Thursday, September 13, 2012

I Used Chalk Paint for the First Time!

Hello everyone!
 
I know it's hard to believe that someone hasn't already tried chalk paint by now, but I am one of them.  Well, WAS one of them.  I can officially say that I've tried it and am now the proud owner of a grey dining room table!
 
 
I have a lot of grey and white in my house.  So, my natural choice was, of course, French Linen.  I had already been using a shade of grey on some of my other furniture pieces VERY close to French Linen already.  So, I figured this would fit right in.
 
This is my table before.
 

And this is my table during the painting process.
 


You can see that the paint is still wet in the above picture.  After it dried, I just sealed it with a clear wax.  I'm not sure if I want to really do anything else to the table or not.  I will live with it like this for now until I decide.  I've never painted a dining table before.  Let me just say, it was work!  It took me several hours to complete this.
 
Here is the after!
 


 
I'm loving the new look!  I like my cream slipcovers on the chairs against the grey.  It keeps it fresh, I think. 
 




 
 
 
Well, now you want my opinion of this paint don't you?  I can tell you that I've used a lot of latex paint in my time but I do think this was a little easier because it didn't show brush strokes and didn't require any sanding before painting.  It dries A LOT quicker (which I love) too.  It costs more though, but I was able to pick it up locally, so I didn't have to order it and pay shipping. I like the matte finish too.  I would probably like it more if I tried distressing it, because latex doesn't distress easily. And I've heard this distresses nicely.  I may do
 that on the legs of the table.  I've got to get some sandpaper first! 
 
For now, I'm just glad that I finally made it to the chalk paint party!!
 
Thanks for stopping by!
 
~ Kelly ~
 
 


45 comments:

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

It looks great, Kelly! Did you just do the clear wax? I can't believe you haven't tried it before, especially since Kim has done so much with it!

Anne said...

Kelly,
Your table looks beautiful! I just painted a dining set with this too.I am finishing up the chairs and will post photos tomorrow.I am selling it in my space.I really like this color!I did distress my piece a bit.And I added a little old white here and there to bring out the details.
xx
Anne

Pamela said...

That is too funny that you have not tried it yet Kelly! Your table looks fantastic!

Nancy @ The Headmistress said...

I must now be the ONLY person who has not used this paint yet! We are still in our 'summer' home and the paint is not available here. Will take a CLASS when we return south!
Your table is absolutely beautiful, as is the rest of your room. Brava!
Nancy

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

You went back and got the paint. The table looks much better painted. It would have been a much bigger job with latex. That can of paint should do several projects, too. It actually ends up not costing much at all if you figure in that you don't have to buy primer, too.

Sonny G said...

It looks beautiful.. I know you must be grinning every time you look at it..
enjoy your new dining room.

SImple and Serene Living said...

I love the new look of your table, Kelly. I haven't tried it yet. They are now selling it where I just opened a booth, so I will probably try it soon.

Hugs,
Laura

Judy said...

oh kelly i love your table! it looks so pretty with your white chairs and i love the vignette you set up on your table.

i still haven't used ASCP and doubt that i ever do...just can't justify the price!

stefanie said...

ooohhh, I like!

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Looks good...I haven't tried the paint yet...

Something Nice and Pretty said...

OMG! You did it!!! Isn't it wonderful? I never thought it would be but it is, I should have listened to your sister a long time ago but didn't.
I love, love your table Kelly, I'd do the same to mine but the top is lanamite, sort of scared of it if you know what I mean. Maybe I'll give it a try though:)

Michele M./ Finch Rest said...

Love your "new" table.

Instead of distressing you could always try tiny bits of the dark wax to give it a nice older look without sanding anything - in the creavaces and such.

Looks so good in that room with your slipcovers.

WELL DONE!!!!!

Bonnie said...

It looks great. I really like it. I may be a copy cat because you have inspired me.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

Welcome to the chalk paint addiction club Kelly. Your going to find yourself walking around your house trying to find another piece to try it on! Your table looks great!

Debby said...

it looks good. It's a great paint. I was told that it wasn't latex. I asked how did it clean p so well if it wasn't. I guess that's another quality about the paint. We learned to mix the dark and the clear wax after the clear wax was applied first. I think it looks fine jst like it is. I like a smooth look and not too much of the distressing. Love the color.

Unknown said...

Your table looks great Kelly.
Cheers, gee

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Kelly, you did a great job on the table! I like the color against the cream slipcovers...it's a beautiful contrast! Love it!

