Annie Sloan chalk paint

lovely dresser merlot

I have used Annie Sloan but found the Rustoleum brand, available in Homebase, easier to use and cheaper.

I haved used Annie Sloan paint on various pieces of furniture. It's expensive but goes a long way and is very easy to apply. It's a good idea to use her round brushes especially on large areas and the colours will deepen when you apply wax.

I've painted a few things with Annie Sloan paint. We have an old bureau made from dark oak. I painted it in a lovely blue-grey, then sanded the edges, so that the oak shows through. I'm delighted with it. I've painted the lower parts of some pine side and coffee tables in a nice soft cream, just leaving the top unpainted. No sanding, no rubbing down, just two coats and wax. I'm now on the lookout for a lovely ornate mirror to paint bright pink!

not tried the Annie Sloan as too expensive for me....but have made my own off a recipe on net....calcium carbonate with the latex paint(choose any colour) mixed in and some water.

I've done a chair and a small table..only thing one they seem to want sanding down, not sure if its the home made paint or what. going to do final coat today...any picys would be nice (before and after) ? anyone!

I have used this pain't on an old chest. I applied two coats, quite thickly, let them dry a day between, then used the wax. Looks good. Thinks the secret is not to try and put the paint on as if you were applying ordinary paint, it's a lot quicker. Going to to do the chest of drawers next I've finished the job I'm doing at the moment.

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I worked on a couple of books with Annie (and Kate Gwyn) and she is fairly fierce about proper preparation before you begin painting. Just saying…

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The very best chalk paint to use is the Vintage range by Autentico. 140 colours, no watering down, and a fabulous finish every time. Finish with either their wax or sealer and you will have furniture to be proud of.

I used to do all my own decorating but then DS2 got a holiday job with a decorator and became an overnight 'expert' and I was happy to exploit him. I just wish he lived in the vicinity now! I will have a look at the Annie Sloan paints - my bedroom needs a major face-lift.

I was quoted £500 a room here in leafy Surrey . Will definitely be getting the roller out again soon.

Yes, I do whip round all the edges and corners first with a narrowish brush. The foil idea in the paint tray is an excellent one, but I don't like using a tray at all, I tip the paint into a larger can with a top that can accommodate my roller.

I painted a room once for a friend and she gave me £25 and bought all the paint. That was fine by me, she was broke and a friend and it wasn't a very large room and she left lovely meals for me to heat up. However, unless you have very cheap painters in your area don't give up yet, as she was quoted £150 for the same small room!

The whole mood of my bedroom has been lifted by using the Annie Sloane paint on the old yellow knotty pine that was there. I'm really pleased that I bought the Annie Sloane brushes even though they were expensive. I've never used a roller on walls before, but it was annoying to put a last coat of paint on the main wall only to find there was an unpainted stripe on it when it dried . Best to go on utube for tips on rollering. It was annoying that the paint tray was so difficult to clean between coats but a friend said to put tin foil in the paint container in the tray which can then be thrown away. Because the layer of paint is so much thinner when you roller it rather than brush it on, it dries much quicker; I wish I'd decorated the room when it was a bit cooler. I've never rollered doors etc before but thought I'd have a go as a decorator I used used to roller them. Mind you, when it comes to decorating a whole room again I'm going to pay a decorator; I think that, by the time I've paid full price for the paint plus buying new rollers, brushes, sandpaper, brush cleaner etc I didn't save much money. I found painting the edges really tiring as kneeling down hurts my knees and reaching up hurts my arms! Try your DH with a bookcase or two [just the sides] and you might win him round .

Thank you Tegan I have read all the posts with great interest, it really makes me want to have a go!I have never used a roller either[for anything.] Do you use a brush for the edges , tops of walls etc first and then the roller on the vast expanse of wall? Is there a particular way to use the roller? We usually get a reasonable finish using brushes [as long as we use matt paint] but the roller would be much quicker I'm sure.I too have some pine bedroom furniture that is crying out to be painted, but would have to do some arm twisting on DH as he likes it how it is.Still, there are small bookcases etc.

bumped up for roses ...

Yes!

There is an excellent primer that you can/could buy, it's called melamine primer but it covers absolutely anything, even plastic. In one house we had a very shiny but getting scruffy wardrobe, it even covered that, and then I was able to paint it with acrylic gloss, which made it look like wood. It wasn't cheap though. I hope they still make it, I must have a look. I even used it to prime and paint all those cheap plastic runner curtain rails in the kids' bedrooms.

....I should have used primer shouldn't I? [light bulb moment]

I'd just finished painting a pelmet and it was ready to put back up when I scraped it; I rubbed it down to repaint it but the eggshell paint just peeled and continued to peel. I've put undercoat on thinking it would seal it in some way but it just continues to peel. I don't know what to do other than take it right back to the bare wood [but it's 5 feet long?]. Don't know what to do. I think it's because I used quick dry eggshell and, from past experience quick dry paint tends to peel very easily. .

The roller with an extension handle will make painting your floor easier too Tegan

Better late than never!

Re wax - I use paper towel. It's easier to feel what you are doing.

I've just paid a fortune for an Annie Sloan paintbrush and a waxing brush, as I was using loads of wax and couldn't find a way of putting it on esily with a paintbrush or rag. Will be interesting to see what they're like. Have also bought some of her Lacquer as I want to paint a floor and I also think that the lacquer will be better on doorknobs etc. I used a roller [for the first time] on a wall yesterday [not Annie Sloan stuff just everday decorating]. Why oh why have I never used one before? It was so easy and I used a fraction of the paint.

Go for it Bez. As I mentioned before, we did Ducal dark pine dresser and lots of other bits in Farrow and Ball. It looks great and only needs dusting now. Recently saw a similar painted dresser in JLewis for £2K so feel very happy. It is worth buying the primer from F and B too as it improves final finish. Happy painting!

I think I will have a go at that too. Now, what can I paint?

Thank you for the links Elegran I am now keen to try chalk paint and would enjoy experimenting making my own.

I lived,in the Var Bez and was forever in Castorama where I bought all my Liberon products plus many tubes of tints to mix my own colours.

I can buy plaster of,Paris in B & Q so I wonder if, as B & Q and Casto are now amalgamated and sell many similar products, it may be possible for you to find it in Casto. I'm sure you know the translation being plâtre de moulage..