This Rococo style chair was painted and gilded by Annie and lives in her bedroom in Normandy, France.

Annie Sloan used Chalk Paint® and Brass Leaf to transform this Rococo style chair into an elegant French looking piece.

Annie started by painting the chair with a coat of Chalk Paint® in Aubusson Blue. Once dry, she used Gold Size (a glue for metal leaf) and Brass Loose Leaf to highlight ornate carvings on the chair. When applying Gold Size it will at first appear bluish. You must wait until it has dried clear before applying the leaf. Once it has dried fully transparent it will remain sticky for months to come, so you’ve plenty of time to add the leaf.

Annie added the size to the desired areas and applied Brass Leaf, working the leaf into the crevices using a dry brush.

Annie then painted a top coat of Duck Egg Blue, wiping it back with a damp cloth as she went to reveal the layers of Brass Leaf and Aubusson Blue beneath. Finally, the chair is finished with a coat of Clear Chalk Paint® Wax to protect it.

A full step by step guide to this chair is in Annie’s book Colour Recipes for Furniture and More.

Photography by Christopher Drake © CICO Books