Money made the choice for me. Thank you so much for your clarifications re chalk paint; I have been debating about using chalk paint and ONLY chalk paint for several pieces of furniture I have and REALLY wondered how a water-based paint (& Ive seen a zillion demos online by chalk paint devotees) could/would hold up over time; to each their own, as your writing states, but I personally have NEVER liked a distressed look that to me, looked like something picked up on the side of the road, lol, with the picker-upper having good intentions but never got there! As with anything you paint, the proper prep, application, and finish is crucial to withstand the test of time. A well finished piece of furniture is a tactile thing also. Ok, Im in the middle of painting a medium oak bookcase with American Paint chalk paint in white. I have often thought many of the same things that you have posted, and feel exactly the same way about the whole distressed furniture look. Its like, I just put all this work into painting it HOW can I now sand on it?!? I personally like the way the white dresser looks. But thats just me. Thank you so much for posting this! Okay, so the big hype about Chalk Paint is that it doesnt require prep work before painting (i.e., no priming), but it does require waxing after the piece is painted in order to get the full benefit. Even took a class. I didnt like the feel of the wax and if you wax you have to continue to wax over the years. Different strokes for different folks. I was told by the retailer who old me the ASCP- that white vinegar and water removes the AS wax? I dont like the distressed look either. I cant thank you enough for this post. Try Floetrol and a high density foam roller or high quality brush. *Of course its her opinion* and anyone who decides to feel all hurt and huffy about someone elses opinion (and about furniture paint, of all things) should seriously seek therapy and/or get off the Internet. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me . If Im not planning on using a topcoat, I generally use satin finish. Not some factory reproduction. This is why I love doing what I do, because there are so many ways to achieve a restyle! NO wonder it was there. I just wanted to give a second opinion from someone who does BOTH refinishing of wood and I make my own chalk paint. I am so glad to know that there are others, like me, that just dont get this whole distressed, shabby look. Why would I want stuff in my home that just looks old and tatty unless its a piece of furniture that has some family history for me where the scratches etc have some meaning. Very helpful. The cool thing about chalk finish paint, is that [], [] cleaned the wood with a degreaser and gave it a light sanding. Sadly, My husband I are still in the middle of redoing a small bath guest bathroom- going on a month now- ): anyway I wanted chalk paint- nothing would do me but to have chalk paint- My husband hates it, and I dont like it much eitherwe have unfortunately finished them and need to do them over with real paintLike you, I have watched the videos and seen the finished projects by the 100s onlinethey look wonderful- Well, ours dont look so good nothing like what we see onlineso I guess some of us got the knack and some of dont we need to do over now and I wonder if sanding them lightly and painting with primer will be enough prepping to repaint the cabinets over again? and misled. Thanks for writing this, it cleared up a lot of the things I was thinking about concerning chalk paint. Thank you! Thanks for your post and for listening just hoping to clear up few misconceptions you may have. (Remember milk paint?) Not sure i used an oil based primer though? My bad, I new that but I went ahead anyway. [], [] 2. I think people who like the distressed look often like primitive antiques. I am just who I am. Back in the 1990s a friend had me match the corrosion on the clean half of a French Chandelier she purchased in an antique store for her luxury Toronto home. Another problem I have with this paint is that you cannot back brush. I just simply would never, ever skip these steps just to save a few hours of time. I hate it. I just looked sloppy. Probably not. I whole heartedly agree with you. There arent enough bad words in any language to express how upset I am with myself for forging ahead with something when I clearly have no talent for it and am being bamboozled by the proponents of this paint. Well fix it! Isnt the point for it to look like its a loved and lived in item that has been worn down by time and use? There is a purpose for each type of paint. Great Post! I then did a light distressing and finished by waxing them.

Love following your page, thanks for sharing your insight!! I use Zinsser oil-based Cover Stain primer on furniture. Kristi, I painted a piece with chalk paint and Ive regretted it ever since. What would you advise painting chipboard cupboards with? In my opinion I was never a fan of the shabby chic fad and always wondered at the appeal. Thanks to Kristi and everyone for such a valuable discussion on a topic I love!

I dont see anyone attacking you for this post, granted I havent read all comments.

