Chalk paint 201 - User Experience and Brand Reviews
An informative post reviewing over 15 different chalk paint brands! Find out which ones deliver the best user experience based on real reviews, so you can be an informed consumer!
Updated 11/22
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Disclaimer: I am not an expert. I am a do-it-yourself-er who has enjoyed dabbling in the world of chalky-type paint to transform furniture and other items in my home. Please be aware that the term "chalk paint" is exclusive to Annie Sloan products. All other paints in this post are mineral-based paints but not true chalk paint! As well, this post does not cover every single chalky-type paint available on the market today!
If you sell your own brand of chalk paint and would like me to include a review of your paint, please send me a personal email! I'd be happy to work with you!
Update: Make sure you read my brand new post about top coat protection options for your freshly painted furniture! You put all that effort into painting a piece...find out how to make it last for years!
Welcome! If you're here, that means you're interested in chalky paint. You're in good company because I love chalky paint and have personally painted over 100 pieces! If you're a total chalk paint beginner, start by reading Chalk Paint 101, and then come back here!
Few things have revolutionized the DIY world quite like chalk paint! The black hutch shown here was my very first attempt at chalk painting furniture about 10 years ago...quite an ambitious project for my first time! I was scared to death, and worried that I'd ruined this antique after the first coat (it was a $40 Craigslist purchase). But when it was finished, and I saw the transformation, I was hooked and I've gone on to paint over 100 pieces, as well as decor with chalk paint!
How do you know which chalk paint brand to buy?
That's a great question! There are so many different brands now that it is very confusing. Today's post focuses on 15 popular chalky paint brands with user reviews. This is an informative post to help you be a better consumer! I hate spending a lot of money on something only to find out it doesn't perform the way I expected, and I'm sure you're the same. That's why I've gathered a group of trusted DIY blog friends to help me offer you this unbiased review. We are not being paid anything for our opinions, we're just sharing them with you, friend to friend.Today, you will be able to read reviews on over 15 brands of chalk paint...both good and bad.
This post is by no means an exhaustive list of the chalk paint brands available...the market is exploding and it's hard to keep up!I'm sure you'll find this post informative as you head to the store (whether online or in person).
Let's get to it.
15+ Chalk Paint Brand Reviews by Real People
No. 1: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
Even though it is quite thick, the pieces I painted needed a second coat (especially if I was painting a light color over dark wood).
I found that the second coat went on easier if I either dipped my paintbrush into water first, or actually thinned the paint a little with water.
This creamy white chair was painted using Annie Sloan chalk paint, and it has held up well for the past 10+ years, considering it gets daily use and that no wax was used on it.
I did find that Old White was too creamy in color for my taste and Pure White was too white. I achieved the best creamy white color by mixing the two together.
Insider tip: I have even had success mixing two different brands of chalk paint for a custom color! You can click here to see the piece of furniture I painted with two different brands of chalk paint.
If you love Annie Sloan colors but not the price, check out this post by Altard blog on chalk paint color comparisons using Behr and Sherwin Williams paints.
No. 2: Southern Honey Chawk Paint
The sweet gals at Southern Honey sent me two sample paints to try (Stella, a neutral gray and Shirley, a bright turquoise). I had a great experience using this paint!
Southern Honey paint was creamy to apply and self-leveling, meaning the brush strokes just disappeared as it dried.
I did need two coats on this table below (using gray Stella), but I was painting over a very dark piece which was original wood. You can read the complete tutorial and see the amazing transformation of this side table here.
No. 3: Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint
Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint is a product by DecoArt. It's available at most craft stores as well as on Amazon. The website says there are 29 vintage colors to choose from, but I don't think I've seen that many on store shelves.
Americana Decor Chalky Paint happens to currently be my go-to chalk paint of choice when I'm not using my DIY chalk paint recipe (keep reading; I share my recipe a little further down the page).
I like that I can get it for around $5 with a coupon, and I appreciate that it's mixed in small quantities so I don't have paint going bad on the shelf.
