Annie Sloan chalk paint

I'm being very careful not to paint anything that's in dark wood, sticking only to the old, yellow knotty pine stuff that was draining all of the colour out of the rooms they were in. The shelf [ two shelves together actually] has come up quite well, but it's taken me ages to paint. The brushes are now just soaking in a bit of water waiting to be re used today. It's so idiot proof [thus far].

That's the problem Tegan once you have successfully painted something and see the transformation, you are hooked . I bought the first book Annie Sloan brought out in the 80's then Kevin McLeod's paint finishes.

I have accumulated lots of product from a company called Liberon who also do coloured waxes to finish. Unfortunately I can only buy these in France.

DD1 has got the bug now and actually got a beautiful cabinet free on Gumtree as the woman had just grown tired of it.

I've now bought a tin of Annie Sloan grey paint as well. I'm painting everything. Then great thing is that you can just go back and paint things after a few minutes. I've found that it's easier to use when slightly watered down. And I keep seeing furniture in second hand shops that I want to buy because I know they'd look great painted.

I thought about trying this paint, but the reviews were very mixed. I think it is fine if you want the shabby chic look. We were painting some old Ducal dark pine and decided to use Farrow and Ball as we wanted something more like the painted dressers in the shops. The paint was expensive, but we used the primer as well and covered a dresser, sideboard, mirror frame, computer desk and fireplace frame for £80 and still have paint left if any touching up needed which has not been the case 8 months on. I think it all depends on the look you want. We are not shabby chic people I suppose.

Pleased to hear about the shelves; I've got some that need painting and was wondering which paint to use. This is all because, having just come back from holiday [and not even unpacked] I've decided to decorate the bedroom. It's only when you decorate a room that you realise how much junk you've got in it .

I did an outside table with it last year - it was very not the day I did it so had a bowl of water to dip the brush into to water paint down two coats and then the wax - it is under a roof so not totally exposed but has lasted and looks ok still. I gave a cupboard one coat but need to do a second and wax it - I prefer the wax finish. OH painted shelves in the utility with it and that is fine too. Not had any lumpiness . I used Paris Grey. I have heard since it is emulsion paint with plaster of Paris added - if that works the colour palette would be much wider. I have a friend who has done it but so far I have not.

My sister used it, and she is usually totally inept at everything, but her cupboard looks great

Must say the cupboard I've just done looks a million times better than it was before [ie yellowing, knotty pine] and the wax coat has smoothed the surface out; but I've still got lumpy bits on one side. However as it's the side against a wall it doesn't matter.

Yes, gluey chairs could prove problematic - I'd never get rid of people!

It's supposed to dry very quickly. My son used it on a kitchen table and said it wasn't tough enough although it would have been ok on the legs [it was a very heavily varnished table though]. My daughter is going to be using a lot of it soon so I'll let you know how she gets on with it. I'm painting lots of things with it;found a letter rack in the loft which I didn't like as it was a bit twee for me, but it looks good painted white. Will be interesting to see how the paint outside copes with wet weather. I'd be careful about using it on chairs without trying it on something else first. I'm wondering if it's best to put a watered down coat on first, as the paint is very gluey.

Oh no, I'm so disappointed to hear that Tegan. I first heard of that make of paint on Mumsnet and thought it sounded amazing. I'd planned on using it on my kitchen chairs.

Were both coats totally dry?