So much fun! What about small crafts like bird houses, wooden cars, etc? Thank you for your article. I'll have to keep my eye out :). Its rather difficult to distress, which is a plus to me. The home made version turned out kind of gritty. Sand it with an electric sander and 150-grit sandpaper to rough up the surface, prime with oil-based primer (Zinsser oil-based Cover Stain is my favorite), and then paint either with oil-based or latex paint. Did I miss something? Has acrylic or something in it so very durable as she did it on her kitchen cabinets. I love the way your desk looked after you painted it nicely. I have never seen chalk paint in person, but all the uses Ive seen online made it look really flat and without dimension. I loved this article!!

It does stink so use it outsideso be forewarned. My cabinets have wood doors and front frames but the sides are made of a plastic like(melamine) material. My husband is very handy, but I know Ill have to help with the kitchen cabinet fix.

I was sold! I am afraid this is just a fad that is coming to an end soon. Number 2 durable I have 5 children and its been over a year and I have no stains or unintentional fading.

A quick sanding, primer & three coats of paint & it looks fresh & clean. Pulled out carpet, nail tacks and had it refinished. For instance, latex and waxed chalk paint will both melt in a moving truck! I will distress the edges as I saw that I liked it when the original wood color showed through for grounding of the piece. Do you use a semigloss or just flat finish? clickhereto read my full disclosure policy. Serves me right for following the hype instead of the tried and trusted way to paint woodwork thats worked for me for 20 years. It answered a lot of the questions I had about chalk paint, the finish and the durability. So when I recently found a discard wooden wardrobe on the pavement just down the road from where I live (on my way home after enjoying a few beers), I thought this way the perfect opportunity to show what can be achieved by using dulux satinwood to upcycle some furniture. Furniture HAD to be immaculate, or it all just looked tacky. If you are using chalk paint- same deal. I love your son !! For example, I loved in a home that was quite run down for years. It takes getting used to and there is prep work. Your desk has the type of finish I am looking for. I bet you could create some pretty stencils and use this paint. She laughed at distressed furniture (and bottled water.) Can we still be friends? Esther, if you use Zinsser BIN primer on your laminate surface, you can paint with latex or oil based. Yay, Im with you on this, and great article. And I believe a Purdy brush can last forever with the right care, too! Its a lovely aqua colour and I threw in a bit [], [] the same thing. The idiots are people like me who think they can paint with chalk paint. Any time I paint a piece of furniture and show it on my blog and/or Facebook page, I get a whole slew of people asking, Why didnt you use Chalk Paint?! So, we had to paint, one way or another. I have an old bench I want to paint that color! (I do happen to like distressing alittle, but not a ton) but I HATE the waxing part of it. Not to my taste either. Feeling the same way in Pittsburgh, Pa. Works great, and I dont have a stroke when I accidentally leave the lid off and it dries up and is ruined. We tried making our own chalkpaint which was an even bigger disaster. I, too, sand. You are welcome to use one or two photos as long as a link back to my original post is included. Thank you for the post. PS the Annie Sloan Paint goes a long way and it VERY clean and neat to use- doesnt splatter. All the acrylic paint was much fasted drying! Thank you for breaking it down and putting it in writing I couldt agree more. And I do agree that in the case of a dining table, a clear coat would be needed on the top. With a piece like that sure latex would work better. 95% do not understand the chemistry of the materials they are using and could not care less.

That said- I have 3 naked bar stools (hey that sounds like a band) and a gorgeous unfinished 3 cubbie bench in my mudroom I cant decide on what to use. I have to tell you that I was so happy to read this, as I feel the exact same way!! Real Rosewood from 1000 year old trees is now a thing of the long past. Knowledge from the painter has to be wide as well so. And I agree, anymore I see that this look is merely a short cut way to not finish a wood project properly. The only time I use water-based primer is when Im priming brand new drywall for the first time. Doing this, I have a much more extensive pallet and its easier to control with my sprayer with the same effects. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Just looking for options with more colors. Start by priming with BIN primer. Lol. I guess instead of chalk paint, there will be a run on wood stripper! I love this post! To get a rich mocha color you might try General Finishes gel stain, which is like a stain but is thick like a get so easier to apply.

