Steps to transforming an old dresser with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Annie Sloan Chalk Paints - Annie Sloan Chalk Paints - are a well-known presence on the DIY paint market in Romania. Some time ago we were writing a beginner's guide to using them and we end with the promise to present you in full the transformation of a piece of furniture using Annie Sloan paints. We chose something simple to start with to see how easy they are to use. But, we'll also move on to transformations where imagination, skill and a bit more experience are needed. An example of such a transformation you will find at the very end of this article. Let's first see what they are steps of a makeover using Annie Sloan water-based paint.

The desire to change the look of old furniture arises for many reasons. Either it has deteriorated, it no longer matches the rest of the furniture or you simply don't like it anymore, it can be repainted and decorated to match your new color or decorative preferences. Such is the example of the coffee table below, whose classic color will be replaced with a completely different and very bright one.

Steps to transforming the classic wooden coffee table

1. Cleaning the table

I have told you many times that Annie Sloan paints need no special preparation and have grip on most surfaces. This remains true. However, it should be taken into account that an old piece of furniture collects dirt that needs to be removed. Greasy stains and sticky surfaces must be thoroughly cleaned.

In this case, cleaning the coffee table meant washing with water and detergent (soap). After washing it was wiped very well with a clean cloth.

2. Preparing for painting

First step: removing the hardware. Not all of it, but just the drawer rings so we could paint underneath. In the same idea of change, at the end, the rings replaced with knobs more in keeping with the new look.

Remove the drawers and seal the insides with adhesive paper. It's available in rolls of varying widths in specialist stores, and the glue leaves no marks.

Check the furniture for holes, scratches or other repairable defects. If you discover holes in the furniture you want to transform, check that they are not cari. In this case treatment is necessary because otherwise they can infest and destroy other pieces of wood. If they are simple holes, you can fill them with wood putty which you can also find in DIY stores. Leave to dry, then sand and sand away.

3. Applying the first coat of paint

Once everything is ready, the paint is applied. In this case it was Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Provence, a navy blue combined with a summer noon sky. A special color, like all Annie Sloan colors. Being a water-based paint, the application was done at home without any problems. A good ordinary brush was used, which doesn't leave hair.

To avoid any nerves, start with a more hidden part of the furniture. This way you can work your hand and paint the exposed parts with more courage. You don't have to work in a hurry, the paint is not quick-drying so give yourself plenty of time to spread it well. Here are other tips to help you with your first makeover:

• Before use, mix the paint thoroughly in the packaging. Use a clean wooden stick for mixing
• Instead of painting directly from the can it is better to put paint in a pot. You may not use all the paint in the can. Water or other impurities inside can damage the remaining paint.
• If you stop for a while or take a break, put the brush in a bowl of water to prevent it from drying out. When you come back, wipe the brush so that the excess water doesn't dilute the paint too much and cause drips.
• Paint along the fiber. If you also brush perpendicularly for better coverage, at the end make a pass along the fiber across the entire surface.

4. Applying the second coat of paint

After the first coat of paint has dried (in less than an hour) apply a second coat. Coating cannot be done perfectly in just one coat. You can leave it like this if you want the initial coat to be visible, thus achieving a special effect. If you want to completely cover the old coat, you must apply two coats of paint.

The application was done without sanding between coats, and in the end a very good coverage was achieved.

If you want to get distressed furniture - that effect where the paint peels off the furniture edges - now is the time. After drying the second coat, the edges can be sanded with an abrasive sponge. But this was not the case with the front table, so after complete drying, the wax coat was applied.

5. Applying the transparent wax coating

Wax seals and protects furniture. So to protect the new finish, we used clear wax applied with Annie Sloan's special wax brush. I've told you on other occasions - while you can use other brushes for paints, it's best to use Annie Sloan brush. You'll be surprised by the difference.

The wax was applied to all the painted parts of the coffee table, wiping the excess with a soft cotton cloth. The application was made in circular movements, so that the wax penetrated as well and deeply as possible. Wiping with the cloth is done along the fiber.

It is better to apply the wax gradually, in parts, wiping off the excess immediately, not all over the surface at once.

In general, one coat of wax is sufficient, but for better protection you can apply an extra coat on the countertop. This was also applied to the coffee table, but only after 24 hours, the time needed for the first coat to dry.

Finally, for a silkier look, the wax was polished with a soft cotton cloth. The wax polishes after drying and is not a compulsory operation. Only if you want some shine. If you want the furniture to be matt, do not polish.

6. Reassembling the piece of furniture

After drying the extra layer of wax on the countertop and polishing completely, the paper protecting the inside of the drawers was removed, the new knobs were fitted and the drawers were put in place. According to Annie Sloan, the wax is fully cured after 2-3 weeks, so until then, the dresser needs to be used more carefully.

With colored wax, gold leaf and Annie Sloan's special techniques, transformations can be spectacular

We started with a simple mask to see how easy it is to dye and apply Annie Sloan products. The Annie Sloan website shows spectacular transformations that sometimes seem impossible to achieve. And yet, with the help of dealers and distributors, you too can slowly but surely achieve such feats.

In a future article we will present such a transformation, using several colors, patinas, foils and special techniques. Until then, a not very complicated but very effective example: a coffee table transformed by Enikö, Annie Sloan distributor responsible for Romania. The complete list of Annie Sloan distributors in Romania is here

Good luck with your transformations!