Once a pale yellow, this gate leg table was painted with shades of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, Emperor's Silk.
Piecrust Table
A mahogany piecrust table is transformed with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®. Layered with Graphite, CoCo and Paris Grey with accents of Paloma.
Doors from Italy
Inspiration for today comes from these beautiful reproduction doors found at antiqueitaliandoors.com. You can use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® to create a similar color scheme. To emphasize the raised panels use Old White and thinly line around the edges with Primer Red. Mix Barcelona Orange and Arles to create the warm orange, or layer one on top of the other to increase a sense of depth.
Sweet Dreams
A combination of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® neutrals was used on this vintage pine blanket chest. Layered and blended French Linen, Country Grey, Old White with touches of Paloma. A slightly lighter version of these colors was used on the drawers and lid.
Secret Door
I am still working on my color cards for the pink custom colors of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®. Some are still drying, others still need to be scanned into my computer.... So today I'm using a photo found on Pinterest that inspires a unique combination of colors. Although not one of my go to palettes, I love that they can work together to create a warm patina that looks like it has developed naturally over time. Adding touches of Henrietta and Old Violet over Primer Red will add a sense of age and fading common on old painted wood. Arles added to spots that would normally receive heavy wear, further enhance a sense of history. Paris Grey could be added to any of the colors to layer on for depth and texture. Chalk Paint makes it easy for anyone to take a beautiful finish like this and make it your own.
Mixing for Pink
This is the first of several posts about expanding the range of colors of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®. Scandinavian Pink, Antoinette, and Henrietta are three stock colors available for purchase at your local stockist.
If you are feeling uneasy and more tentative about this mixing thing, don't worry because I'm going to give you a head start by sharing some of the colors I have already mixed from the basic Chalk Paint® colors. I have posted before about mixing for the secondary colors, green, orange, and purple, and adding white to make tints, and black to make shades. (The best way to actually deepen a paint color is to add its opposite on the color wheel. It results in a far more complicated, richer shade, but technically shades are made by mixing any color with black.)
Emperor's Silk is Annie's purest red and it is wonderful, deep and rich. It is so highly pigmented, a rarity in today's world, that you can actually use it to dye fabric. For mixing purposes, a little goes a long way. One way to make pink is to add Pure White to Emperor's Silk. The color card below shows some of the progressive tints that result from the mix.
Another way to expand your range of pinks is to mix the reds and pinks together.
These are not the only combinations and I will be exploring more pinks in future posts posts. But with any custom mixing, it is helpful to compare the possibilities side by side.
Mixing standard colors in different amounts and combinations is a great way to create a diverse and unique color palette. To see some the custom colors you can make from Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, see my posts, Mixing for Green, Mixing for Purple, and Mixing for Orange.
Garden Door in Wales
This weekend I have been mixing custom colors of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®, reds and pinks, and will have new color cards to share this week. In the meantime, here is an inspiration for a red color palette, that is not just red. This photo was found on Pinterest, via Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/35274650@N05/3494441021), of this enchanting garden door in Wales.
A Classical Interpretation
Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ interpreted in a classical style. A unique color combination of Graphite, Primer Red, Scandinavian Pink, and Arles, highlights the details of a small chest.
Today it's a Console
In my entryway stands a table that has served many purposes. Besides a console it has been a sofa table, a server in the dining room, and a makeshift desk. Once it even filled in as a dining table. And it wasn't always painted. It was one of the very first things in my home to receive a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ. This beautiful blue is a result of layering and blending all the colors above. It was finished with Light, Dark and Gilding wax.
Mirror Image
This cute little mirror was actually painted as an afterthought. I had some paint left on my brush after I finished another project. Before I washed it, I looked around to see if anything needed touching up and spotted this dark walnut mirror. A coat of Paris Grey and Old White. Touches of Old Violet, and Pure White added by dry brushing. One of the easiest projects ever.
Something Blue
Studying the finish on vintage furniture and antiques is an invaluable source for understanding how patina and wear patterns develop over time. This image of an antique pine cupboard was found on Pinterest. Around the edges and knobs the paint has worn off through continued use. The blue has become faded in some areas and darkened in others. If you are trying to replicate this beautiful blue, you can use Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ in the colors above, layering and blending them. It takes a little more work but the result is oh so worth it!
If you love blue as I much as I do, check out my posts, Chinese Apothecary Cabinet where I use a combination of ASCP blues, Country Blue Wardrobe and how to make a Denim Blue.
Stack of Bowls
Upholstered Bench
Although the color palette on this small upholstered bench is fairly straight forward, what is significant is that the entire bench, including fabric was painted with Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ.The fabric had very little wear, but I had grown tired of the print, making it a perfect candidate for painting with Chalk PaintⒸ. I used a mix of Old White and Pure White on the upholstery and Graphite, French Linen, and Paris Grey on the legs. Clear wax only, on the fabric giving it an almost leather texture.
Gustavian Blue
This is an image of a reproduction chest in a Gustavian style that I found on Pinterest, originally from Joss & Main. You can find similar ones from many retail sources and sometimes at places like Home Goods for a reduced price. But it also a finish you can easily duplicate on any piece of furniture vintage or new, using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint®. Start by painting a coat of Louis Blue. On top of that add accents of Emile and Coco to key areas. I like to mix in a little Old White into each of the colors and lightly add a little to small areas. This adds a lovely patina that is difficult to achieve in one color of paint.
Mirror, Mirror
The original color of this mirror was a bright yellow. Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® was layered and blended starting with French Linen in a solid first coat. Paris Grey, Louis Blue and Duck Egg Blue were added for depth and texture alone and mixed with Old White. Clear and Dark Wax. Gilding wax provided gold highlights.
