt for a cheaper white one and make it a chalkboard fridge.
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