Magnetic Sheet Metal Wall

Confession Time:  I've had "Household Command Center" envy for a while now.  I have seen them all over the web and I have longed for a place in my home where all school papers are MEANT to go and important things could be pinned up as a reminder.  My fridge isn't even magnetic so what am I going to do, tape things up?  No.  So, I looked and looked around my house for a long time trying to figure out a good place to set up a solve-all-my-problems command center and could not figure something out.  So, as it goes, things have piled up in my desk area in the kitchen.  Notes for school have gone unsigned.  Important flyers have gotten lost.  Basically, chaos has ensued.  For five years.

Then, one day I was in my kitchen and noticed this atrocity.  Apparently, if you live with an atrocity long enough it becomes invisible.  Well, I saw this dead area to the side of my fridge with new eyes.  Could this be an area I could transform?

Art work had been haphazardly taped up.  Hooks stuck on randomly.  The soda can recycle bucket tucked in the corner (sadly, that fills up quickly).  This wall served no purpose in the hardest working room in the house.  After thinking about it for a while, I came up with a 2-step plan.

PLAN:  

1. Make this wall magnetic.  

2. Add organizational accessories to magnetic wall to create some kind of command center.

Simple enough, right?

I had heard of magnetic paint.  It tempted me for a while.  But then that seemed a little permanent and I've heard it splatters like a banshee.  I wasn't in the mood for a mess.

I then started thinking about sheet metal.  Did you know that your local heating and air company can hook you up with any size (within reason) piece of sheet metal you need?  I needed a 23"x 95"piece.  The heating & air company I tried here in CO needed some intense explanations, however, to get what I needed.  And then I didn't hear back from them for a long time as they needed to "check with their people" to see what they could do.  So, when visiting my in-laws in Logan, UT we called Advanced Heating & Air and they were like "Oh yeah, sure.  You can pick it up tomorrow. It will be $38."  Score! Apparently they are used to crafters needing pieces of sheet metal?  They even rolled the edges so it wasn't sharp.  Perfect!

I didn't get a picture of the piece by itself for some reason, but here it is in another "before" photo I took. This also gives you a closer look at the hawt mess atrocity.

Installation was fairly simple.  I measured out 5 spots along each side, put a board under the piece of metal and drilled holes where I had marked where I wanted them to be.  

I then pulled out the fridge. Gagged.  And cleaned (this step may not apply to you if you are one of those types that cleans out under your fridge regularly).

Wow.  I mean . . . wow.

Don't judge me for that, by the way.  You can't even see the popsicle stick that was absolutely cemented to the floor and would not come off.  I had to soak it a few times and then chip it off.  Grody.  

Anyway, then we held up the sheet metal and marked where the to drill holes into the wood.  We attached it with a large washer on the back for extra stability and support.

Front

And when we were done..... 

LOVE!!

Now, a few organizational things.

School papers are the bane of my existence so I started there.

I got some clear plastic wall files from Staples and glued magnets on the backs of them.  I then made cute labels with the ole Silhouette machine for each kid and then stood back and cried a little at the sheer beauty of it all.

Here's a detail of them in use since school is now underway.

I then basically demanded asked Shelly nicely to get some dry erase vinyl and send me this!

Doesn't it look like a fancy clip board?  I know sheet metal can be used as a dry erase board but I wanted something separate.  I will most likely be using it to leave bossy notes to my family members.  What good is a command center if I can't use it to command, right?

One last purchase of that aqua magnetic organizer (to hold my soon-to-be-bossy dry erase pens) from Target and I was all set.

What I love about this is I can keep changing it around as much as I want.  I now have a reason to craft some cute magnets!  I have a place to display the kids artwork until I "file it away" (in the garbage).  I have a feeling this will be an ever evolving area as my needs change/I have brilliant ideas.

Do you have an under-used area that could be transformed into something functional?  This here was a life-changer.  And, no,  I'm not being overly dramatic.  

**********EDIT**********

I've added some more function and fun!  Click HERE to see the scoop.

Link parties I participate in: Tip Junkie, Sugar Bee, Not Just a Housewife, Someday Crafts, Tatertots & Jello, I Heart Naptime, Lolly Jane, Be Different Act Normal, Craftomaniac, Today's Creative Blog, Somewhat Simple, Flamingo Toes, Skip To My Lou, Thrifty Decor Chick