I love the colors I've used and the fact that one coat is often enough! I've tried about 5 colors and have to say that the Everlasting , Refreshing and Treasure (see below) are by far my favorite colors. They are perfect for creating a farmhouse, cottage look.
The stenciled table below was painted with Americana Decor Chalky Paint in 'Treasure' and it needed only one coat because I was going for a vintage look (I painted over black!) You will not believe how this table looked before its transformation...it was a craft fail gone bad and I almost took this table to the dump! Y ou can see what this table looked like before I painted it by clicking here.
I'm so glad I decided to give it another chance!
No. 4: General Finishes Milk Paint
Yes I know. Technically, milk paint is not chalk paint. However, I included this brand because I love it and, according to the General Finishes website, it's not a true 'milk paint' either (there is no milk in it) but a modern version of old world paint with a strong mineral base.
Did you catch that? It has a mineral base (like chalk paint) which allows it to perform in a similar way. It's available in a wide variety of colors and can be distressed, glazed, and antiqued just like chalk paint.
General Finishes Milk Paint is a pleasure to paint with, although I found the dry time to be longer than other chalk paint brands I've tried.
I painted the top of this dresser below with GF paint in Dark Chocolate, which gave the look of a dark-stained piece.
Insider tip: This is a great trick when you have a laminate piece of furniture and you're trying to achieve the look of real wood with paint.
The paint is a little runnier that other chalk paint brands but it goes on smoothly and levels well. This dresser was sun-damaged and ready for the trash...until I restored its beauty with paint!
No. 5: Martha Stewart Vintage Decor Paint
In my personal experience I found the colors weren't true and the reviews I read online were mixed.
I purchased the Red Wagon (bright red looking in the packaging) and found it to be more of a pinky salmon color, even with additional coats added. It was not a true bright red; I tried mixing in some black to darken it and ended up with a dark burgundy color (see the chair below..it actually looks more red in the picture than it is in real life).
To be fair, this was the only color I tried, but I was disappointed and the reviews I read online were mixed regarding not only color discrepancy but also performance. Update: In all fairness, that was 4 years ago and I would not be surprised if they improved this product because current reviews are much better!
The other thing to note about this paint is that it doesn't dry matte like other chalk paints; it seems to dry with a bit of a sheen. If you're planning to wax anyway, this may not be a negative thing, but if you're going for that flat chalky look, you will not be able to achieve that with this chalky paint brand.
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No. 6: Websters Chalk Paint Powder
I really, really wanted to like Websters Chalk Paint Powder! Everything I read about it convinced me it was going to be fabulous. It's a powdered chalk paint that you mix into regular latex paint. The price can't be beat. However...it just didn't perform well for me.
I found this paint to have a really strong smell and it had definite adhesion issues.
Paint smells pretty bad anyway, but I almost wanted to wear a mask when I used Websters, it was that bad!
The reason I tried it in the first place was because I was warned that DIY chalky paint fumes are harmful to breathe in; however, I found the Websters smelled just as bad, if not worse!
I also found that it didn't bond well to the pieces I painted. I first tried it on these painted storage boxes which I taped off to create stripes.
When I peeled the tape off, the paint came with it. As if that wasn't enough, I found the coverage to be lacking. I needed a good 3 coats to get the coverage I wanted.
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No. 7: DIY Chalk Paint
About $18 + the cost of paint = enough for many, many, many projects
My do-it-yourself version of chalk paint is a fabulous alternative to more expensive brands. My recipe combines Plaster of Paris along with powdered Calcium Carbonate. I've painted dozens upon dozens of pieces with my DIY version, tweaking it until I've come up with the best formula that I share below.
Is it inexpensive? Yes. Is it perfect? No.
The biggest Pro about DIY chalk paint is definitely the savings!
While I still need to purchase the paint, a tub of POP lasts me over a year. The Calcium Carbonate powder can be difficult to find, but Amazon always has it. It's about $10 but because you're only using 2 Tablespoons at a time, it can make several batches of DIY chalk paint.