I did not distress my item at all and it actually looks just a regular painted item would. Friends! If you purchase something through the link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Do you think a primer and latex paint would work if sanding isnt possible? You wont get only shine to it and with it being trim you wont want it in a Matt finish. I think brush strokes in painted finishes make furniture look cheap, and like it was painted by an amateur DIYer who was too lazy to take the time to sand and finish the piece properly. I think I read somewhere about CC but the price was higher for less product, and the paint I made with it was runnier than I was used to. My 12 year old daughter lives the idea of chalk paint- but I need the durability to withstand kids. I literally thought to myself while reading your article We could be friends I laughed out loud more than a few times while reading this and was actually so impressed with your feedback I am leaving a comment for the first time ever. So sorry youre having a hard time with it. I have painted furniture for 15+years, with chalkpaint for the last two. You have a good sense of humor. From the point of view of a professional painter, prep is very important. Im not trying to convert anyone, but I am trying to present another side to it for the readers who arent familiar with chalk paint. Glad to know I am not the only one who doesnt like the look & feel of xhalky, distressed furniture! Such a cute tray & would even make a great gift for a coffee lover. Ho would I go about with this project of 6 dining chairs. Very informative for an amateur furniture renovator who could be lured into buying this chalk paint . Hope this helps! My question for you is thishow should I fix them to achieve a durable and shiny finish? Ive seen so many people trying to sell these awful thick pieces for way too much $$$-looks like scamming to me. I like to sand and smooth out my pieces, even if Im later distressing them, the extra work makes them look so much better. I researched how to make my own (because I didn't want to spend a lot of money on paint), and the best reviews I found were of DIY chalk paint made with latex paint and plaster of paris. I use poly for a durable finish if I need it. I am not a shabby chic/distressed/antiqued sort of person. Good article. What would you recommend for this project?? Thank you so much! This is great! Not as easy as the marketing makes it seem. I have been tempted and contemplating using chalk paint, but was never quite sure if id like it. There isn't really any latex in latex paint. HELP :-). I've liked it better than any other. I just not want my whole house to look like wow she found a paint store.. I mean ugly! Because it worries me reading so much stuff about people saying the clay paint is natural and good for people with asthma, multiple chemical sensitivities and baby cots. Two coats. Its often used to create a Shabby Chic look. Ive been considering giving chalk paint a try but was a bit skeptical if it really is all its touted to be. Ever. nuff said. Your post gave me a little chuckle regarding the chippy & overly distressed dresser. Whenever my hubby sees furniture that has been done that way or worn through the ages he says, And that is why I go to work everyday, so we dont have to have furniture that looks like that!. I love chalk paint! Id like to see whats under all of it before repainting if thats the way I go. Im going to try black acrylic topped with white satin finish latex and distress (only slightly!) After reading your article Im glad I decided to go with re-varnishing instead. So I have painter friend over and he said I should buy a satin lacquer in a spray can. Im you newest, biggest fan. You can also add water to the paint to make it go on even smoother and it does NOT take all night to dry. I didnt like the way it went on or the time it took to wax. But to pull it off to full effect after primer sealed and then painted, it has to be color glazed, ragged and brushed out, sealed again, fine sanded, clear coated, and highlighted with padded alcohol color, cats pawed and maybe finally Spackle gun sprayed. I do not care for Annie Sloan. i like the painted and glazed look with light distressing as I enjoy vintage painted furniture mixed in with my antique furniture (otherwise too much brown everywhere!) I have a technique I want to do on the bar stools- combo of stain and paint and Im still at the point of anguishing over color, price, durability kind of thing. Everywhere I looked, people raved about Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It shows all the brush marks. i have painted furniture for many years have even written books on the subject. But heres the thing. Ok so the guys sprayed a satin lacquer on the top of the dresser (which is the area I cared about the most) and most of the dresser. I was impressed with the beautiful finish it had. Loved this post. Thanks for the great article. He has patience. I mentioned this to someone, and they said, Oh, to really get the durability, you have to wax it.. Ive inherited some of my moms furniture. The piece I am attempting to paint is a 60s factory finish piece probably the hardest to do. The whole point of distressing a piece is to make it look aged, and so many miss the mark these days.

