May 11th, 2011

Chalkin it up!

I think it’s a sign of the trend towards simplicity, rehabbing, and cost cutting that the hottest thing in decorative finishing right now is……PAINT!

Chalk-Paint-cabinet

Well, not just any paint, but Annie Sloane’s ubiquitous Chalk Paint.

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And it’s no wonder. This paint comes in 24 delicious colors to mix, layer, antique, distress, and wax to a lovely patina. It can be applied directly over most substrates without priming, making it a prime CAN-didate for freshening up (or distressing up) old funiture, accessories and cabinetry. From the website:

Painting with our paint should always be a pleasure.
Annie Sloan developed her now famous Chalk Paint to answer the need she had for a paint which would have many uses from acting like lime wash to looking like old painted furniture and that had a good range of colour that could be extended by the user. This paint is very easy to work with and allows people to be creative as one doesn’t get involved with the technicalities of preparation and it also allows you to change your mind without hassle.

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I will be hosting a one day Chalk Paint workshop here at my San Diego studio on Saturday, June 11, to be led by my talented friend Kari Saupstad along with Anne Skougard from House of Anne. One day last week, Kari and Anne came by for a little “Chalk Play Day”, to make some samples for the class and just generally have fun! Here’s a little look-see at what we came up with…..

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I had pulled some tear sheets from the latest issue of Veranda magazine, which is FILLED with page after page of gorgeous painted furniture finishes-all easily achievable with Chalk Paint!

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Of course, we had to do a little stenciling…

Chalk-paint-stencil-in-prog

This was an MDF door sample I had had laying around for years just “being boring”, so I gave it a raised stencil image with our Parisian Urn Panel stencil, and Kari gave it a new and more interesting life with a few quick layers of paint.

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It’s much happier now. Can you tell?

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I also played around with another embossed stencil pattern, our new Indian Paisley Damask.

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Chalk-Paint-with-Stencil-1
Another thought I had was that if Chalk Paint is good for bring new life to old furniture, it could also be good for bringing new life to old samples boards, and I certainly have plenty of THOSE laying around! This was an embossed plaster finish I had done years ago with one of our Modello tile patterns.

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And here’s a closeup of the other stenciled paint finish using our Royal Design Studio Pompeii Pedestal stencil.

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Kari, Anne, and I would love to have you join us to get your hands both IN this paint, and ON 8 fabulous samples. You will explore: two-color, rustic, crackles, limed wash, clouded stipple and mixed and waxed paint, along with a heavenly Chateau wash wall finish and a stenciled panel. You can download more info on this workshop by clicking here and register on the House of Anne website.

3 Responses to “Chalkin it up!”

  1. anna sadler Says:

    very excited to be dipping my brush, hands etc into this awesome paint, and also spending time at your studios with a great bunch of people! I know this will breath some new life into our portfolio and get my creative wheels a-turning!!!

    can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Amy Christensen Says:

    Love these! Wish I could attend. Glad to see these historically accurate color combos that will never go out of style. I was beginning to get bummed seeing all the strong “pop art” kind of colors being talked about and “old world” was getting pushed to the side. These are so much more liveable and soothing.

  3. Lauri Says:

    I’m so jealous! Would love to be at this function…I love this paint!

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