The New “Tile” Rug and My Search for a Chalkboard

Exactly one year ago today, we began demolition on our kitchen which included replacing most of the floors in our downstairs.  Yes, exactly a year ago today and I still haven’t done much with the back hallway except buy this new rug…

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My New Tile Rug:

New Hall Runner - an indoor-outdoor rug with a tile look

This is the Riviera indoor/outdoor rug from Ballard Designs and I spent way too much time obsessing over what should go in this spot.

This is what the hallway used to look like before the renovation…

Hallway Before

Originally, we had ceramic tile and a black traditional runner which was fine except this hallway is used all the time.  We come and go through our garage so this is probably the spot with the highest traffic in our house.  Our fluffy, shedding golden retriever, Rosie constantly walks through here so you can imagine how hard it was to keep this rug clean and hair-free!

Hallway with hardwood floors - red oak with Minwax Provincial Stain

Anyway, we changed the paint from Monroe Bisque to Manchester Tan and updated the hallway to hardwood.  For awhile, I searched around for something to put here but it sat bare for a long time.  Its’ no secret that I’m not quick to make decisions!

Anyway, I decided to go with an indoor outdoor rug.  Since I have been obsessing over patterned tile lately, as soon as I spotted the Ballard rug, it reminded me of that look.  After all, I would never be able to convince my husband to go with a patterned tile anywhere in our house!

Hallway with new runner with a patterned tile look

With our long hallway and I probably could have gone with a longer rug but I decided to give this one a try.  The weather is a little dark and cloudy today.  Let me turn on the lights for you…

Hallway with tile-look runner

There, now you can see it a little better!  As you can see, we also changed the original lanterns to very simple recessed LED lights.  When we added lanterns over the island, I felt like the lanterns in the hallway were too much.  Plus, the hall lanterns made crazy shadows all over the ceiling making it look too busy.  Now the only busy thing in here is this rug.  Yes, I still need to re-hang my gallery wall.  Hey, it’s only been a year!

Hallway with blank wall for future chalkboard

Which brings me to this wall.  Previously, I had some framed photos hung here but I started to think that a chalkboard might be fun.  Fun for who?  Not me, because I have had the hardest time trying to find one!

Why do I see all these adorable chalkboards on blogs all the time and I just can’t find one that works?  The cute ones that I find in the store are hard to write on.  Do they not make slate chalkboards anymore?  Sure, I know they are kind of heavy and probably more expensive but when you write on those cute framed ones they don’t look the same.  Ugh…if you can recommend one I would be really happy!

And speaking of being happy, check out the new Jack Rogers sandals I found at Marshalls!

New Rug - New Shoes - indoor outdoor patterned tile-look rug

This style is so comfortable for me!  They have a wedge heel and manage to hide my ghastly bunion a little better than most shoes!  This is my attempt at the cute shoe on the tile look…except it’s a rug!  And so far I am very happy with the way the new rug is working in the hallway.  I love the look and the dirt and dog hair don’t show at all.  It’s perfect for the way our family lives

Now, to find that chalkboard!  Like I said, any suggestions are welcome!

Have you used any indoor/outdoor rugs in your home?

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28 Comments

  1. Love your rug, it's perfect specially in the black and white pattern!The shoes look great too, I so love high heels.FABBY

  2. I love that rug! It looks perfect in your hallway. And your shoes are great! Thanks for visiting Inspiration Thursday!

  3. No help with your chalkboard dilemma but your rug looks wonderful! Love the hardwood floors you chose. Your gallery wall will be the "crowning glory" in your hallway once you get it back up.

  4. Can't help with the chalkboard because the only one I have here is a cheapo one from Home Goods in my daughter's room and she complains about it! But I do love the rug!! Glad you decided to bite the bullet and buy it!Sheilaxo

  5. Great rug!Ballard Designs has great chalkboards though it might be hard to find good old-fashioned slate.

  6. Dog hair demolishes the looks of all of my floor rugs. Finally bought one that matches the dog hair and that has helped.

  7. The rug and your new floor looks amazing! I pieced together several indoor outdoor rugs to make a stair way runner. With two young boys and two large dogs, it's held up very well! 😉

  8. Shelley, I love the rug and the hardwood floor. BTW, I've also been in our home for a year and have a very long list of things that have yet to be done, so don't worry about that gallery wall! x, Sarah

  9. Runner looks very pretty! I would try Etsy for a chalkboard. There are many ships that sell them in all sizes and colors.

  10. Love the new runner. I have several chalkboards in our home. One painted directly on the outside of our refrigerator cabinet with chalkboard paint, one painted on thin plywood using chalkboard paint fit to a frame and one we cut chalkboard (found at home depot) to fit a frame. All work well. I will say that those we painted with 3 coats of rustoleum chalkboard paint and then seasoned with chalk are better than the chalkboard we bought already done. I would suggest finding a frame you love, getting a piece of thin good quality plywood and painting it with 3 coats of chalkboard paint. Season with chalk and it is ready to go. Let me know it you want pictures!!

  11. I forgot to mention, our youngest has a chalkboard wall in her room and a friend did the same on a smaller scale in her hallway…just paint directly on the wall and frame if you want to add a little something.

  12. Love the rug…and you found Jack Rogers at Marshalls?….wow!….they look great on your feet….

  13. Shelley you will laugh tomorrow when you see all the indoor outdoor rugs in the back of my car for clients!!

  14. Shelley, your wood floor is gorgeous and I love the new rug! Love the sandals as well. Thanks for sharing with SYC.hugs,Jann

  15. I can't believe the transformation in the hall. Just love the hardwoods and the rug, but best of all, the fact that you haven't hung the pictures back just makes me feel tons better!! Happy Thursday!

  16. what Jack Kogers at Marshalls!! Too cute. I love that rug. Just make a chalkboard that way it can be the exact dimensions and look that you want for that wall.

  17. I have 2 indoor outdoor rugs. They are big 8×10 or maybe larger in kitchen and livingroom. I have dog, cat and kids and they clean up so easy and look perfect. I have had for about a year. Yours looks great hope you like it as much as I like mine. I have painted a chalkboard from picture frame and it's good I have no problems with it.

  18. Shelley, The rug is gorgeous! I'm not quick to do things either and a year seems pretty reasonable to me 🙂 Love the hardwoods floors! Have you considered finding a picture frame the size that you like, add in a black foam board under the glass and then write directly on the glass like a dry erase? They are so much easier than a chalkboard and cleaner too 🙂 Thanks for linking up with us at Snickerdoodle Sunday! Love the sandals by the way.

  19. Hi Shelley, I really like the rug – it adds texture and pattern to an area that might be plain otherwise. Well done! Blessings, Janet

  20. Oh my goodness! This rug is perfection and now I think I might need one, too! Thanks so much for linking up to the Share it One More Time party! Have a wonderful evening!

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