Let me start out by saying that a quart of chalk paint ($38.95) is worth every shiny penny.
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This stuff is the easiest to work with and though it might be double the price of its conventional latex counterpart, there is simply no comparison. When I say easy to work with, I mean it. Painting is definitely not my forte. In fact, during this process, I ended up ruining a moccasin by unknowingly sticking my foot on the paint can lid while feverishly attempting to paint the top of the dresser.
I got this old dresser from my mom, who acquires antiques and furniture on a consistent, and somewhat odd, basis. When she showed me the piece, I cringed. But before I knew it, I was nodding in agreement along to the argument that the dresser had “good bones.” Soon after, I was driving back to Charlotte with a dusty water-stained dresser weighing down the back seat of my hybrid.
The original wood piece, in all of its glory.
Excited for the job at hand, I purchased the original Annie Sloan chalk paint from BLACKLION in Dilworth. They have a plethora of color options to choose from. I was originally going to paint the dresser black (you really can’t go wrong) but after seeing the French Linen color, I opted to go another route.
The beauty of chalk paint is that it doesn’t require any prep. That means you can take an old, seen-better-days dresser, table, picture frame, etc. and brush on a few coats and some wax and be done with it. If you want a distressed look, you can either use fine sand paper or a lint-free cloth to rub off paint in the areas that you want to appear worn. As far as the furniture repurposing world goes, I’d say Annie Sloan is one of my heros. She crafted a gorgeous, fuss-free product that allows impatient gals like me to completely overhaul a piece of furniture with little time and even less patience.
The dresser turned out beautifully. All in all, it took me about an hour or to apply two coats of paint. I let the chalk paint dry overnight before applying the finishing wax, which basically seals the chalk paint and prevents streaking.
If I sound nonchalant about the painting process, it’s because there really is no science to applying Annie Sloan’s chalk paint.
Below is the before and after photo that I’m proud to share. (This project made me look really crafty, another reason I can tip my hat to Annie. But really, it’s all her.)