I love to buy small sample pots of Behr paint from Home Depot (for about $2.50 each) in my favorite colors and mix the DIY chalky paint recipe right in the sample paint pots! I've found that homemade chalk paint doesn't last very long once mixed. Making sample size amounts (8 oz = 1 cup) works out perfectly for most projects!
The biggest Con about DIY chalk paint is that it can be gritty
You will wind up with little lumps if you don't mix it properly. I share tips on how to avoid gritty chalk paint in this post.
I have heard all the warnings about working with POP (Plaster of Paris)...that it heats up when mixed with water and can cause severe burns. Also that the powder is dangerous to breathe. I definitely advise being an informed consumer; knowing the possible dangers is important.
However, with that said, I have never had an issue with do-it-yourself chalky paint. The amount of POP and water used is so negligible that it is a moot point in my book.
In fact, here is just a sampling of the pieces I've painted with homemade chalk paint...with nary an issue! You can see all my painted furniture pieces in one place if you click here.
What do you think? Have you been scared of making your own DIY Chalky Paint because of the warnings out there? I would recommend trying it. That's the only way you can see for yourself how it compares to the pricier brands.
If you have respiratory issues, wear a painter's mask (as you should be doing anytime you paint anyway).
Here is my personal recipe for DIY Chalk Paint...developed after trial and error and lots of practice. Please feel free to PIN IT so you can always find it!
I'll let you be the judge. I do find that you need to watch for small hard clumps of POP (no matter how much you mix it with hot water, it seems impossible to dissolve completely).
I find that if you lightly sand your furniture after using DIY chalk paint, it smooths the paint and knocks back any bumps.
The other big difference is that achieving distressed edges takes a little more muscle than when you use store-bought chalk paint. In my opinion, the money saved is worth a couple of inconveniences and a little extra work!
No. 8: L'Essentiel Botanics Furniture Paint
I had the pleasure of trying this new brand recently on a farmhouse stool makeover and I really like painting with it. It's beautifully packaged and there are a nice variety of colors to choose from.
I found L'Essentiel Botanics Furniture Paint to be highly pigmented and extra creamy with no odor and fantastic coverage! The fact that it's non-toxic and safe for the environment was a bonus!
Following are additional chalky paint brand reviews by some of my fellow bloggers. To read their full review, click their blog link below. For more info on the paint and where to buy it, click on the brand name link in the title.
No. 9: Amy Howard One-Step Paint
Here's what Kimm from
Reinvented had to say about
Amy Howard One-Step Chalk Paint:
The paint went on very smoothly, and is a little thinner than other chalk type paint I’ve tried. It took two coats to cover the creamy white. One Step Paint distresses very easily with fine sandpaper, and even flakes a little like milk paint.
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No. 10: Heirloom Traditions
Allison from
Refunk My Junk says this about
Heirloom Traditions Chalk Paint:
I used White Lime Soft Wax over Black Bean and it turned the piece into such a beautiful grey. It reminds me of some of the finishes from Restoration Hardware.
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No. 11: Poppies Repurposing Paint Powder
Here's how Susie from
The Chelsea Project Blog felt about her experience using Poppies Paint Powder
Poppie’s stuck to the poly-coated top like white on rice …..and then sanded with total ease.
No. 12: Rust-oleum Chalked
Karen from
The DIY Bungalow felt this way about using
Rust-Oleum Chalked:
The Chalked paint was easy to use, although it’s a little thinner and looser than other chalky finish paint you might have used.
Here's what Angie at
Knick of Time says about Vintage Storehouse Paint:
This paint did everything I want my chalk paint to do, for a fraction of the cost of the name brands. After mixing the powder with a little bit of water, I added it to my paint. It was wonderfully creamy and applied beautifully. This desk was only given one coat of paint. The coverage was excellent.
