About the Chalk Paint

Chalk Paint is a very special paint for very many reasons
Here are some;

1. It's the BEST paint for painting furniture by a long way
2. You can use the paint by diluting it with water to make a wash to show the wood grain
3. You can use it as an impasto ( thickly) - leave the lid off to thicken
4. You can use it on any surface, indoors and out ( the outside of our shop was painted in it- perfect!)
5. No need to prime or prepare
6. The colours are mixed intelligently and the web site shows how you can adapt your colours for your use
7. It's a girls' paint, but boys can use it too.
8. It's flexible so you can be creative and change you mind
9. The paint can be washed off your brush even when you find your brush weeks later. [I never do that of course.]
10. It allows your walls to breathe so it is perfect for cottage walls
11. Extremely low VOCs so it is good for the environment
12. It doesn't form a skin on it when you leave the lid off - just add some water if it's too thick
13. Very little black is used in their manufacture so the colours are mixed with thought
14. You can paint it on walls for a soft matt effect or wax it for a polished plaster effect

Creating the Shabby Chic French Look
For the Shabby Chic French Look using Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint - the only paint for painted furniture.
Two coats of *Chalk Paint painting with a big brush in all directions, then wax with clear wax using a big brush or a cloth. Work a side at a time and then use some fine/medium sandpaper to take off a little of the paint to reveal what's underneath. Re-wax and then give it a bit of a polish the next day. Refresh every now and again with some more wax when it needs and to clean use a propriety spray cleaner.

* Two coats of either the same OR different colours. If different then make the first coat thicker and less even and the second coat smoother and thinner. Then sand with fine/medium sandpaper ( 100 grade) AFTER waxing to bring some of the back ground colour through.

Using Chalk Paint on your Kitchen Cupboards
Two coats of *paint on them painting with a big brush in all directions, then wax them well with a big brush or a cloth and then give it a bit of a polish the next day. Refresh every now and again with some more wax when it needs and to clean use a propriety spray cleaner like Mr Muscle.
No need to sand or prime although in the areas where there is a lot of use like the cutlery drawer it might be wise. I am assuming the kitchen is wooden.

* same or different colours. If different then you might want to sand with fine/medium sandpaper ( 100 grade) after waxing to bring some of the back ground colour through.

Extending the Range of Colours
We have 24 colours in our paint range from soft and pale to bright and strong. Our range of colours is not large but we give you the reins for enlarging the range and for achieving exactly the right tone for you.
Look on each colour of our web site and there you will see a few suggestions per colour where Old White has been added

Painting Wooden Floors
This is the best way to give your boards the look of old bleached, whitewashed, and distressed wood.
Use a roller for applying both the paint and the varnish.
Use the paint straight from the pot for an opaque look or use it thinned with water for transparency.
You may find applying the paint with a floor mop is easier if you are using the paint thinly. Edges can be done with a one or two inch brush . One or two coats will be necessary depending on the colour and absorbency of the wood. The lighter paint colours will also need more coats generally.
For bedrooms you can leave it as it is but for areas with more footfall then varnish with our Extra Strong varnish. One layer is all that is necessary in areas of lower traffic but use 2 layers of varnish where there is a lot of footfall such as an entrance way.

Painting Concrete Floors
The concrete floor above has been transformed by our paint and is in part of our shop.It has been repainted recently by Anna-Marie copying the original done by Annie many years ago but using some different colours. This is also a project in Annie's new book.
It was painted first in Chateau Grey then printed with Cream and a few squares of Scandinavian Pink with a small square sponge. Lastly Extra Stong Varnish was applied.

Using Chalk Paint as Blackboard Paint
Any colour blackboard - as long as you use one of our terrific Chalk Paint colours. Have a Emperor's Silk or Monet Blue Blackboard for instance. Write on it with a stick of chalk and when you want to clean it off just wipe over with a damp cloth.

Painting with our paint should always be a pleasure.

*If it is feeling like hard work then maybe the paint is too thick, add some water to make the paint flow easily. *Are you working with a small brush? Switch to a bigger one to get the job done quickly.
*If it is hard work rubbing back with the sandpaper then use a coarser sand paper but next time paint a thinner top coat.
*Don't like the piece you are painting? Each piece of furniture, especially old pieces responds in their own unique way to the paint. Perhaps you had a very strong idea of the finished result. You may need to adapt it that initial image.