This time it is with Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint. I mentioned it the other day when we were debating how to refinish some pieces in our bedroom. Well, on Saturday my boys and I went on a mini adventure to Bristol, RI and our first stop was the Sea Rose Cottage.
Sea Rose Cottage
The cottage is located in a historic home, just steps from the ocean, and is a combination of retail shop and studio space. The turquoise window boxes, red door and green shutters are all painted with chalk paint! Nancy Chace, the owner of the Sea Rose Cottage, was such a gracious host and answered all my questions and concerns about the paint. It was so much fun talking to her about such a fun medium. She spent well over an hour with me showing me all the great effects you can get with the chalk paint. Let me tell you, I was like a kid in a candy store, so much so that Luke had to take the kids down to the beach to collect sea glass and walk them around this picturesque town. There are only 27 gorgeous colors in the palette but the possibilities are endless. You can mix them all together to get over 55 Annie Sloan colors. You can also use dark wax to change the finish, but more about this in a bit.
While we were in Rhode Island we spent a few hours at the the Audubon Society (a few minutes from the shop). My boys, the nature lovers they are, loved this part of our adventure. They loved the pheasants, the replica of a 33 foot Right whale and walking the board walk overlooking Narragansett Bay:
On our walk…
It was truly a beautiful day and we had so much fun in the Ocean State.
So getting back to my new love affair: Chalk Paint… Okay, you may be asking yourself what is all the fuss. Okay here it goes:
– No need to prime or prepare! – this is huge for me as a mom. Sanding and priming can take hours or days if your waiting for it to dry!
– Water based paint, easy to use and clean up.
– For interior or exterior applications
– Extremely low VOCs (there was no paint odor)
– Paint on almost any surface:
walls wood
metal matte plastic
concrete terracotta
So I was literally DREAMING on Saturday night about using these paints that I bought. I couldn’t wait. I had color schemes and ideas going around and around in my head. In less than 24 hours, I completed my first piece and I think it looks pretty good.
Before:
It is an old record cabinet and was pretty dark, heavy stain on it.
Filled to the brim with design books and magazines –
After:
Now she’s pretty as a picture with some shabby chic style.
Here are a couple of more shots:
Close up of the front –
View from the top –
Here is what I used to get this effect: Old White (two coats on the front and sides, one coat on top), Paris Grey on the top and details (one coat), sanded with a sanding block and used clear and a mixture of clear and dark wax (for an aged, distressed look). I wanted it to look old and rustic like our ‘reclaimed’ headboard. 🙂 What do you think? Not bad for my first time with chalk paint, huh?
Can’t wait to get started on some more furniture. Next up my plain jane kitchen stool and Luke’s highboy dresser. As the brochure says: “This is a girls paint (but boys can use it too)!” I highly recommend it. So far all the claims are right. Looking forward to going down and seeing Nancy again soon! Hope you get a chance to visit Bristol and meet her, too.
I think I need to come over and have tea or something in the new room–ADORABLE! Also, loved to her about your adventure to Bristol, my kids would love that!
Danielle, Great job. I can’t wait to see the highboy! Great meeting you and your family and thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed your mini-adventure in Bristol and will be back again! Nancy
Liz, would love you to come over and see it! Your kids would love Bristol. It is such a fun place. Thanks, Nancy! Can’t wait to pick up some more paint.
I just started using ASCP this week too and I was also dreaming about the combinations! I have been painting everything in sight. Next up is an armoire that I was going to do in the same color combo so this was helpful to read. Thanks!
Hi Dana, You’ll love the color combo together. It actually looks better in person (I think). Glad the post helped and I loved looking around your site. You’ve been doing some very fun stuff!
Yay you made it there! Isn’t it awesome & Nancy is so nice! 🙂 Great area to hang out and enjoy the sites 2! Your piece came out great 🙂 I never want to use latex again:)
Jessica, I love the chalk paint. It is so easy to work with and dries so quickly. Thank you for telling me about the Sea Rose Cottage. Nancy is fantastic!
I was wondering if you managed to try it out yet! Your cabinet looks great and complements your headboard so well.
I have six cans waiting for me here and so many pieces I want to work on. I keep those thoughts dangling in front of me, promising myself I can do a piece as soon as another room is cleaned up! Unfortunately, round these parts, rooms don’t stay cleaned up for long!
I think I need to come over and have tea or something in the new room–ADORABLE! Also, loved to her about your adventure to Bristol, my kids would love that!
Danielle, Great job. I can’t wait to see the highboy! Great meeting you and your family and thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed your mini-adventure in Bristol and will be back again!
Nancy
Liz, would love you to come over and see it! Your kids would love Bristol. It is such a fun place. Thanks, Nancy! Can’t wait to pick up some more paint.
I just started using ASCP this week too and I was also dreaming about the combinations! I have been painting everything in sight. Next up is an armoire that I was going to do in the same color combo so this was helpful to read. Thanks!
Hi Dana, You’ll love the color combo together. It actually looks better in person (I think). Glad the post helped and I loved looking around your site. You’ve been doing some very fun stuff!
Yay you made it there! Isn’t it awesome & Nancy is so nice! 🙂 Great area to hang out and enjoy the sites 2! Your piece came out great 🙂 I never want to use latex again:)
Jessica, I love the chalk paint. It is so easy to work with and dries so quickly. Thank you for telling me about the Sea Rose Cottage. Nancy is fantastic!
I was wondering if you managed to try it out yet! Your cabinet looks great and complements your headboard so well.
I have six cans waiting for me here and so many pieces I want to work on. I keep those thoughts dangling in front of me, promising myself I can do a piece as soon as another room is cleaned up! Unfortunately, round these parts, rooms don’t stay cleaned up for long!