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No. 14: Fusion Mineral Based Furniture Paint
Here's how Becky from
Beyond the Picket Fence felt about her experience with
Fusion Mineral Paint:
What is Fusion Mineral Paint you ask? It is a mineral paint like none other on the market that I have seen or tried. And what makes it different? It adheres and covers wonderfully, but it also has the finish built in. YES, no waxing needed.
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No. 15: Dixie Belle Paint Company Chalk Finish Furniture Paint
The thing that really makes Dixie Belle stand out to me as a superior product is its true one coat coverage! This paint is like your best friend because it makes projects so easy to complete quickly and beautifully!
Just look at how one coat transformed this old, nasty planter base!
You can see how I revived the large flower pot with Dixie Belle paint here.
This craft cubby that I repurposed as mug storage was updated with Dixie Belle colors Cotton (my absolute favorite creamy white) and Manatee Gray And if you're looking for a nice, dark black chalk paint, look no further than Dixie Belle's Caviar!
No. 16: Country Chic Paint
Country Chic paint was developed in 2014 as a way to make painting easy and fun. The result was an eco-friendly chalk-style furniture paint that is easy to use and offers superior adhesion. The paint is pretty much odorless, and has a matte finish that’s easy to distress with a damp cloth! Not a true chalk paint, it's a clay based formula that includes a built in primer and top coat inside every jar of paint.
I tried Country Chic paint last year and really loved it! The matte finish dries just like a true chalk paint, and I found the coverage to be very good. I think what I appreciate most about this brand is the low odor and the built in finish that eliminates a step entirely!
I painted a
spindle chair with Country Chic paint in the color
Crinoline, which is a very creamy white with just a touch of blush undertones, like the inside of a seashell. The coverage was wonderful and not having to worry about a top coat really sold me on this paint!
Feel free to try my DIY chalky paint recipe...and if you do, I'd love for you to come back here and let me know what you thought! Do you have another brand of chalk paint that you love to use? Let us know!
If you have questions about
top coat options to protect your painted furniture, be sure to head here next! I explain the difference between a wax and a poly and when to use each!
Remember to Pin this Post so you can refer back to it often!
Happy painting my friends!
bringing beauty to the ordinary,
Great compilation Cindy! I have used Blackberry House Paint, which is a furniture paint and I have a love hate relationship with it. I Absolutely love the COLORS that are available! I wish other furniture paint companies had colour choices that were just as nice. If you have to paint something in red, white or black, this paint will do it in almost just ONE COAT. This is what I love about it! It is highly pigmented, which allows for that, but it will stick to everything, so wear disposable gloves and use a container to paint out of that you can toss out. It is difficult to get the paint off of your hands otherwise and difficult to clean the brushes if you don't clean them right away. Another problem I have with this paint is that you cannot back brush. When I apply paint, I naturally wipe it on and then smooth back and forth. This paint dries so fast that you cannot go back and wipe the excess. You have to try and get it on in one stroke.
ReplyDeleteThanks Lucy, I just tried Blackberry House Paint for the first time; it's a local company (based out of Murfreesboro TN). I did like the one coat coverage!
DeleteI found Blackberry House to be the best that I have tried. I like the fact that it requires only a minute of sanding to feel buttery soft, and doesn't have the powdery excess that I find with chalk paint.
DeleteHi Cindy, I was wondering if you thought chalk paint would work on my stair rails? Currently they are honey oak stain on the rails and the balusters are painted white. I would LOVE to paint the rails a rich mocha color. Your advise would be appreciated. I really enjoy following your blog and seeing all the wonderful creations you write about. Thanks! Best regards, Michele
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to help, Michele! I believe chalk paint would work but you would need to add several coats of wax or a poly to protect it. 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. They have a Java which is almost black. You can find it on Amazon. Thanks so much for your kind words about DIY beautify!
DeleteThank you, Cindy! This is great information. I will look into this further. It should be nice not to have to sand and prep as much! That's why I thought chalk paint could be my answer! And it sounds like it might be! Thanks again.
