Playing With Chalk Paint Again!

Old leather and wood stools in "Aubusson Blue" 

Weathered wicker chair now covered in "Emperor's Silk"

About a year ago, I painted my antique dining room furniture with blue chalk paint to try it out.  Most people might have started with a smaller project to experiment with, but the dark wood just didn't fit in with the rest of my beach house.  I knew if the chalk paint didn't work out, I would have to strip and sand the old finish off anyway.  Not much to lose really.  I had heard a little about Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint about a year ago, then did some online research.  To tell the truth, I didn't find anything unfavorable about this paint.  I does seem expensive, but now I know first hand that it is worth every penny.  I painted a table, six ladder back chairs, a hutch and a buffet with one quart and still had enough left to paint four of these bar stools.  

Annie Sloan's web site basically says you can use the paint on any surface- without ANY preparation.  My bar stools have been outside on the balcony exposed to sea air and rain for over a year, and were pretty much shot.  I was going to get rid of them anyway, so thought I would try the paint on them.  I painted the wood frames first- then just went for it, and covered the leather areas too.  They have been sat on, and rained on for about 2 weeks and so far, so good!  I bought a can of the red- Emperor's Silk- because I loved the color.  Didn't even know what I would use it on when I ordered it.  My wicker chair on the balcony was starting to look a bit sad, so it was the first red project.  The color is beautiful- and the wicker was a light color, so it just took one coat.  I thinned the paint a bit so it would get between the wicker spaces easier and it was a quick project.

Now, I am going to order three more quarts because I have picked out some shades for inside with  beach glass shades in mind.  Inside, outside- this paint is amazing!  I used the soft wax to seal the dining room set, but for exterior, no wax.  I can't wait to see how it lasts in the damp, ocean air- I am betting it will be great.

Chalk Paint Makeover- Dining Room

Recently, right in the midst of my moving and unpacking, I decided to give my dining room set a face lift.  It is a pretty nice looking antique set with rush seats.  I never had the nerve to do anything with it, while it was in a separate dining room.  Now, in this beach house- it is pretty much the center of the house.  I just wasn't happy with all that dark wood constantly in my view.

I heard about this chalk paint (Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint) from a decorator in my weekly painting group. She told me how she had tried it and that -most importantly- NO stripping, sanding, or priming of the old finish.  This set is really old and has been stained more than once.  I decided to go for it.  What's the worst that could happen, other than completely ruining an antique dining set?  I wasn't happy with it the way it was, so I figured it was worth the possibility of having to strip it down to bare wood if it didn't work out!  I looked online at many blog posts about people using it and it seemed to be pretty popular already.

I had ordered 2 cans of the paint and the soft wax used to seal it.  The paint is pricey ($35 per quart) but goes a long way.  I used the same quart of Aubusson Blue to paint the whole dining room- that's a table, 6 chairs, china cabinet, AND a buffet.  All with one tiny quart and I actually have a little left in the can.  All that, and a soap and water clean up!

I started out by trying it on my dark wood wine racks- using Old White.  I quickly realized how much I liked the paint, and was brave enough to move on to the larger furniture pieces.  The painting was easy, and then you just brush on some of the soft wax and buff it off.  I did buy the Annie Sloan wax even though I had read that Johnson's paste wax worked just as well.  I have to say that I used both waxes and the Johnson's was less soft, but also worked.

I definitely will be using this paint again. I have some wicker patio chairs just calling out to be painted- and a pint of Old White ready to go.