Rooms by Ann said...

It looks beautiful Kelly, I still have not tried chalk paint. You have inspired me to start the search for some.

Laura @ duke manor farm said...

with Kim as your sister- you have never used chalk paint? a little surprised. table looks great!

Anonymous said...

You are not the last person to try Annie Sloan chalk paint! I might be ;-) I've used DIY chalk paint and liked it. But I'm hoping to actually paint a grand piano with Annie Sloan! Don't worry...the piano's present state is awful concerning the cabinet...and the insides too. But hubby is a Registered Piano Technician so he'll be rebuilding the playing parts ;-)

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your gray table! It looks so much better in your room than the "blond" wood ;-)

cynthia lee designs said...

Your table looks great!! I've been thinking about picking up some Annie Sloan paint this weekend at the Flea Market Extravaganza. There is a booth that has her paint...now I just need to figure out what color I want.
Cindy

Anne Boykin said...

The table looks perfect in grey and I like the slipcovered chairs with it too. Beautiful job.

Debbiedoos said...

You did it girl! That looks fantastic painted. In fact, it was meant to be that color, no doubt about it!~ In the end the paint is worth the cost because you sure get your monies worth out of one can.

Amy Chalmers said...

Hey that color was made for you!! Looks great Kelly~I would recommend doing another coat of wax on the table top to give it the protection it will need if it is used and wiped down often. It will take 3-4 weeks to fully cure, and then you don't have to worry about it!

Cecilia said...

I haven't tried a commercial brand of chalk paint...found a recipe to make your own and loved it. Can't find that brand here; would have to order it but I sure do like what everyone does with it. Your table is beautiful. Love your slipcovered chairs too. Nice!

Ann from On Sutton Place said...

Wow Kelly...just beautiful. It's so you. :o) Wondering what wax you used?

The Tuscan Home said...

You did an amazing job, I love the end look. I haven't tried that paint either, but now you've inspired me. I must buy some soon. =) Happy Friday! xo ~Liz

Melissa Miller said...

Wow! Kelly you are talented. I LOVE it! I have been so afraid to try painting any furniture but you have inspired me. It's gorgeous color and table. :)

Unknown said...


Great job! You answered my questions about not distressing and using clear wax! I have NOT used this paint but I am considering this and the "other" one! :)

LBDH

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

It looks great Kelly! I love that color of Chalk paint.

thistlewoodfarm said...

You go girl! The color turned out so pretty!

Thanks for inspiring me today!
karianne

Unknown said...

Very pretty and the table does look really great with the slips too. I have also not tried AS chalk paint yet but hope to before too long.

Bliss said...

Yes.... distress. Did you wax?

~Bliss~

Daniela @Frugal Aint Cheap said...

I absolutely love it! the color looks great and it gives the table a nice and clean look!

Deserae said...

I love the new grey color....it is so beautiful and looks perfect in your dinig room! I have yet to try the chalk paint which is kind of funny since you know how I love to paint everything!!!
Have a great weekend!
~Des

Scribbler said...

I have this exact table! Mine is paint black, and I marbleized the top-- all this years ago. It looks good painted gray, and I am now rethinking what I should do with mine.

Anonymous said...

It looks beautiful Kelly. I am going to dig out some of our chalk paint for a bench I've been wanting to paint.

You did a great job with your table!

must love junk said...

Looks fantastic! Great table, and great color!
Susan

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

Oh my gosh I love it,the whole room is just picture perfect!!! WOW!! x0

One bolt short of a toolbox said...

OMG!! This looks amazing!!

Jan @Door251

Babs said...

Your table looks soooo good, Kelly. I thought about using it on my kitchen island, but opted for the quick way out. I may try the chalk paint later, if what I did doesn't hold up.
You really did a great job!

Andrea at Opulent Cottage said...

It looks great! And no, you aren't the last blogger to try chalk paint, I am!! But I finally found it locally too, so I' going to take the plunge soon. If my table comes out looking as good as yours does I will be so happy!
xo, Andrea

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Wow Kelly...the table looks fantastic!!....Great job..you should be so very proud!! Love the color!

Cindy said...

That is insanely fabulous! The soft gray, and the white slipcovers... couldn't be prettier!

Cindy

Christine at Little Brags said...

Hey Kelly, I can see here that your walls look beige and you are right, it looks good with the greyish-white.....as long as there are lots of white accents around it....uhhhh decisions decisions.