Mirrors are some of my favorite pieces to paint. For more mirror inspiration see my posts Another Sunburst Mirror, Mirror Image, and DIY Sunburst Mirror
DIY Sunburst Mirror Follow-up
I have been getting several questions about the DIY Sunburst Mirror post from earlier this week so I decided to do a quick follow up.
This image above is a basic step by step to make a sunburst mirror like the one I made at the bottom of the picture. Here are some of the things I learned in the process. Using wooden shims as the basic structure allows you to make a mirror that is as large as you want. Shims come in two sizes, at least at Home Depot, and I used the smaller ones. I was able to create a mirror that was almost 36" in diameter. However it is very heavy. I used wood glue to form the bundles of 6-10 shims. But to fully hold it together I had to use a hot glue gun. I tried several types of adhesive but the glue gun was the only one that made it a solid structure.
The shims are rather rough and unfinished. They must be primed or sealed or you will go through several cans of spray paint. I can't imagine trying to paint this with a brush. On the second one I made I used gold leaf over the gold spray paint and the result was a more textured surface with aged gold patina.
I spent some time studying different styles of sunburst mirrors before making this one. Most of the ones I was drawn to had two or more smaller layers mounted on top of each other and a definite border framing the mirror.
This can be done by securing a smaller sunburst mirror, a round mirror, a round picture frame, or as I did here, a sunburst clock frame. For some reason sunburst clocks don't seem to be as popular as their mirror counterparts and are usually much less expensive. They can be found on Ebay, in thrift stores, and at flea markets. Remove the clock and install a round or convex mirror of the same diameter.
A small round photo frame can also be used to secure the convex mirror to a larger base. Convex mirrors are available in several sizes and it is easier to find a mirror that fits the opening of the frame than the other way around.
These are just few ways to create your own or modify an existing, but less than perfect sunburst mirror. Tomorrow, I'll return to colors and painting.
Bauhaus and Annie Sloan
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This tapestry by Max Peiffer Watenphul is housed there and it inspired me to use Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ for a similar design on the front of a small four drawer, very plain chest of drawers. The Chalk Paint colors I have on hand are a surprisingly close match, although I will be adding a little Greek Blue to the Antibes Green. As it is in process I only have my quick sketch to share but I will be posting a photo of the finished piece when complete. Just a little midweek diversion and fun before I return to serious painting. :)
Bachelor's Chest
Mahogany chest of drawers painted in layers of Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ. Graphite, Old Violet, Coco, Paris Grey, and Old Ochre. Clear and Dark Wax
DIY Sunburst Mirror
On some days I like to take a break from painting furniture and do different projects. I love sunburst mirrors and have been able to collect a few small vintage ones . But I have never found a large one that I liked that wasn't outrageously priced. After a little research on the Internet I discovered several tutorials that explained different ways to make a sunburst mirror. The one pictured above is the first one I made (I have made several since) and it is my favorite, probably because it is less than perfect. If you look closely you can see the largest layer which is made by gluing shims (Home Depot) together, starts to spiral out a bit at the bottom from the circle.
If you decide to make one of your own, google "DIY Sunburst/Starburst mirror" to find instructions. Mine is actually a variation and I will share a few tips. Auto parts stores have the best prices on convex mirrors and offer many sizes, from 2" to 36" in diameter. I used an 8" mirror which I put in a circular picture frame and mounted on a vintage (1960's), 24" diameter Syrocco clock. This was glued to the almost perfect 36 " circle of shims. The Syrocco clock was already a gold metallic, but I used Rustoleum Gold Metallic spray paint for everything else. In the end, I think the layering of the different components gives it a far more interesting and finished look, even with a proportionately smaller mirror.
Sophisticated Neutral
This beautiful antique French buffet is the inspiration for the color palette today. A neutral that is not quite khaki, not quite grey and yet is a combination of them all. Using Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ, start with French Linen and add highlights and shadows with Paris Grey, Country Grey, and Old White. Accent with a touch of gilding wax.
A Carl Larsson Pink
This beautiful sideboard reminds me of one my favorite artists, Carl Larsson. Many of his paintings are used in his books about his home and family in Sweden. This photo was found on Pinterest and serves as the inspiration for my post today. To create a finish with depth and texture, use Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ. Start with Scandinavian Pink and emphasize the details by layering and highlighting them with Primer Red, French Linen, and Old Ochre.
For more Pink inspiration see my posts, Scandinavian Pink over Arles, Pretty in Pink, Secretaire Extraordinaire and Country Sideboard.
On the Campaign Trail
What better a color than Annie Sloan Chalk PaintⒸ Napoleonic Blue for this campaign style chest of drawers. Graphite was mixed with Napoleonic Blue and spot layered to add depth, over the first coat of pure NB. It looks brighter in the picture due to too much camera flash. I love this style and wanted to keep it simple to emphasize the clean lines and stunning brass hardware. A solidly built chest of drawers like this is hard to find at a reasonable price (sadly, this is not mine). If you are lucky enough to find one, buy it quickly, or it will be gone.
Paint and Pattern II
This is the same generic bow front chest from Wednesday's post. Again, some of the options involve paint and stencil, wallpaper, and decoupage. But you don't have to limit yourself to preprinted wallcoverings. Almost any high quality print image can be enlarged to suit your needs at a local copy shop. Many posters are large enough on their own. The Chateau is from a wine label and the Babar image is from a children's book. Old books in general are a great source and are abundant for a fraction of their original price. Even if you can't bring yourself to tear apart an old book ( I never can), you can have the image scanned and enlarged. Remember these are virtual images created on my computer. This next step is to actually start working on that bow front chest in my garage. To be continued.....
