There is a new craze in the DIY world going on right now and it is called CHALK PAINT! It seems like everybody I know is giving it a whirl. Maybe you are like me, (lazy) and have wondered what all the hubbub is about and were wishing that someone would just tell you so you don’t have to go, like, looking it up for yourself and junk.
Well, lucky for you! I got a bunch of chalk paint submissions recently, so I asked some of the submitters their thoughts.
First I asked Susan from Hometown Girl, who redid this dresser, but she hasn’t got back to me yet. So …. sorry, that wasn’t very informative, was it? But the chalk paint sure looks nice, eh?
But Ann came through! Ann wanted chalk paint specifically for this piano, which was in rougher condition than it appears (I always feel like I have to say that so piano fanatics don’t throw bricks through my windows).
She says: “I had a specific reason to use the chalk paint on the piano. I did not want to sand it. The piano although ugly was still in tune and I feared that all of the dust from sanding would get into the body and be impossible to get out. “
“I slapped the chalk paint right on over the finish ( I didn’t even wipe it down). I applied a coat of wax, the first time I have ever done this and I would definitely do it again, it has such a nice smooth finish. I am extremely happy with it, it has made a dark dreary corner of my living room nice and bright.”
Look, she even gave the candlesticks makeovers!
This was pretty much the most informative post ever! Chalk Paint!
(insert shooting star logo: The more you knoooow!)
21 Comments
Korrie@RedHenHome
June 2, 2011 at 5:21 PMI love the look, but I can’t justify coughing up the money for chalk paint! Except maybe I would for the piano–that’s smart thinking!
Pine Tree Home
June 2, 2011 at 5:22 PMI can’t wait to use this. My package of paint just arrived.
Sheree Flick Photography
June 2, 2011 at 5:51 PMVery pricey! Not worth it to me!
Allyson & Jere
June 2, 2011 at 6:44 PMHmmmm, this is quite fascinating, and something I’ve never heard of. I don’t get it. What IS it made of? I do like the look, especially that blue dresser. I may consider it for all my living room furniture, including the HUGE entertainment center, that I’m pondering painting for the move into the new house. UGH! Makes me tired thinking about it. Where does one order this stuff?
Allyson & Jere
June 2, 2011 at 6:44 PMHmmmm, this is quite fascinating, and something I’ve never heard of. I don’t get it. What IS it made of? I do like the look, especially that blue dresser. I may consider it for all my living room furniture, including the HUGE entertainment center, that I’m pondering painting for the move into the new house. UGH! Makes me tired thinking about it. Where does one order this stuff?
Allyson & Jere
June 2, 2011 at 6:44 PMHmmmm, this is quite fascinating, and something I’ve never heard of. I don’t get it. What IS it made of? I do like the look, especially that blue dresser. I may consider it for all my living room furniture, including the HUGE entertainment center, that I’m pondering painting for the move into the new house. UGH! Makes me tired thinking about it. Where does one order this stuff?
Katy
June 2, 2011 at 7:04 PMI JUST wrote to my local distributor yesterday asking to buy some of this stuff! I’m going to try it too, for some wood dining chairs. Because the idea of sanding and painting a bunch of chairs is not fun..
Thelittlebrownhouse.us
June 2, 2011 at 7:21 PMThank you so much for featuring me! The Annie Sloan Chalk Paint I bought was $14 for a quart – plus shipping. I believe it ended up a bit under $30 total. And it doesn’t take very much of it to do a project, I still have most of it left after 2 small projects.
Stephanie
June 2, 2011 at 8:30 PMWhen I think about how much time I will save by not having to sand…and the arguments I’ll save by not dragging the sanding process out over 5 weeks (I am lazy also), I would say it is definitely worth a few extra bucks! I love it.
Does anyone know how it feels after painted? Is the wax required?
kathaleena
June 2, 2011 at 8:34 PMHi – I read your blog daily, and thought I’d send you a review on chalk paint.
This stuff is fantastic!!! Although relatively expensive ($34.50/quart), it is worth twice that. Odorless, water based, can be painted on just about every surface without stripping or sanding. It goes on smooth, takes just over one coat to cover even the darkest paint, is easily distressed and “mistakes” are easily rectified. Chalk paint dries very quickly, so projects are completed fast. Paste wax is used to protect the finished surface and this step is also fast and easy. I hardly ever have time to finish one project over a weekend and this past weekend I finished four medium picture frames, one large mirror, two candlesticks and a lamp. I plan to paint a desk, a cabinet, an end table, legs on two ottomans and a chandelier. I’m hooked for sure!!! The results are artistic and gorgeous!! Oh, I almost forgot, it’s a snap to clean paintbrushes, even if left overnight (or longer), just rinse with water. This paint has my highest recommendation.
asnipofgoodness
June 2, 2011 at 9:13 PMI don’t comment much, but I wanted to weigh in just to say Thanks! I love your site, always fun, and your sense of humor cracks me up. Keep up the great work!
Anna See
June 2, 2011 at 9:17 PMGreat makeovers! I have been dying to try chalk paint for some time now.
So here’s what we need to do… you need to get Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint to give you freebies, which you then giveaway on Better After, which I then win, okay? Thanks! 🙂
Shabby Marilyn
June 3, 2011 at 12:54 AMThank you for the info, I was also wanting to know what I was missing, however it is still to pricey for me at this point! I love the look, great pieces.
Gloria Fox @ Potentially Beautiful
June 3, 2011 at 2:00 AMI agree, this paint is awesome. Someone asked what the finish is like before the wax…it is very “chalky” and matte. It must have a protective coat of wax unless you are going to use it as a chalkboard, which you can do with a few coats. I agree it is pricey, but honestly, I was able to finish 5 drawer dresser with about 1/4 of a quart and no primer or sanding. I didn’t have to buy primer and the time I saved made it well worth it. I just used Minwax paste wax and it worked great (and was cheaper than theirs), So, I made over the entire piece and spent less than $10. Pretty economical to me. I wouldn’t use it for everything, but I do love it and am going to order another color to try.
Kelli
June 3, 2011 at 2:45 AMI love this look! I just recently caught the bug of refinishing furniture and I am having a blast. I am learning so much from different blogs. Thank you for sharing all your techniques.
ShannonPinNOLA
June 3, 2011 at 3:37 PMI’ve never heard of this….revolutionary!!!!
Jennifer
June 4, 2011 at 1:35 AMThanks so much for featuring me! I definitely would have given a reveiw for you if asked. 😛 I really like the paint, A LOT. You can buy it from stockists if you have one that is local. I fortunately do, and I pay, including tax, $42 for one quart. Expensive? YES! But I love that it cuts project time in half, and you don’t have to use a lot of paint to cover whatever you want to cover. And you can add a little water to the paint to spread it out, and make it easier to paint with. You can even use the paint inside, no fumes! Love that.
Thanks again for the feature!
Biotech
June 4, 2011 at 7:14 PMI’m going to be buying this for paint to retouch my gramophone!! Thanks so much for letting sharing this product with us!!!!!
hometown girl
June 13, 2011 at 8:20 PMhi thanks for the mention!! i actually did the dresser myself, sorry i guess i missed that! susan
Trudi
June 23, 2011 at 8:07 PMI’ve seen instructions in blogland for making your own chalkpaint (that way it comes in the color you want!) Forget where I saw it first, but here’s a link to Apartment Therapy… and there’s also a recipe on Martha Stewart.com… Good luck!
Buffy Blue Eyes
September 10, 2011 at 3:51 PMthe couch behind the featured table in the past two pics, we have the same Ashley set! lol. I see thiss et everywhere now since we purchased ours back in Aug 2009.