DeleteHa! I felt the same way about Websters. Me no likey! I got great results from a chalk paint called FAT paint. It needs a wax coat though. I fall back on my own version of chalk paint made with baking soda. It's got a rougher finish but a light sanding makes it smooth. Off to check out Fusion and Vintage Storehouse. Thanks for the fabulous guide to chalk paint!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it wasn't just me, Anne, with the Websters! I've never heard of FAT, will have to check that out. Thanks for your input!
DeleteInteresting 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. I am looking forward to trying Fushion that I just received. Thanks for sharing your reviews and thoughts.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, Darla. I'm glad you found it informative!
DeleteThank you for all these reviews!! Very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to do it Georgia!
DeleteThis was a helpful writeup telling us about the chalk paints we can buy... useful one... I think you only said that one advantage of chalk paint is that you don't need another quote so it is easier, you said that when you were renovating the bed for the guest room for the one room challenge I think...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I understand your question Maria...chalk paint doesn't require prep (unless your piece is really dirty or you want to remove gouges by sanding). Is that what you were referring to?
DeleteI have used FAT, Van Gogh, Annie Sloan and Fusion. I like the Fusion for its no top coat although they do sell a top coat for those surfaces that will get lots of wear, like a table top. As for the other brands I have used I find them all fairly similar in using them. What I like is that FAT, Van Gogh and Fusion are Canadian made.
ReplyDeleteMy kitchen has old 1980s oak cabinets. I love the fact that they're solid wood and would like to keep them. Would chalk paint work well on kitchen cabinets? I won a sample size and a pint of Fat Paint at a home show, would this be a good brand for this project?
ReplyDeleteYes, chalk paint will work on kitchen cabinets. You will want to use a good degreaser first and wash them well. I am not familiar with the FAT paint brand. Kitchen cabinets get a lot of use so you'll want to seal the paint with several coats of a non-yellowing top coat. I like this one by General Finishes because it's water-based, can be brushed on (no buffing required), and produces a durable coat of protection. You can find it here http://amzn.to/243BTRW (aff. link) Good luck!
DeleteBefore I forget.. I bought a funky table that has a lot of detail and carving on the legs. How can I make them pop with chalk paint? Would distressing the edges be enough?
ReplyDeleteWish I could post a pic on here
Distressing will help those details to pop. You could also paint the details in another color to make them stand out (ie white details on a blue piece or vice versa), or you could use dark wax in the grooves (if you paint your piece a light color) to help them to pop. Hope this helps!
DeleteRigby Blue-Amy Howard paint would work on your cabinets and your table, with adding the wax instead of having to distress. It's beautiful!
DeleteRigby Blue-Amy Howard paint would work on your cabinets and your table, with adding the wax instead of having to distress. It's beautiful!
DeleteAnyone heard of Little Billy Goat Paint?
ReplyDeleteNo I haven't, Rebecca...have you tried it?
DeleteWhat about folkart chalk paint? At AC Moore anyone ever try that for furniture or cabinets?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great question, Sherry. I haven't tried that brand yet.
DeleteI love Rethunk Junk by Laura paint. No smell, dries super fast, and no top coat needed. They self level too. Cost is comparable to the other paints listed here. I really like them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this very helpful blog - I have a kitchen that has laminate cupboards with oak trim. I would love to paint them to bring them out of the 80's - any ideas would be great. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThank you Lynn, I think you would be very happy updating your cabinets with chalk paint. White and gray are very popular right now but pick something you'll be comfortable with long-term. Make sure you pick a durable top coat to protect your cabinets from daily wear and tear.
DeleteHere is information on one more chalk type paint Dixie Belle Paint. No wax required
ReplyDeleteI took my 1st Chalk Paint 101 class and they used Dixie Belle. I am no expert so I am following and would love to here comments from others who have used it.
