Furniture Re-do with Chalk Paint!

Have you ever used chalk paint before? It has a different consistency than latex paint and has more of a stiffness to it when it dries. It is very versatile and doesn't require sanding or priming before applying. The biggest selling point for me was the dark wax that you can apply afterwards to get a rustic & antiqued look. Before heading to the store, my hubby and I watched tons of videos on using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. The most helpful videos I found were on Simply Reinvented's YouTube channel. She showed us how to paint, apply the clear wax, and then the super scary dark wax!

After gathering our supplies, we attacked our entertainment center. This piece is actually a buffet that matches our kitchen table & chairs, and was given to us by some dear friends. We didn't have room for it in our kitchen, so we are using it as an entertainment center. The first step was to remove the molding above and below the handles. After a few hours with a chisel, wood filler and an orbital sander, we were ready to paint.

We applied 3 coats of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White, then the clear wax and dark wax. Once that was done, we painted the top with a cocoa brown latex paint. Here are some before (left) and after (right) pictures:

I was pretty happy with how it turned out despite the fact that it was my first attempt using chalk paint! I like how it lightens up the room and makes the space feel bigger. Now on to the bookcase...