at Better Home and Gardens.. Aren’t they amazing?

After a couple of hours, we removed the clamps and we were good to go!.The lower shelf was created in much the same way, using a long piece of pine shelving and then adding strips of two-by-two all around the edges to give it a chunkier, more substantial look.

We’ve created a few different counter tops this way around the house and they always turn out beautifully.This set up looks a bit like some kind of medieval torture device, but it’s really just a matter of adding a clamp (or a ratcheting strap) to each piece that needs to be held in place until the glue dries.It looks more complicated than it is.

Obviously this was Chris’ creation!.When the lower shelf was dry, we attached it in place, and then added a bit more bracing to the top to give us something to attach the skirting and the barn wood counter top to.. Then it was time for the stain!.

We used CIL Woodcare Ultra Premium in a semi-transparent color called “Traditional Walnut”.

It features deep penetration for enhanced durability, mildew resistance on the stain film, and it protects against fading and UV damage as well as water damage.This basically means that you rub chalk all over it and then you smear it around with a rag  really quickly.

At the bottom you can see where I had rubbed the chalk on, and that the top you can see how it looks after it’s been smeared.Even with a giant chalkboard like this, it’s only a 5 minute job..

Closet doors: fully-seasoned and ready to go!Chris was a little confused as to why I would paint our closet doors black, but he’s just not cool like you and I, so he doesn’t get how neat it is..