DeleteI bought a quart of pure white Home Depot Chalked paint, and a quart of Annie Sloan "old white" and wondered if I could mix them
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy, I've had success mixing different brands of chalky paint; however, I cannot guarantee your results! You could try mixing small, equal amounts (like a couple tablespoons of each) to see if it works for your project! Good luck!
DeleteBrush tips
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised there's no mention of Maison Blanche paint. I haven't used it, but I like what I hear about it from bloggers I follow.
ReplyDeleteChalk paint® Is a registered trademark by Annie Sloan. No other paint but hers is chalk paint® Or behaves like her paint even though it may have a flat finish. Real chalk paint® Is not latex or acrylic based and cannot be made from an at home recipe.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAll water based paint is both acrylic AND latex. There isn't really any latex in latex paint. All water based paints are 100% acrylic resin based or an acrylic/polymer blend. If they aren't, they are not water based paints. So, what type of paint do you think it is exactly?
DeleteChalk refers to the sheen of paint, not the resin or the base of paint.
I found Dixie Belle paint at a local consignment store. I've liked it better than any other. In addition to the wonderful selection of colors, they sell a clear coat and glazes to add "antique" features to painted projects. I've used it on its own as well as with the clear coat and glaze - totally different looks and I love it both ways. It sands and distresses beautifully. On most pieces one coat has been plenty. A quart of paint has lasted through more projects than I can remember. dixiebellepaint.com
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of Dixie Belle, JM. Thanks for sharing your experience with it, it sounds like a great product! I'll have to keep my eye out :)
DeleteTHis is a great list! I have used Anne Sloan's paint and LOVE it. Then I tried Rustoleum "Chalked" on my vintage vanity because it's cheaper and .... I hate it. In fact, I thought waxing would make it better but it's worse. Now that I've tried letting it "cure" for 30 days I'm just going to paint over it with better chalk paint. I did buy BBFrosch Chalk Paint Powder (only $10 for 4oz) - and I'm going to use that with some flat paint this time. I like the idea that I can pick whatever color I want and mix the powder in!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great comments LouAnn! I would appreciate hearing what you disliked about the Chalked Paint...was it the adhesion? I've never tried BBFrosch, but am hearing more good things about it. I love the ability to customize my paint color!
DeleteHave used BBFROSCH powder with semi gloss paint. Have to mix well to get lumps out.But liked it. I'm new to chalk painting, but have used Dixie Bell Paint,it levels nice so far very happy with it. I won't pay $40.00 for paint. Dixie Bell is resonable.
ReplyDeleteThanks for review going to try your recipe.
Hi, thank you for the article, has any tired Vintage Market and Design Chalk Paint? I am curious to see peoples review. I started with Annie Sloan but switched due to cost. I find myself missing Annie so this article is very helpful!!
ReplyDeleteMy review on Vintage Market-I hate their waxes. very slippery and oily. They do offer a variety of colors but it is a little thinner than Annie!
No I haven't Jeniece. There are several affordable alternatives to Annie's product...have you tried Americana Decor Chalky Finish? It's one of my faves and so easy to find, most craft stores carry it. Very affordable too when you can use a coupon!
DeleteThank you so much for this list!
ReplyDeleteWe are refinishing our dark-stained kitchen cabinets and planning on using a white chalk paint. First, thank you for your recommendation of the General Finishes top coat above! That's helpful!
If you were doing this project, is the Annie Sloan chalk paint worth the money or would you use one of your more economical options of the list? We're brand new to this and just trying to narrow the list down a little. Thank you so much for all of your help!
Joe & Maddie
I think your best economical option is to use Satin Enamels paint by DecoArt. I talk about my experience fixing a bad paint job and why it's my preference for cabinets in this post. http://www.diybeautify.com/2017/06/how-to-choose-the-right-paint-for-cabinets.html I think normal chalk paint is great for most furniture, but with cabinets that get almost constant use I would go with a more durable product.
DeleteGreat review. Wondering what you think about:
ReplyDelete1. the house brand at Lowe's and ACE: Valspar Chalky Finish Paint.