It is a one day process and yes, sanding is a must in My book! Unfortunately- many people never realize what they have and what its real value can be if properly restored and will ruin a piece forevermore by using a trendy DIY refinish paint job and then totally destroy the antique by distressing it. If it were mine, I would sand it/strip it, and start over. best user experience so you can be an informed consumer! I re-do furniture as a business and I always have customers asking me to do the whole shabby chic/distressed look. It looks dirty and dusty and I couldnt bring myself to own any furniture painted with chalk paint. I'm here to show you how! I had a red shelf that I wanted to use this on and it worked fine, but it was sanded well first and then I did two coats. Ive never heard of using rubbing alcohol. /Users/newuser/Downloads/10376819_10152514589812757_4929521415119116608_n.jpg before using the next MIRACLE product being tauted around blogland or heck, anywhere else PLEASE read The Emporers New Clothes.. yes I know its a kids book but way too many adults- like 99% of the population missed out either reading it or getting the message. My 76 year old mother did this to her coffee table and end tables. Remember to Pin this Post so you can refer back to it often!

Thanks Kristi, for all the info. Cut the SVG file out with your Silhouette machine, weed the letters and the coffee cup, lay contact paper on top of the stencil, and then remove the backing. Her daughter dropped her juice cup close to the piece, and some juice splattered onto the piece and just absorbed right into the paint. Uggg! There different types of painters. It wasnt a thrift store find. It has been my experience that chalk paint holds up very well and should only take one coat. The frustration I have with ASCP is the limited colors. Then the thick coats crack. Thanks Lucy, I just tried Blackberry House Paint for the first time; it's a local company (based out of Murfreesboro TN). The thing that I keep reading over and over from different bloggers is the rather steep learning curve with the finishing wax used over chalk paint, and how much time and effort it takes to get it applied and buffed out correctly. I was relieved to read this post. That look began to find a market place in the late 1960s when DIY antique kits were on the market to give life anew to some old beat up piece of garbage furniture that wasnt worth restoring. This blog's content is for entertainment purposes only and is not professional advice. And I feel I got caught up in a hype. The best combo Ive found is sanding, priming with an oil-based primer (my favorite is Zinsser oil-based Cover Stain), sand with 220-grit sandpaper until smooth, paint with a quality latex paint (I used Benjamin Moore Advance), and then topcoat with two coats of General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in a flat finish (which actually has a satin look to it). I will just read, tend to my plants and grandchildren and window shop for amusement.

Not just because it preps the item, but because its therapeutic. I had the same thought, either way is time consuming. On the corners, on the areas around drawer pulls, on the high spots of carvings and moldings. I wanted to redo a triple dresser and use it as a tv stand/ dvd-cd storage with chalk paint. I share many of the same feelings on this product. I was over shabby chic before it ever started! I love Chalk Paint and will always love Chalk Paint. I was wondering with your chalk paint recipe how much surface can you cover with the 3 to 1 ratio? Ugh.. It would go perfectly with my kitchen decor. I have used chalk paint, latex paint, and my favorite- milk paint. I do not like it at all. All water based paint is both acrylic AND latex. Good luck! I love the matte look of the chalk paint but have doubted the endurance of the finished product. I fell for the hype and have spent two days painting THREE coats of chalk paint on a bookcase. As far as acrylics being durable, I have clothes Ive used for 15 Years for mural painting and the acrylic on them is still fresh after decades of washing. Water based polyurethane clear coats greatly improves duribility. Not sure why we as American Consumers have allowed us to be sold junk as acceptable, when in Europe or the UK their value furniture is in the last solid pine! I was starting to think I was the only one who wasnt a fan of chalk paint. i myself and not a huge fan of the shabby chic look, but i have seen some beautiful pieces that some of my friends have. You can probably still have it mixed, but you wont find it on a paint chip. Best regards, Michele. The outside is weathered pallet wood, so it is rustic looking, but the shelves will hold food in glass jars, so they are painted. I look forward to more information on these projects. I am now in the process of attempting to use a special odor sealing shellac that will hopefully kill this nefarious odor once and for allotherwise I will have to trip these darling stools and start all over.I will not recommend my Howard t Home chalk paint to anyone for this very reason. Even if they disagree. Used it once and disliked the result intensely. I brushed the DIY chalk paint on with a regular nylon brush, waited until it was completely dry, and then sanded the parts I wanted the original black finish to show through a little. I had no idea what it was but it sounded interesting. I would certainly suggest that anyone who wishes to try the AS paint take a class from a reputable instructor before jumping in and investing. After about five rounds of cleaning, I lightly sanded problem areas. What you like is what you like and nobody has a right to tell you youre wrong! Now to find the right colour! Apparently people are still finding the link and so glad I did. . That dresser you showed is exactly her style and what she posts about loving. I'm not sure! Both will work just fine. Me no likey! The wax is not a good way to seal any furniture or cabinetry, period. Yeah right. I LOVE my Zinsser Cover Stain oil-based primer because once its dry, I sand it with super fine sandpaper to make it as smooth as possible (a process I actually love doing). Ugh.

