Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Transformation

While shopping at an estate sale in Wisconsin, I spotted  this huge armoir in a bedroom.  It was obviously from the 60's- ugly yellow paint finish with the dark specks of paint and had bright blue curtains in the doors behind the open brass  grill work.  I knew it had potential, but it was over ten feet wide and extremely heavy. I just didn't feel like dealing with moving it!  But I couldn't get it out of my mind, so I went back the next morning and the ugly thing was still there- so yes- I bought it!  It's been sitting in my dining room in that ugly yellow color for the past year.  I did replace the blue curtains with mirror. But it was still ugly.  So I called my friend Laurell and begged for her help.  I knew I could paint it, but somehow I did not have the motivation and I knew Laurell could do a killer job on it!

 

 

Here's the original yellow color finish with the green faux marble columns. Definitely the 60's!

 

So now for the transformation.

 Laurell came over and we removed the columns and all the metal findings.

She took those home to paint them the perfect  old antiqued gold.

Next she sanded the piece.  Yes, I realize Annie Sloan says you don't have to sand. But Laurell

believes you do!   Then 2 coats of Paris Grey was applied.  It took 2 quarts of paint for this piece.

After drying, a coat of light wax was applied.  She let it dry overnight.  She says that makes the darker wax adhere better and not get a sticky finish.  The third day, she applied a dark wax over the entire piece and obtained that aged look!  We re-applied the metal findings and columns.

Finally she hand buffed the entire cabinet! and Voila- this is the result!

 

 

The Paris Grey Armoir- so much additional storage for china and glasses.

 

 

 

Close up of the new gold columns and hardware.

 

Laurell is so talented.  I have been lucky to work with her for the past 17 years. 

The following are some of my favorite pictures of her unbelievable talent at transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary! 

 

Gilded dome

 

 

We designed and built this armoir for a client's kitchen. Laurell painted the cabinet and made the aged mirror menu in the recessed buffet.

 

 

 

She aged the mirror and reverse stenciled the menu on the back. 

 

 

 

A beautiful luster stone ceiling in a historic Lake Forest home.

 

my ceiling in my dining alcove in the kitchen

 

The soft pink luster stone walls with the raised gold stencil in our store.

Dramatic black venetian plaster in a master bath.

                                    Custom cut and painted valence for a clients kitchen eating alcove.

Custom painted and monogrammed kitchen island.

 



 

Blue painted walls with a backdrop technique

 

Our walls at the Infant Welfare Showcase house

 

Painted black and white wood floors for another client's daughters room!

 

 

I could go on and on about Laurell's talent.  She's immensely talented and has such a positive fun

outlook on life.  I am so lucky to have  her on my team these past 17 years.  If you live in the

Chicagoland area and are interested in obtaining her painting services, you can email her at

LaFaux@yahoo.com for more information.

 

Thanks, Laurell!  I love love love my armoir!