2. The rattle can spray paint versions of chalky paint: I think Valspar and Rustoleum both have this. Any good? Decent coverage?
3. Whether it is possible to use a small project spray gun with any chalky paint. I would think the paint would have to be thinned and the tip would have to be large, but have you tried it, and if so, did you get good results?
Thanks!
I have used the spray paint chalk paint . I like it for smaller items.I also think it would work well for light fixtures, which would be harder to paint with a brush. I used a grey and it covered red with 2 average coats. I have seen a spray gun that was available at a Annie Sloan demonstration . They recommended this gun for chalk paint. You could contact her company for more information. I have not used Valspar or Ace paint.
ReplyDeleteThank you So much for all the info in your list, Cindy. I am planning to try and make my own chalky paint for quite a while now, and have seen various "recipes" to do this, most of which are using POP. I have also a while ago found a method using Calcium Carbonate, which I thought I will use in the end. Interestingly, I see that you are are using a mixture of these two products. There must certainly be a reason why you found it better to mix the two than using only POP or Calcium Carbonate - have you tried them separately first, before you decided to mix the two?
ReplyDeleteHi Isobel, great question! My first few attempts were with POP only. I disliked the grainy-ness. 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. I decided to be frugal and combine the two. It is a great compromise! The CC results in a smoother paint, while the POP keeps it from being too runny.
Deletehi...i usually make my own chalk paint, but i would like to paint out some hideous tracker green marble around my fireplace and dont want to mess around. i read that the annie sloan chalk paint will cover this. have you ever painted a marble or tile with the A.S.?any tips?..or other product that you would recommend?...thxs michele
ReplyDeleteMichele, I've never attempted painting fireplace marble so I'm afraid I don't know much about it. I would definitely spend the money on the right product though! I think you probably need to look for a paint that is either heat - resistant or can withstand high temps! Try a Google search!
DeleteI am going to try to use chalk paint on two pieces of furniture. One is an old dresser. One is a little cabinet for the kitchen. I have never done anything like this before. Ever. To start, do I need to just clean the dresser? No sanding? Then I was reading you talked a lot about wax. What wax do you use? Will I need to use wax? HELP :-)
ReplyDeleteHey Shayla, sounds like you need to read my Chalk Paint 101 post! Here is the link: http://www.diybeautify.com/2014/03/chalkpaint101andchalkpaintcompanies.html
DeletePlease read this first and then if you still have questions, I'll be happy to give you more specific details!
You mention spoiled paint. I lost quite a bit of AS when I opened about 4 cans and didn't use all the paint in them. I was devastated....expensive mistake. It might be good to always remind ppl about the spoilage issue. Maybe freezing unused would save $$?
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post and thank you for doing it.
I recently refinished some tall kitchen stools using Amy Howard At Home chalk paint....I used a"Good Man is Hard to Find" steel gray and at first I was thrilled with the outcome....until the paint dried completely. This paint must have a very high ammonia content because within a few hours after completing the stools I smelled a very strong and distinct "cat pee" smell that was driving me crazy....I used vintage grain/feed sacks to upholster the seats and at first I thought maybe that was the problem...but upon further investigation I realized that every square inch of wood that has the Amy Howard chalk paint on it smells like ammonia...every.single.inch. I thought maybe the smell would dissipate over time but nearly two months later and it is still very very strong and very off putting. After doing further research on a painting/DIY FB group I belong to, I discovered that others have had this same problem with Amy Howard chalk paint as well and is the very reason why others refuse to use it. 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 all...otherwise 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.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the typo's...I have some sticky keys on my keyboard and sometimes the "s" and "a" get dropped...lol.
DeleteHi, I read this page last month and I am sure you mentioned DecoArt Americana Rustic paint. I got it and love it! But now I can't see your comment about it being like wood....
ReplyDeleteHi Anna, must have been another blog. I have never tried Rustic!
Delete