Take care. I am a Chalk Paint user, in fact I am a Chalk Paint distributor in Europe. I got great results from a chalk paint called FAT paint. They tend to look great from across the aisle but upon closer inspection, I always seem to find chips, dents or scratches that are clearly not part of the distressing done by the painter. So annoying. Like you said, its great for people who love, but not for me. Lack of durability: I started painting with latex before chalk paint was available, so Ive had ample experience with both finishes. But even with that, I dont want every piece of furniture in my house being distressed. then I wax it, and maybe apply a coat of poly n the top, if a dresser. Read the label on the primer to be sure. ..OR you can refinish it and not paint it. Im not ruling out a few selected pieces Ill treat with CP but most of my finishes will be latex. My first love is natural wood & you will never see those amazing movements in wood results without sanding,point blank! Kristi, I do use chalk paint and I was certainly not in the least bit offended by your post (why should I be? I dont understand what people call distressed these days either! Thanks for the great post. There are tons of different finishes you can achieve. Id love to have that piece of furniture you showed from Overstock, because it has a gorgeous shape but Id have to get it home and paint it to make it look nice.

I am SO GLAD you wrote this. All that being said, I have to tell you that I do not like using chalk paint! Yah, Im that old. Chalk paint have used the same as any other paint I top coat it with ML Campbell two coats sprayed on I typically use it for the colors or coverage. LA West. And I agree, unless coffee is my way I just cant drink it! If you paint with a brush, I have the steps I take to get a smooth finish here: https://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-paint-cabinets-with-a-paint-brush-and-get-a-near-perfect-finish.html. Interesting to see all these brands listed in one place.I'e tried many of them, and have seen some of the others popping up on shleves. So I am not doing the waxing because I want this to be easy (and now I realize from all these posts that it sucks too). Please let me know if I can paint a latex over the piece. Now the last step your missing about latex paint is that you still have to seal it!! Ive done a a bedroom floor, a closet floor, two stair rails, an armoire, and few other pieces with one gallon of this paint and still have about 1/3 left. I bought a 1946 brick bungalow Entire 1st floor carpeted, yuck.

The price was way too much for me, so I opted for a chalk additive which can be added to any latex paint. But when the trend actually does change these same folks will be dumping their shabby pieces for the new hot trend. Gday!~~. Chips, and scratches on painted furniture cause me to lose sleep. I am going to try to use chalk paint on two pieces of furniture. This isnt a political blog. I have no trust in that as a valid and serious finish option. Thank you especially for this post!!! Ive used the AS chalk paint and have made my own with plaster of paris and have had really good results. Its therapeutic for me! Im not talking about taste, but an understanding of the materials and chemistry involved. Ill stick with my latex paint. The best advice is to test the paints (both latex and Chalk Paint) and decide for yourself. If youre going to intentionally distress something, at least give it some thought and consider where it would have happened over time. Would I have to use clear wax before the dark wax? Without the wax, Chalk Paint produced the flattest paint finish possible. I made a deal with my coworker to spray it for me. Saw the pictures, but that is always hard to tell. Though the milk paint I use is actually a latex paint. If you want to do the 2-color process, you have to double the amount of work. I have a few pieces in my house I purchased, and a couple I did myself. I paint walls using Behr Satin finish. How can I make them pop with chalk paint? My first few attempts were with POP only. I just took a chalk paint workshop (kinda pricey I thought) and learned a bit about using it, including the way to get a smooth, brush stroke free finish, apply wax and some silver or gold highlights etc.